Homemade Granola Recipe

COOK Granola LIVE with Sonya January 31st @ 1pm on her Instagram @SonyaInsightWell

Homemade granola is a healthy, versatile add-in or treat for any day. 99% of store-bought granola is “crunched-up cookies” in disguise as a healthy treat full of sugar. If you make up a batch yourself, you can lower that sugar and use it in many ways!

• Yogurt parfait: Granola on top of greek yogurt and fresh berries makes a great breakfast or snack. Drizzle some honey and you’ve got dessert. Mix in protein powder and you’ve got a pre- or post-gym meal.

• Baked apple topping.

• Muffin or bread interest on top or inside of muffins before baking.

• Granola bar! Chop in some dates or bananas, add peanut butter, and bake.

• Roll bananas in granola and freeze.

• Top a crisp apple salad with it for a nice crunchy surprise.

• Toss it with cooked oatmeal for a textured twist.

• Muesli: Soften it up with heated milk and let sit. Then eat as any cereal.

• Use instead of bread crumbs or stuffing — this is awesome, just add herbs of choice!

• Pound a chicken breast thin, roll granola mix inside the chicken, and bake.

• Eat it straight with various nuts and seeds as add-ins as a snack. Add more of your favorites. Try pumpkin seeds, almonds, raisins, craisins, pecans, m&m’s, cashews, dried apricots, dried apples, dried pineapple or cherries… just watch your portion size here, it’s addictive! :)

INGREDIENTS

2 cups gluten-free oats
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
2/3 cup variety of low to no sugar dried fruit(cherry, raisin, craisin)
1/2 tsp (or more) cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup honey (I like to substitute maple syrup on occasion)
1/4 cup olive oil/canola oil mix (personal favorite is coconut oil if no one is allergic)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* Optional for extra crisp and protein: add 2 egg whites *

DIRECTIONS

Oven temp: 350 degrees
Cook time: 10 minutes
Yield: 3 cups

1. In one bowl, mix the first five dry ingredients: gluten-free oats, sunflower seeds, low- to no-sugar dried fruit, cinnamon, and salt.

2. In the second bowl, mix the last three wet ingredients: honey/maple syrup, olive oil/canola oil/cocnut oil, vanilla extract, * optional * egg whites.

3. Add the dry bowl and wet mix together.

4. Spread mixture on parchment or Silpat lined (or you may spray) cookie sheet for easy removal.

5. Bake at 350 for approximately 10 minutes or until a bit of color on top (it keeps cooking after you take it out and let it cool so don’t overcook.)

6. Enjoy!