Love is in the air this month. And so is chocolate. Lots of chocolate...

Even when I was single, I've always just loved Valentine's Day. I bet the heart-shaped candy and pink and red M&M's had something to do with this. But, I think for everyone, Valentine's Day is a day (or month!) to celebrate love and appreciation for your friends and family. We are each so lucky to have these people in our lives!

Today's post celebrates friends in a collaboration with my girls, Delish Knowledge, Feed Me With Amanda and My Lavender Blues. We took the Valentine's Day theme and turned it into a brunch with your best lady friends. Be sure to check out each of their websites for more yummy brunch recipes!

My recipe is all about chocolate. In granola form. It's decadent enough for dessert, but you can pair it with yogurt and feel good about eating it in the morning hours. ;)

For a brunch party, serve vanilla bean yogurt in small mason jars, top with fresh strawberries and then sprinkle with the chocolate granola. You can make it a spread and have everyone assemble their own.

This decadent chocolate granola is good on just about everything and delicious all on it's own.

Chocolate Granola

1 cup gluten-free, old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup raw almonds, roughly chopped
1/2 cup raw pecans, roughly chopped
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
3 Tablespoons raw honey
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
pinch of sea salt
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
3/4 - 1 cup chopped dark chocolate (60% or higher)
1/2 cup chopped dried cherries (optional)

Directions:

In a bowl, mix the oats, almonds, pecans, coconut, brown sugar, honey and salt. Mix until well combined and coated. Spread out on a baking sheet and bake for about 13-15 minutes at 350 degrees, until golden.
While the granola mixture is baking, in a saucepan melt the butter and cocoa powder over medium-low heat until melted. Take off heat and stir until smooth.
When the granola mixture is done baking in the oven, take it out and pour into a bowl. Add the chopped dark chocolate and mix. Pour in the melted butter mixture and toss to coat (it's okay if the dark chocolate chunks melt a little). Add in dried cherries at this time, if desired.
Spread the mixture back out on a cookie sheet and let cool completely. Then, store in an air-tight container.

Hope you all keep things nice & sweet this month!

Chocolate Granola {gluten-free}