Hearty Seedy Granola

I love granola. It is the perfect accompaniment for yogurt, smoothie bowls, muffins, or just by itself. So of course, as an avid granola lover, I had to make so for myself! And let me say, as cliché as it is, homemade is so much better than storebought! The options of toppings and mix-ins are virtually endless, and the warm, toasted flavor the granola develops in the oven is unparalleled. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Ingredients

Oats: The main ingredient of this recipe. I use old-fashioned oats for the best texture.

Seeds/Nuts: You can use any seeds or nuts of your choice! I used chia seeds, chopped almonds, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa, but peanuts, cashews, pecans, hemp seeds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds would make great additions.

Oil: I used a combination of olive oil and canola oil, but any neutral oil will work such as coconut or avocado oil.

Sweetener: Maple syrup and honey are my favorites, and the perfect touch of sweetness.

Salt: Key for balancing out the sweetness in this recipe.

Vanilla Extract: Adds a great extra note and complexity of flavor.

Cinnamon: I love the warmth cinnamon adds, but any fall spice of your liking will do.

Additional Mix-ins: To add some extra pizzazz to this recipe, feel free to add dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, cherries, coconut flakes, or chocolate chips. If using chocolate chips, be sure to add them after the granola has cooled out of the oven to prevent the chocolate from excessively melting.

Helpful Tips

Storage: This granola keeps well in an airtight container at room temperature for roughly two to three weeks, but can be frozen for roughly three months.

Nut-free: To make this recipe nut-free, substitute the nuts for extra seeds like flax, hemp, sesame, sunflower, chia, or pumpkin seeds.

Extra Chunky Granola: To make your granola extra chunky, slightly crowd your mixture on the baking pan and press the granola down with a spatula mid-way during the baking process. Additionally, allow the granola to fully cool before breaking the chunks up.

Recipe:

• 2 cups of oats

• 1 cup of seeds/nuts of choice

• 1/3 cup of oil

• 1/3 cup of maple syrup or honey

• 1 tsp of salt

• 2 tsp cinnamon

• splash of vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees°F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper

2. Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl

3. Pour the granola mixture onto the lined baking pan, and place in the oven for roughly 25-30 minutes, tossing the mixture halfway through.

4. Allow the granola to cool at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before breaking up the clumps and storing in an airtight container.
   

Bon Appetite!