My BEST Granola
As a kid I was obsessed with all cereal, especially granola. I love a crunchy-creamy combo and a yogurt and granola parfait, with fruit piled high, was my kind of heaven. I still vividly remember this epic granola bowl I ordered from Rosario’s Resort on a boat trip to Orcas Island when I was 10. (I think it’s still on the menu too!) Then I went through my teenage years of being too terrified of carbs, sugar, or fat to eat anything fun at all. So I’m making up for lost time here!
While fear is no longer a part of my food vocabulary, I remain skeptical of a lot of the store bought granolas. It’s hard to find one that’s not full of weird refined oils and unnecessary ingredients. I peeked at one the other day that had as much sugar as a coke...in ⅓ cup! There are definitely some better choices than there used to be, but you just can’t beat homemade!
I’ve been toying with a handful of recipes and after a lot of experimenting I’ve come up with the perfect recipe for me. It’s crunchy, slightly sweet, and full of healthy fats and grains. Most importantly it takes just 15 minutes to bake! (A lot of recipes out there are low and slow cooking. Delicious, but who has the time??) I’ve got the recipe and instructions below. Plus a few ideas for substitutions. I love granola over plain, organic, whole milk yogurt with berries; as a smoothie topping; or just a handful for a snack!
Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup coconut flakes (the big ones)
1 cup pepitas (aka pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped dates
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Mix all of the ingredients (except dates)
Spread mixture onto large baking sheet
Bake for 10 minutes
Sprinkle dates over the granola and give it a stir*
Bake for 5 more minutes (or until golden brown)
*By adding the dates later you reduce the risk of burnt/rock-hard dates pieces. You could just throw them in after you bake it too, but I like them to get a little gooey.
[[ Hot Tip ]]
If you love a nice big cluster of granola, use a spatula to press the granola down into the pan as soon as it comes out. Let it cool completely before gently breaking it apart and storing it in a nice, big, air-tight jar.
Substitution ideas:
For grain free: Sub the 2 cups of rolled oats for more almonds, pepitas, or your favorite nut.
For the sweet tooth: Add more dates! Sometimes I put a whole cup. Yes they add sugar, but also fiber and potassium.
Chocoholic: Add in a couple of teaspoons of cocoa powder or even sprinkle in cacao nibs after it bakes!
Low sugar: Leave out the dates or reduce the honey slightly.
Nut-free: Sub sunflower seeds instead of almonds.
Enjoy!
-B
