We are loving this Simple Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe from Sarah Orman. Sweetened with honey and dates, it is so easy to make and takes just about 10 minutes of prep time before baking in the over. Sarah recommends making a big batch of this recipe for the week so that eating healthy everyday is an easy choice – at least we can start the morning right!
From Sarah,
Earlier this month, I shared how coffee is an unwavering part of the morning routine in our household. It’s the fuel that literally kick starts every day of the week for us. Just as necessary as that first cup of joe, however, is a speedy, nutritious breakfast that compliments both my husband’s busy schedule and the need for my morning fare to actually taste good. At the weekend, it’s not uncommon for us to take a more leisurely approach to our first meal of the day. A typical Turkish breakfast known as “Menemen” is a beloved beginning for us both; a dish that combines traditional beef sausage, tomatoes, peppers, and scrambled eggs until just set. Served with freshly toasted bread, plentiful feta cheese, and a delicious sour cherry jam, it’s our favorite way to start a Saturday. When it comes to breakfast during the week, however, we don’t have time for eggs, pastries are an occasional weekend treat, and fruit simply doesn’t suffice. And so cereal it is.
Perplexed by the high quantity of sugar and sneaky sugar substitutes in almost every variety we reviewed, not to mention being baffled by several ingredients we couldn’t pronounce, I turned to investigating how to create my own granola at home. As with anything popular and widely consumed, there are hundreds upon hundreds of recipe variations combining oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, and after much experimentation I firmly believe that there isn’t really a right or wrong way of doing it, it’s truly a matter of personal taste. That being said, my go-to recipe is a favorite in our kitchen; a tried and trusted combination of simple ingredients, yielding a slightly tacky version with occasional clumps for a breakfast cereal that pairs perfectly with Greek yoghurt.
Beyond the fact that it’s rather tasty, knowing exactly what’s in my morning meal choice is wonderfully comforting. In addition, homemade granola is an unapologetically quick breakfast staple for the 2019 entrepreneur, who often juggles numerous tasks before the workday has even started. There are few households that care to deal with scores of dirty dishes at the beginning of the day, let alone face the stress of determining how to efficiently nourish the mind and body before the 7am commute. With a little forward planning (I often make granola on Sunday evening), a week’s worth of morning meals can be taken care of with very little effort, and if by Thursday your fuel is beginning to resemble the boring breakfast of the cereal aisle, the addition of a little fresh fruit helps to mix things up a bit!
Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe
Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20-25 mins, Serves: 6-8 servings Ingredients:
Ingredients
- 3 1⁄2 cups (315g/11oz) rolled oats
- 1 1⁄2 cups (90g/3oz) coconut flakes
- 1 cup (150g/ 5 1⁄2 oz) whole almonds
- 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄3 cup (75ml) honey
- 2⁄3 cup (150ml) vegetable or coconut oil
- 6-8 large medjool dates, pitted and chopped into small pieces
Method
- If using a convection or fan oven, preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C. For conventional oven baking, set the oven to 350°F/180°C.
- Combine oats, coconut, whole almonds, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
- If using coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, place inside a microwavable measuring jug large enough to hold 1 cup of liquid and heat until fluid in the microwave. This should take no more than 30-40 seconds. Add honey to the oil and lightly whisk until combined.
- Pour the combined liquid into the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly until the oats, coconut, and almonds are well coated.
- Line an 18” x 13” sheet pan with parchment then empty the contents of the bowl onto it, spreading evenly to ensure the granola bakes uniformly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until golden, removing gently to mix the granola every 8-10 minutes or so to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Once golden, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before transferring the granola to a large bowl. Note, the cooled granola will be a tad sticky and clumpy. Break it up to your desired consistency (I like some clumps!) using your hands or a wooden spoon.
- Finally, add the chopped dates to the granola and mix, taking care to ensure the dried fruit pieces are evenly distributed and not stuck together. Transfer to an airtight container and store for 3-5 days.
Thank you Sarah for sharing this recipe. We cannot wait to try this and replace our sugar filled, boxed cereal with a more healthy and homemade alternative.
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