Healthy Granola
This delicious healthy granola recipe is naturally sweetened with maple syrup (or honey). It’s made with oats, coconut oil and your favorite nuts and fruit. Make it your own! Recipe yields about 8 cups granola, enough for about 16 half-cup servings.
Prep: 5min
Total: 26min
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1/2 cup, calories 313 calories, Sugar 10.7 g, Sodium 143.2 mg, Fat 14.3 g, Saturated Fat 6.6 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 39.8 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 7.6 g, Cholesterol 0 mg
Ingredients:
- 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola)
- 1 1/2 cup raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 1 cup pecans and 1/2 cup pepitas)
- 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt (if you’re using standard table salt, scale back to 3/4 teaspoon)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup dried fruit, chopped if large (I used dried cranberries)
- Totally optional additional mix-ins: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or coconut flakes*
Instruction:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon. Stir to blend.
- Pour in the oil, maple syrup and/or honey and vanilla. Mix well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer.
- Bake until lightly golden, about 21 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway (for extra-clumpy granola, press the stirred granola down with your spatula to create a more even layer). The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
- Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes). Top with the dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips, if using). Break the granola into pieces with your hands if you want to retain big chunks, or stir it around with a spoon if you don’t want extra-clumpy granola.
- Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Gordon Ramsay’s Granola Recipe
FAQ
Is it cheaper to make homemade granola?
Is it cheaper to make your own granola? Homemade granola is absolutely less expensive than the store-bought version. An 11 oz bag of granola at Wal-Mart costs $4.13, that’s about $1.50 per cup!
Is granola a good carb or bad carb?
Granola is also packed with carbs. “For active people, granola is best known for being a source of carbohydrate to fuel the muscles and provide energy for a busy day,” Clark says. “Grains are excellent for athletic people to fuel muscles.”
Is eating homemade granola healthy?
Often touted as health food, many packaged granolas contain so much fat, sugar, and calories that you might as well eat a candy bar. On the other hand, when enjoyed in moderation, healthy homemade granola is an excellent source of fiber, iron, healthy fat, and protein.
Is granola just as healthy as oatmeal?
Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can’t quite compete with.
