Healthy Granola
User Reviews
5
Healthy Granola
Description
This Healthy Granola recipe starts by combining old-fashioned rolled oats, raw sunflower seeds, unsweetened flaked coconut, sliced raw almonds, and raw sesame seeds for varying textures and nutty flavors. The syrup is created by melting butter with light brown sugar, honey, and salt over medium heat, then boiling briefly before stirring in vanilla extract and baking soda. The baking soda helps create a lighter texture by reacting with the acid in brown sugar and honey.
The syrup evenly coats the dry ingredients, which are spread on a sheet pan and baked at 325°F. The granola is baked twice with tossing and pressing to ensure even cooking and to encourage clumping. After cooling pressed firmly in the pan, the granola forms chunks with a golden brown color and a balance of crispness and chewiness. The coconut adds a toasty note, and sunflower seeds and almonds provide crunch.
The granola is versatile, can be served with milk or yogurt, or eaten as a snack. Common substitutions include vegan options replacing butter and honey with coconut oil and agave nectar respectively, gluten-free rolled oats for gluten sensitivity, and omitting nuts for nut-free versions while adding seeds or dried fruit for sweetness and texture. It stores well for weeks in airtight containers and can also be frozen.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups rolled oats not quick-cook or steel cut, old-fashioned
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds raw
- 1 cup flaked coconut I like Bob's Red Mill, unsweetened
- 1 cup almonds sliced, raw
- 1/3 cup sesame seed or flax seeds, raw brown
For the Syrup:
- 1/3 cup butter or coconut oil
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: Add oats, sunflower seeds, coconut, almonds, and sesame seeds to a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Make Syrup by adding butter to a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, honey and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and once boiling, remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
- Combine: Pour syrup over the dry oat mixture and mix well until everything is evenly coated.
- Bake: Pour mixture onto prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and toss mixture, then gently press down on it with your spatula to flatten it back into the pan. Bake for another 8-12 minutes until golden brown.
- Press and Cool: Remove pan from oven and use the back of a metal spatula to press the hot granola firmly down into the pan. Allow granola to cool completely in the pan before stirring or breaking it up (this will yield clusters that stick together).
Notes
- This recipe yields about 8 cups of granola; a serving size is approximately 1/4 cup.
- For a vegan version, substitute butter with coconut oil and honey with agave nectar.
- To add dried fruit, reduce oats by about 1/2 cup and stir in 1/2 cup dried fruit such as Craisins or freeze-dried berries.
- For a nut-free variation, omit almonds and add extra pumpkin or sunflower seeds or dried fruit.
- Use gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats to adapt the recipe for gluten sensitivity.
- Store granola in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for 4-6 weeks or freeze for 2-3 months in a freezer-safe container.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 32Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 102 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 102kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 5% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 5mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 61mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 68mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 60IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.05mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 26mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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