3 March, 2021
Easy Granola
Granola is a timeless food. It’s simple, stores for basically ever, packs a ton of energy per bite, and tastes like a dream. If you’re someone who’s on a health kick or trying to fuel an active body, learning to make and customize your own granola can save you lots of money, both on buying protein bars and on buying store-bought granola (which always comes in tiny $5-$7 boxes for some reason).
It makes an excellent on-the-go breakfast or the perfect pre- or post-run snack, and it’s arguably easier to make than it is to buy. What’s not to love? Customize the recipe with different liquid sweeteners, nuts, oils, fruits, etc. If you feel inspired to, share your favorite combos in the comments!
Ingredients
4 cups Old-fashioned, rolled, or steel-cut oats (anything but instant)
1 1/2 cups Nuts and seeds (I did 1 cup walnuts and 1/2 cup flax, chia, and hemp seeds)
3/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground clove
1/2 cup Coconut oil, melted (canola or olive also work)
1/2 cup Maple syrup (or honey)
1 cup Dried fruit (I like dates and raisins in mine)
—
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Set aside, and get out a large mixing bowl. In the bowl, toss together oats, nuts, seeds, salt, cinnamon, and clove. Add in your oil and sweetener, and mix until all of the dry ingredients are thoroughly coated.
Spread the granola mix evenly over the lined baking sheet. Bake for 21-24 minutes, stirring halfway through. Once the granola has baked, remove the tray from the oven and sprinkle your fruit of choice over the top. Let the granola sit undisturbed for 30-45 minutes, packing it down first and letting it cool longer if you want larger chunks.
Store your granola in an airtight container and enjoy as-is, over yogurt with a bit of fresh fruit, or with a splash of milk!
