Simple Homemade Granola

Granola is packed with nutritious ingredients and so simple to make at home. Although granola can be a healthy choice, you do have to be careful since some of the store bought versions can have high quantities of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Making granola at home helps you to know exactly what goes into it.

Delicious homemade granola with almonds, pumpkin seeds, pecans, coconut, vanilla, honey and cinnamon

I personally like making granola at home since I don't always find the combinations or type I want at the store. This granola recipe is my personal style and preference:

• Lots of nuts in the granola but no dried fruit as I prefer to add fresh fruit right when I serve it.

• Loose granola and I know a ton of people like the clumpy kind.

• Not too sweet. I have tasted some that are the sickeningly sweet type and I could not take a second bite.

• Unsweetened shredded coconut added to the mix - yum!

This recipe is simple enough that you can make it your own by swapping spices, nuts or seeds for something you prefer or just to change it up a bit.

Granola can make a pretty filling meal if eaten with yogurt and fruit. Greek yogurt gives an extra few grams of protein than regular yogurt. If you are using plain yogurt and/or the granola doesn't feel sweet enough to you with the added fresh fruit, go ahead and add a small dash of honey at the time of serving. If you are following a gluten free diet then be sure to buy gluten free rolled oats.

Homemade granola can also make a great gift by pouring into a jar, with a lid, bow and label. I once made small granola favor bags to hand out to colleagues at work for the holidays.

The main ingredient is rolled oats as the base. As I mentioned above I liked to use certain ingredients in my mix specifically almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds and coconut.

I use my electric chopper to roughly chop the pumpkin seeds and nuts. I do not like them chopped too small so I simply pulse only a few times.

Then we mix all the dry ingredients together. Luckily I have help to measure out the oats and mix up the dry ingredients 😂

In a separate smaller bowl melt the coconut oil, add the honey and vanilla extract and whisk together. Then add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients mixing thoroughly so that all the oats are coated. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and pre-heat the oven to 300 deg F. You want to spread the mixture as level as possible on the sheet so it toasts evenly. The cooking part is where you should be the most cautious. Check and mix the granola with a large spoon every 5-10 minutes to make sure it toasts evenly. When checking on it keep an extra eye on the edges of the sheet as the granola around there tends to brown faster. As soon as it is evenly toasted and browned remove to cool. Just a reminder this is loose style granola so it’s ok that they do not stick together in clumps.

Once cooled serve with yogurt and fruit of choice. Store in air tight container.

Makes a delicious poolside treat. Granola with blueberries, banana and greek yogurt

Simple Homemade Granola Recipe

Yield ~ 6 cups granola

Prep time ~ 5 min

Cook time ~ 30 min

Ingredients

• 3 cups oats

• 1/2 cup almonds (roughly chopped)

• 1/2 cup pecan nuts (roughly chopped)

• 1/2 cup pumpkin seed (roughly chopped)

• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp salt or to taste

• 1/2 cup honey

• 2 Tbsp coconut oil (melted)

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven at 300 deg F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Roughly chop almond, pecan nuts and pumpkin seeds.

3. Place oats, almonds, pecan nuts, pumpkin seeds, coconut, cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix well.

4. Place honey, coconut oil and pure vanilla extract in a small bowl and whisk to combine.

5. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and mix well so that oats are thoroughly coated.

6. Spread mixture onto the parchment paper in an even layer.

7. Place in oven and toast for 25 - 30min, checking and mixing every 5-10min so that is does not burn. Once evenly browned remove from oven.

8. Cool, break if needed and serve with yogurt and fruit of choice. Store in airtight jar.

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