I love granola but am often not compelled to buy it at the
store because it can be quite expensive and I can be a bit turned away by the
ingredient list, especially the amount of sugar in granola. But it is quite easy
to make! I tend to have most of the ingredients on hand, so it is easy and
affordable for me to make a batch of tasty and relatively healthy granola.
Below are some of my favorite recipes!
Honey, Nut, and Fruit Granola
I have modified Cookie and Kate’s excellent granola recipe in creating my own basic granola recipe!
Ingredients (Makes about 3 cups)
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup nuts/seeds (whatever you have on hand) [I used
walnuts, almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds in this picture)
½ cup dried fruit (optional) [I used dried cranberries and
dates]
½ tsp sea salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ cup melted coconut oil
¼ lite cup honey (just shy of 1/4 cup) [I highly recommend
raw unfiltered honey]
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
Directions
Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet
with parchment paper.
Combine the oats, nuts/seeds, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
Melt the coconut oil in a separate bowl, mix in the honey
while the coconut oil is still warm, and then mix in the vanilla and almond
extract.
Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and mix
well until all the oats are coated.
Bake 24-28 minutes, stirring after about 15 minutes.
Cool granola for at least one hour.
Top granola with dried fruit
Break the granola into pieces with your hands, stirring with
a spoon if you don’t want larger chunks
Granola will keep at room temperature in an airtight
container for 2 weeks.
Dark Chocolate, Coconut, Almond, Sea Salt Granola
I modified an excellent recipe from Erin
lives whole, swapping maple syrup for agave nectar and reducing some of the
sweetness.
Ingredients:
2 cups old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup coconut flakes
½ tsp sea salt
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ lite cup agave nectar [just shy of ¼ cup]
¼ cup cocoa powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)
1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking
sheet with parchment paper.
Mix together the oats, almonds, coconut flakes, and sea salt
in a bowl.
In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the coconut oil, agave
nectar, cocoa powder, and brown sugar (if using) and stir until everything is
dissolved and combined (about 3-4 minutes).
Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the vanilla.
Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and stir
until combined.
Pour oat mixture onto the baking sheet and bake for 28-30
minutes.
If you are adding chocolate chips, pull the granola out of
the oven after 25 minutes, place the chocolate chips over the granola, and bake
for the remaining 3-5 minutes.
Allow granola at least one hour to cool before breaking up
with a spoon or your hands.
Granola stores in an airtight container at room temperature
for two weeks.
