Homemade Granola
Sweet. Salty. Nutty. Crunchy. Healthy rolled oats. Almonds and cranberries. Add in some cinnamon and Greek yoghurt and you’ve got yourself a healthy comforting bowl of goodness to get the day started.
Granola is easy to make, and the homemade version is so much better than any store-bought variety. You get to choose your preferred combination of nuts, seeds and dried fruits as well as the flavour you like.
I’ve made so many different kinds of granola these past several months… with almonds and walnuts and pecans and cranberries and apricots and pumpkin seeds and chia seeds and even some with cocoa and dark chocolate chips! My favourite version these days is a simple combination of almonds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries and an extra dash of cinnamon. Some stewed apples and plain Greek yoghurt makes a quick, delicious and seriously filling breakfast. I guess the fibre from the rolled oats and dried fruits, and the healthy fats from the nuts and seeds keep mid-morning hunger pangs at bay.
I came across literally hundreds of recipes for granola when I first started making it at home…and it was difficult to sift through them and determine what would work. And then I chanced upon some ‘recipe magic’! A simple formula to make granola that turns the whole process into an easy-to-customise breeze! I’ve since then tweaked the formula to my liking…and here it is for you to try.
Granola Formula
Mix together 3 parts rolled oats to 2 parts nuts and seeds to 1 part liquid mix of oil and sweetener. Add in your choice of flavouring. Bake for 40 – 45 minutes at 150ºC. Stir together 2 – 3 times during the baking process. Mix in 1 part dried fruit. Cool. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy with fruit and yoghurt or milk for a wholesome breakfast or just by the handful for a delicious snack!
Use a cup measure or any bowl at hand – as long as you keep adding ingredients with the same measure, your granola will turn out great! Don’t forget to add some cinnamon or vanilla! And remember to add in the dried fruit after you have finished with the baking process.
Some interesting combinations…
- almonds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, cinnamon – my current favourite!
- pecans, sunflower seeds, goji berries, vanilla
- walnuts, sesame seeds, figs, dark chocolate chips – feel free to mix in some cocoa powder in the wet ingredients for that extra chocolate oomph!
Do write in with your feedback if you give the formula a shot… and let me know what flavour combination gets you going in the morning!