I absolutely love granola, but don’t always love all the added sugars and preservatives in many store bought versions. While you can find versions with whole food ingredients, they typically are still packed with more sugar & fat than necessary. I’ve been making varieties of my own granola for a while now, and love how versatile it can be! I’ve found that most varieties don’t need a lot of added sweetness when incorporating add ins like dried fruits and cinnamon. I’ll make a big batch on the weekends which will typically last two weeks.

The Essentials

One of the advantages of making your own granola is that you get to control what goes inside it. While the variety of add ins are endless, you only need three ingredients for the base- old fashion oats, coconut oil, and raw honey. Oats are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates to keep you full and fueled throughout the day. Coconut oil has been proven to increase brain function as well as raise good HDL cholesterol. The fat in the coconut oil also helps you feel satisfied and full throughout the morning. Raw unrefined honey is an excellent alternative to refined sugars found in most granola. Rich in antioxidants, honey can help lower blood pressure, increase good cholesterol and even help fight seasonal allergies. To reap the greatest benefits, it’s important to buy raw, unfiltered, local honey.

The Add ins

I love to mix nuts like cashews and almonds and dried fruits like cranberries and apricots into my granola. I will buy raw nuts in bulk at the local health food store, then dry roast them with a bit of salt in the oven. Whenever I’m roasting the nuts my husband always asks “are you making cookies?” and I hate to break it to him that I’m just roasting almonds; although in my opinion roasted cashews and almonds are equally as delicious as a cookie. I try to find dried fruit with no added sugar or sweetened only with fruit juice. I find I can cut back on some of the honey I add to the granola if I mix in some dried fruit. Fruit and Nuts are my go to’s, but you could include things like dried coconut, chia seeds, flax, or chocolate chips. Just wait for the granola to cool before adding the mix-ins.

The Process

Granola is perhaps the easiest thing to throw together because you literally just throw everything together! While your oven preheats to 350F, melt the coconut oil on the stove or microwave for :30. Once melted, mix honey with coconut oil to combine. I find that mixing the two helps to evenly coat the oats. Once mixed pour over oats, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine then transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Spread evenly to ensure even baking then place into oven for 15-20 minutes. I will turn the pan and mix the granola again about half way through to make sure it comes out golden brown. Once cooled add mix- ins and store to an airtight container or glass jar.

Granola can be enjoyed as a substitute to granola, over warmed fruit, or my favorite on top of my morning smoothie!

• 6 Cups Oat Fashion Oats
• 1/4-1/2 Cup Honey
• 1/2 Cup Unrefined Coconut Oil
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tbsp Cinnamon
• 3/4 Cup Cashews
• 1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries
• 1/2 Cup Apricots