homemade granola, it's easy!

I've been tweaking my homemade granola recipe for a while now and it's time to share.  I used to think homemade granola would be hard to make, but it's super easy to throw together. It has no added oil and no added calories from sweeteners (I use stevia to sweeten it).  My hubby hates coconut, but it would be a great addition if you like it.

The fat content is high, but it's all from heart healthy nuts and seeds!  One serving gives you Patrick Holford's recommended daily serving of flax, pepitas & sunflower seeds.

You'll need a large mixing bowl and a large half-sheet pan (mine's non-stick, I honestly don't know if it would stick to a regular pan, but I don't think so).

makes 8 3/4 cup servings.

• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats (Bob's Red Mill)
• 1/2 cup whole almonds (2.5 ounces), finely chopped in food processor. can also use slivered almonds.
• 1/2 cup walnuts halves (1.5 ounces) chopped in food processor, or by hand if you prefer larger bits
• 1/4 cup oat bran
• 1/4 cup flaxseeds (must be ground)
• 2 T organic pepitas (pumpkin seeds), ground
• 2 T sunflower seeds
• 1/2 tsp stevia (an herbal non-calorie sweetener, you can use 1/4 cup of maple syrup instead if you prefer, but it changes the nutrition data)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit (add after baking).

Preheat oven to 250. In a large mixing bowl mix all dry ingredients (oats through salt). Stir to combine. Add applesauce. If using maple syrup instead of stevia, add to dry ingredients with applesauce. Stir to distribute. Spread out onto sheet pan. Bake for a total of 1 hr 15 min, stirring every 15 minutes.  Don't be tempted to bake at a higher temp for a shorter time, nuts need the low baking temp).  Once cooked, add raisins.

Store in airtight container.

We eat ours dry, but it's also yummy with a little milk or yogurt. 

[edit: forgot the nutrition stats!]

Calories: 326
From Fat: 127
Fat Grams: 15g
Sat Fat: 2g
Sodium: 149mg
Carbs: 41g
Fiber: 8g
Sugar: 7g
Protein: 12g

According to NutritionData.com, it has a protein score of 82 (100 is complete).

I know you say it's easy...

... but I look at that recipe and think, "wow, that's hard!"

haha

Trust me, xuraiya, if I can make it anyone can!

might be a little time consuming with all that stirring every 15 minutes, but not difficult...hard is having to worry about burning things, having 2-3 things going at the same time, all needing your attention (like timing a Thanksgiving meal so everything is done at the same time, I suck at that!), and anything requiring precise temperature (candy making? forget it!).  This is throw together and bake.  Easy peasy!

You do need a grinder for the flax and pepitas, I use a little electric coffee grinder that I have just for that (I grind flax almost every day) but you can buy flax already ground if you don't have one, and a food processor for chopping the nuts. If you don't have a food processor you could use slivered almonds and coarsely chop the walnuts by hand.

Followed your link. I make my own granola too, but I have been using oil. I'll give the applesauce a try, also like the idea of using the flaxseed meal. Homemade Granola is the best!! I use vanilla as well as cinnamon and maple syrup for flavour.

The secret to using applesause is not to use too much. I've tried increasing the quantity to make the granola "clumpier", but it tastes to applesauce-y and never seems to dry to that nice crunchy texture. 

 

By the way, I just bought organic sprouted flax at Whole Foods - you don't need to grind it! Very convenient.