Best Ever Granola

Do you struggle with finding the perfect store-bought granola? Too sweet, too salty, weird textures, and a laundry list of additives and emulsifiers that clash with the supposed gut-friendly ingredients. Not to mention the cost.

Over the years, I've crafted numerous granola batches, not always sticking to a recipe. Yet, when I strike gold with a batch worth remembering, I jot down the details hoping to capture the magic. This recipe is one of those worth noting and also my personal favourite to make at home. Popular with retreat guests, I regularly get asked for the recipe - so here it is!

Feel free to personalise this granola to your liking; that's the beauty of crafting it from scratch, play around with the types of nuts, seeds and fruit. Other options for natural sweeteners include brown rice syrup and honey. Substituting olive oil with melted coconut oil also works equally well. However, the keys for me in this recipe is having lots of nourishing additions like the nuts and seeds, so don’t skimp on these. And especially the slow, low toasting, which makes it super crunchy without damaging the health-supportive oils and polyphenols.

Enjoy the amazing aroma of home made granola!

Homemade Crunchy Granola Bliss

Ingredients:

300g rolled oats

1 1/2 cups almonds, roughly chopped

1 1/2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

3/4 cup pumpkin seeds

3/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup maple syrup (adjust based on sweetness preference)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (or melted coconut oil)

1 tsp vanilla extract

Zest from 1 orange

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup dried goji berries

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 130°C/260°F and line two large baking trays with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, mix together rolled oats, almonds, pecans, flaked coconut, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk maple syrup, olive oil, vanilla extract, orange zest and salt

4. Pour the maple mixture over the dry ingredients, ensuring an even coating.

5. Spread the mixture evenly on the prepared baking trays.

6. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes for uniform crispiness.

7. Let the granola cool completely on the trays before mixing in dried fruit.

8. Once fully cooled, store your granola in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight.

Feel free to customise the sweetness, oil, or fruit amounts to suit your taste. Enjoy the delicious homemade crunch!