I'm a big fan of granola. I love how easy it is for breakfast, and I especially love it for summer mornings when a hot breakfast is the last thing on my mind. Granola, unfortunately, is usually one of two things when bought at the store. It's either loaded up with sugars and additives or, for the healthier and locally-made granolas, it's incredibly expensive. These two reasons have kept me from eating it as much as I'd like to.
But then I stumbled upon a plant-based Youtuber who makes her granola. In just under five minutes, she showed viewers how easy and affordable it was to make her very own batch for the week. The best part? She customized it will all of her favorite healthy ingredients.
So I gave it a go the next week. I followed along with the Youtuber's instructions and added in a few of my favorite ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised. In about thirty-minutes of prep and cooking time, I had my first homemade batch of healthy granola, and you better believe I ate it for breakfast every day that week.
If you too love granola but want to stay away from the store-bought versions with all the added sugars, here is my very favorite recipe. It only takes a few minutes of prep time and then about twenty minutes of baking. And you can make a batch big enough to last you all week (I make mine Sunday nights). Enjoy!
Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups of your favorite
nuts and seeds combined - I like using pepitas, walnuts, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and hazelnuts
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries, dates, or raisins
2 tbsp coconut oil (and more for greasing the baking tray)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
a sprinkle of sea salt
Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven warms, mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl (except the salt), then drizzle in melted coconut oil. Stir with a large wooden spoon to coat the oats with the liquid (it's okay if there are still dry pieces). Next stir in the tbsp of sweetener and tsp of vanilla extract. Toss in the sprinkle of sea salt last.
Use a large baking sheet or glass tray for baking your granola. Coat the dish with coconut oil, or you can use parchment paper for easy cleanup. Spread the oat mixture in one even layer on the tray. Cook in the oven for 20 - 30 minutes, or until the oats begin to brown. And that's it! Let the granola cool before serving. Store in an air-tight container to keep fresh throughout the week, and enjoy with plant-milk, yogurt, in an
acai bowl! Do you make your own granola? Share your recipes with us on
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