Healthy Homemade Granola

Granola is not only one of the healthiest snacks but it is also one of the most customizable options for any diet. Another great aspect about granola is how versatile it is. You can eat it as a healthy cereal replacement, put it on yogurt, add it to smoothies, or acai bowls. You can also add it to apple or banana slices with a nut butter, or eat it plain. Kids love it which is an added bonus, because let’s be honest. It is hard to have healthy, quick snack options for them.

Make this on a Sunday with your meal prep to set you up for the week and you will be good to go.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of old-fashioned oats – Gluten-free if needed. I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oats and or Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Oats. 
• 1 cup of nuts – I like to do a half cup of chopped pecans, and a half cup of sliced almonds. Hazelnuts are great, or sunflower seeds, or walnuts.
• 1 cup of dried fruit – My go-to are half-cup raisins and half-cup dried cherries. 
• 1/2 cup dried coconut – Personal preference, but I love coconut! You could also sub in a different “wild card” ingredient that you really like.
• 2 teaspoons of Chia seeds – These add a great source of Omega-3. You could add more, up to a 1/2 cup, if desired.
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or coconut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon organic brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey or agave syrup or maple syrup (or I occasionally do a combination of 1-3 of them, based on quantities I have in my pantry)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Optional added after: 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300F and cover a large baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper.
2. Combine butter, salt, brown sugar, honey, water and vanilla extract in small pot on stovetop over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. In a large bowl, combine the other ingredients (except for the chocolate).
4. Stir the liquid into the dry ingredients.
5. Transfer the granola to the baking sheet, spreading it in a relatively thin layer. I should’ve used two pans for this batch, but mine just took longer.
6. Put it in the oven and cook for around 40 minutes, checking every 15 minutes or so and stirring it to ensure all the pieces are browning evenly.
7. Bring out and let cool completely.
8. If desired, add the chocolate. I like to use the mini dark chocolate chips. Get yourself a serving over plain greek yogurt, with some milk, or however you’d like to enjoy!