Homemade Granola Recipe

This is a real comfort food for me as it was something my mother made regularly when I was growing up. The best part of homemade granola (other than the smell and the taste) is that it is so easy to make. While I have provided you with my recipe below, you can add or subtract whatever you want and can adjust the ratios of ingredients to your personal preference.

 

Ingredients

 

  • 4 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup chopped almonds
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup chopped cashews
  • 1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened preferably)
  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup sesame seeds
  • 1-2 tbsp of cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup of maple syrup
  • 1 cup raisins, dried cranberries or chopped apricots

 

(It is best if all of your nuts and seeds are raw – meaning they do not have anything added to them ie. salt and have not been roasted.)

 

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Mix the oats, nuts, seeds and cinnamon together in a bowl.
  3. Melt the coconut oil in a pan over medium low heat. Once melted add the maple syrup to the pan, mix together and pour over the oat mixture. Stir through until all of the oats are coated.
  4. Place 1/2 the mixture in a large roasting pan or casserole dish. Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown. Stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even browning.
  5. Let cool for about 30 minutes before adding your dried fruit to the mixture. (You can transfer the granola to another dish to let it cool so that you can cook your other batch.)

 

This is a delicous and nutritious breakfast and can be served with fresh fruit and yogourt or almond milk (regular cow milk also works). Add ground flax, oat bran or ground cocoa nibs for extra health benefits. This will keep for several weeks in the fridge.

Enjoy!