Homemade Crunchy Granola

I am definitely a girl that loves a sweet breakfast over a savory breakfast any day. Give me all the oatmeal, peanut butter, fruits, and yogurt in the morning and I will be one happy person. One sweet breakfast item I eat almost every other day is granola. Whether that be on some greek yogurt, chia pudding, smoothie bowl, or just as cereal, I could eat granola all day long. BUT, I am very picky when it comes to my granola. It has to be crunchy, it has to have lots of different textures, and it can’t be too sweet, it has to have a perfect salty balance. Now, these parameters are pretty hard to find in store-bought granola. Especially because the grocery cereal aisle is filled with cereals and granolas that have tons of sugars, sweeteners, artificial flavors, and preservatives that our bodies don’t necessarily love.

Breakfast, in all honesty, is the most important meal of the day because it’s the meal that is going to give you the energy and nutrients your body needs to work hard all day long. A balanced breakfast should include all key nutrients including carbs, proteins, healthy fats, and micronutrients to give you energy and keep you satiated and satisfied. This homemade granola can give you all of those nutrients on its own, or can be a great supplement for yogurts, chia puddings, smoothie bowls, and more! Not only that, it can also be a great topping for ice cream for a yummy dessert.

The reason I wanted to create this simple granola recipe for my blog was also because of how customizable it is. I always want to encourage you to get creative in your kitchen and use my recipes as a guide, but also feel like you can change things around to fit the needs, wants, and taste/texture preferences of you and your family. Feel free to use this as a base and swap out for other nuts you like better or need to use up, omit the coconut flakes if you’re not a fan, add some dried fruits if you want to sweeten things up. Not only that, you can also change the flavors to match whatever season it is! Add in some pumpkin pie spice in the fall, some nutmeg and cloves in the winter, or some lemon/orange zest in the spring/summer. Get creative, have fun, and add some variety and spice to your life with this homemade granola recipe!

Nutrition Facts:

• Oats are such an incredible carbohydrate that are packed with nutrients including whole grains, fiber, antioxidants, and tons of vitamins/minerals including B vitamins, manganese, and many others. They are a food that can make you feel satiated and satisfied, and are so versatile. These tiny grains can be made into sweet or savory oatmeal, used in tons of baked goods whole or ground into flour, added to smoothies, and so much more.
• Honey is one of my favorite natural sweeteners and home remedies, and is a pantry staple in my house. There are so many studies supporting the health benefits of honey including being rich in antioxidants, being a better alternative to sugar due to its lower glycemic index, anti-inflammatory effects, and natural home remedy for coughs and colds. It’s even better if you can buy local honey as there has been some research that supports its ability to lessen seasonal allergies. Honey is still considered a sugar and should only be consumed in moderation, but I recommend using it as a good swap for sugar not only for the benefits, but better flavor!

Servings: Approximately 4 cups

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1 cup pecans (chopped)
• ½ cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup coconut oil (melted)
• ½ cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Melt the coconut oil and let cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, coconut flakes, pecans, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and salt.
4. Pour the melted coconut oil, honey, and vanilla into the large bowl with the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to thoroughly combine all ingredients, being sure that all of the dry ingredients are well coated and the mixture is sticky.
5. Spread the mixture onto a parchment lined cookie sheet into an even layer.
6. Bake at 300 degrees F. for about 35-40 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Be sure to flip the granola halfway through the cook time.
7. Let cool on sheet pan until it reaches room temperature. Once cool, crumble using a spatula or hands to desired cluster size.
8. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
9. Use as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, or serve as cereal with some milk!