You might be a granola girl (or guy) if you’ve ever said “Rub some coconut oil on it” to a friend, brushed your teeth with activated charcoal, or dreamed of having a chicken coop in your backyard. Then again, you might just be one if you like granola.
Whichever type you are, you’re going to love this crunchy, delicious, maple syrup-infused healthy granola recipe. It was shared with me by my friend Carol of Ditch The Wheat, and she has generously allowed me to share it with you!
Naturally gluten-free and refined sugar-free, this homemade granola fills the house with a sweet, mapley-cinnamon vanilla aroma while it’s baking. It’s so much easier to make than you probably think, too. Just take a bunch of nuts and seeds you enjoy and add some maple syrup, then add flavorings like vanilla and cinnamon.
The next step is to bake it and break it apart once it’s cool. After that all you need to do is try not to eat it all at once – that’s definitely the hardest part!
Feel free to add dried fruit or chocolate chips to the finished granola if you’d like, just make sure it’s cooled first.
6 Ways to Use This Healthy Granola Recipe
- Mixed with yogurt
- With regular milk or a dairy-free option like almond or coconut (eat like you would cereal)
- As a crunchy topping for slow cooker apples
- Sprinkled on top of fresh fruit – seasonal berries or a sliced banana are good options
- Stirred into gluten-free oatmeal or chia seed pudding
- Over a salad with fresh berries or apples
Have questions about this granola recipe? See the FAQ section at the bottom of this post. If it isn’t covered there please leave a comment and let me know.
Also, if you love this granola . . . . and I know you will, be sure to check out Carol’s cookbook, Ditch the Wheat.
Healthy Granola Recipe
An oat and grain-free granola made with nuts and seeds and sweetened with maple syrup.
- 1 cup almonds ((slivered))
- 1 cup large coconut flakes
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup pecans ((chopped))
- 6 TBSP maple syrup
- 1 TBSP vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp sea salt
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Preheat the oven to 300° F.
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Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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In a medium or large bowl, toss together the almond slivers, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, and pecans.
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In a separate small mixing bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
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Stir in the liquid by pouring it over the bowl of nuts and mixing thoroughly.
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Press the mixture into the pan. It will resemble a large granola bar.
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Bake until just lightly golden brown on top, about 35-40 minutes.
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Allow the granola to cool. Once cooled, break it into pieces and store in an air-tight container.
You can add dried fruit or chocolate chips to the finished granola if you’d like, just make sure it’s cooled first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different nuts and seeds?
Yes. Walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and chopped macadamia nuts are some of my favorite substitutions.
How long does this granola last?
Are we talking shelf life or how long it will last before everyone eats it all? Those are very different things! For shelf life, I’d say it will last a month (or maybe a little more) in a sealed mason jar or airtight container.
I don’t always have time to make granola. Are there any healthy store-bought options?
Although making homemade granola can save money and allows ingredients to be customized according to an individual family’s needs, sometimes it makes more sense to buy pre-made options. When that’s the case for me, I buy this paleo granola, which is chewy and delicious as “cereal.”
Continue reading Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe (Gluten-Free)...
from Mommypotamus http://bit.ly/2EzY6Br
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