Have you ever walked the cereal isle of the grocery store searching through many brands and ingredients to settle for the most healthy granola? One claimed natural flavors but contained an additive food dye or synthetic preservative for "freshness", or another stated it was made with real honey or pure maple syrup but contained the "Ssss" word. Settle no more! Granola is not only good for you but can be a a delicious bulk staple food you can make yourself that's cost affective and free from all the things you don't want in your diet like synthetic flavors, preservatives, high fructose syrups and/or "SUGAR"! Enjoy my healthy homemade, gluten free, sugar free, vegan granola recipe and daily nutritious staple you can add to your favorite morning breakfast!
Michelle's Home Made Healthy Granola
I have been enjoying granola since I was a kid, and this is my favorite secret recipe. You really don't need directions, only ingredients because it's so darn easy! Make to your own taste. Add or subtract ingredients as you see fit. This recipe uses no oil, no sugar, no salt, and no gluten, and tastes freakin 'AMAZING! Even my unhealthy friends(ha! ha!) gobble it up! No joke! Plus its a lot cheaper than buying it from the store (plus it's kinda fun to make too).
Tip:
Don't use liquids other than the above. You don't want it to be "wet". Just sticky and well put together and a little on the dry side if possible.
Here's what you'll need:
- Rolled Oats- Gluten Free (Trader Joes) big bowl (think about what will comfortably fit on a cookie sheet or two handfuls
- Maple Syrup (Trader Joes) (1 cup or so)
- Honey or Brown Sugar (Local) (half cup)
- Juice from half of a squeezed orange
- Coconut no sugar, no sulfites. (Trader Joes)
- Almonds Roasted or Raw (Trader Joes) (put in zip log bag and beat into pieces with a heavy object (I use back end of a heavy knife, hammer, you get the idea) You can also put in a bowl with a towel over the almonds and beat it with something like a pestle.
- Madagascar Vanilla Extract (Wholefoods) 3/4 tablespoon. (this is a matter of taste as well- use less or more according to your own taste preference. The vanilla needs to be of higher quality so if it smells like alcohol and no vanilla- it's not going to give much flavor. Use the above mentioned and you won't be disappointed- I have tried a lot and this one delivers.
Baking instruction (more like toasting instruction)
Spread parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Spread oats as much as possible.Oats on cookie sheet can be about an inch and half high but remember you will need to toss everything with a spoon or spatula every 11 minutes or so. Don't worry that oats and ingredients are still soft after lightly toasting in the oven because granola mixture will harden when it cools off.
Bake on low at 250 for 20-25 minutes checking and turning oats to brown evenly.
The uses of a delicious and nutritious handmade Granola is unlimited. It can be added and sprinkled to so many different kinds of foods above and beyond breakfast. Granola can be added to the best acai bowls, your favorite vegan dessert, ice-cream, gelato, peach cobbler or any fruit pie as a crust layer or topping. You can also add it to your favorite salads, smoothies, cupcakes, waffles, cookies, puddings, trailmixes. You can use it as breadcrumbs and add it to fresh baked breads, roasted vegetables or yams, soup toppings and more. What ever is your creative way or dish of using granola Have fun & enjoy! If you have a great way you use granola share it in the comments below.
P.S. Did you know that oats help your skin stay beautiful by cleaning out your body? Drink lots of liquids when eating a lot of granola so you stay- well... happy. ;) Cooked oats keep things movin' if you know what I mean, but dry food such as granola needs lotsa liquid so be mindful of that if you are just munching. I eat my granola with almond milk but it's good as a snack too- just remember to hydrate afterward.