The Best Healthy Granola Recipe

 

This truly is the best healthy granola recipe out there you can make! Not only does it taste great, but it is naturally sweetened and full of nutrients!

 

 

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The best thing about granola is that it is HIGHLY customizable. Trust me, I’m all about the ease–whatever kind of nuts, seeds, and sweeteners you have in your pantry, feel free to substitute them in here.

 

Okay friends, let’s get right into it.

 

So I’m a little granola-obsessed. I mean, my family even refers to me as the granola-girl…but I just love how versatile it is! I have it as a cereal with almond or oat milk, I sprinkle it on yogurt, I top it on toast, I sprinkle it on my oatmeal, etc. Breakfasts, lunches, snacks–you name it, and granola can probably be served 🙂

 

Not only do I find that it’s highly addicting from how great it tastes, but I love how nutrient-packed it is. I seriously am relieved to know that my snacks are filled with antioxidants, vitamin E, magnesium, protein, and healthy fats. Read this article here on the benefits of nut-consumption, and hopefully inspire you to keep the nuts as an essential ingredient in this recipe!

 

You can make this recipe as sweet as you would like, but I really like how it is not overly-sweet. This granola recipe has a nice nutty, earthy taste to it that allows me to eat a relatively small amount in order to be satiated. It just adds that extra crunch that hits the spot. 

 

SO–if you’re in the market for a trusty, tried-and-true, flavorful granola recipe that is going to give you lots of energy and satisfy your sweet tooth…this is for YOU! I’m stoked to be able to share it with you.

 

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Rolled Oats (aka Old-fashioned oats) 

opt for certified GF oats if you are needing a gluten-free option!

• Nuts! 

I love adding chopped pecans or walnuts to my granola. Feel free to add your favorite ones here, but I think pecans and walnuts add a special flavor that isn’t in your typical store-bought granola.

• Coconut Oil

(melted) I think this is the best oil for a boost of flavor, but feel-free to use your oil of choice. Check out this neat article on the benefits of coconut oil if you are a bit ~skeptical~.

• Chia Seeds

If you want an omega-3 rich granola, definitely add chia seeds to boost your nutrient profile in this recipe. 

• Vanilla extract, sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg

These ingredients all require small amounts added, but boy oh boy does it truly MAXIMIZE the flavor of your granola. 

• Unsweetened Coconut Flakes

Coconut is an optional ingredient, but I really love how they add a good amount of volume to the recipe, and just a hint of coconut flavor. 

 

 

Let’s get right into it then! Here’s how to make the granola:

1. Mix together the dry ingredients.  The oats, pecans, walnuts, chia seeds, coconut flakes, cinnamon, sea salt, and nutmeg.
2. Add the wet ingredients.  Gather the vanilla, coconut oil (melted), and maple syrup and whisk them together. Drizzle these ingredients over the dry mixture, and mix altogether until the wet ingredients are evenly incorporated. Take a baking pan lined with parchment-paper, and spread the granola evenly. 
3. Bake it.  Let the granola bake at 325°F for 15 mins.  Remove the granola from the oven, give it a good mix, then throw it back in for another 15 mins. Make sure you frequently check on it to make sure the coconut flakes aren’t burning!
4. Check it. After the additional 15 mins, check on the granola one more time until you see that it is a nice golden brown color. Depending on your oven, the granola may need an additional 10 mins to bake. Remember to keep a close eye on it! Then simply remove the baking sheet out of the oven and allow it to cool. 
5. Cool it.  After about 20 or 30 mins (or until cooled to room temp) use your hands, or a spoon to break up the granola to your desired consistency–the more you mix, the less clumps, the less you mix, the more chunky!
6. Add to it.  Once your mixture has cooled, you can choose to add other ingredients in. Maybe add chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc. It is really up to you! 
7. Enjoy it!  If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to enjoy this RIGHT AWAY! That’s okay, go ahead 🙂 . It should last for up to 4 weeks in a sealed container if you want to save it a bit, though!

 

Other add-in options:

Like I said before, this recipe is customizable. Feel free to add-in:

• Dried fruit.

I sometimes add in dried cherries (check for no added sugar) to mine, because cherries are FULL of antioxidants! This helps to decrease inflammation in the body, and really helps you recover for your next workout. It also gives it a sweet profile.

• Chocolate Chips.

I gotta be honest…I typically don’t do this one. Like, don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate but in my granola I typically opt for a maple-y, nutty profile. Totally up to you, though! Just be sure to add these after your granola has cooled enough when you add them so you can keep them in chip-form. 

• Flax Seeds

If you want to add these in addition to the chia seeds, or even instead of them, flax seeds are another great option to get your dose of omega-3 Fatty Acids in! Remember: these are anti-inflammatory 🙂

• Additional Spices

I really love the sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg combo–but you can totally add some warmed spices like ginger, all-spice, or cloves in this granola recipe as well!

 

Here is the Best Healthy Granola Recipe you’ll make:

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257681/

https://www.bluezones.com/recipes/food-guidelines/#:~:text=SNACK%20ON%20NUTS,all%20nuts%20with%20the%20Adventists.

https://drhyman.com/blog/2017/06/26/coconut-oil/

https://drhyman.com/blog/2016/04/06/is-coconut-oil-bad-for-your-cholesterol/