Cafeterias have known how to adapt to the new times, and instead of seeing chocolate cupcakes, it is increasingly common to find a bowl of yogurt with homemade granola. If you have tried it, you will agree that it is spectacular and gives a special touch to the mixture of yogurt with fruits. To prevent you from spending all your salary in bars that have this delight, we show you a simple, fast and healthy recipe.
The healthiest granola is always the one that is low in sugar and high in nutrients. Whenever possible, it is advisable to make it at home, instead of buying it in a store. This is mainly because we can control the ingredients and adjust them according to our nutritional needs.
This granola is also a great snack option and is pretty easy to keep in the bag when we're craving something crunchy and filling. It is an ideal food for traveling or for a snack at noon. It is also a perfect snack for children to take to school.
Why make homemade granola?
You will have seen versions of all kinds, with refined sugar, brown sugar, brown sugar, sweetener, etc. We prefer that the flavor of the granola be given by honey and cinnamon. If you are going to use it as a complement to a bowl of yogurt with fruit, the fruit chosen will be the one that gives the sweet touch to breakfast or snack.
This recipe is one of the simplest, and you can change ingredients to your liking. For example, if you want to take care of yourself a little more or you are an athlete, add dehydrated fruits to provide more fiber and sweetness. You can also choose another type of cereal, nuts or seeds. Do you prefer flax seeds or pumpkin seeds? Perfect! Just make sure you have all the ingredients well chopped so they are easy to eat.
Granola is an essential element for those of us who love crunchy breakfasts. Some enjoy topping smoothies, adding it to oatmeal recipes, or having chia seed pudding with a big ball of granola for a little crunch. There are many reasons beyond the gist of why we love homemade granola.
- Packed with fiber– Rolled oats are high in fiber and this recipe is made with a base of old-fashioned oats.
- meal prep– This homemade granola recipe will keep for 1-2 weeks stored in a cool, dark place.
- Whole grains: Since the granola is made with the base of rolled oats, we will get a whole grain serving.
- Better than store bought: We may be biased, but homemade granola is hands down better than store-bought. It's better for you and it tastes better too. Also, cheaper to make your own granola if you choose to do it more than once. It can be a little expensive to buy all the ingredients in bulk, but homemade is very affordable in the long run.
- All-Natural Sweetener: This recipe calls for honey and no white sugar. We can use honey or maple syrup in this recipe, sweetening it only with natural sugars.
How to make it crispy
Making crunchier, lumpier granola requires no additional ingredients, just a couple of extra steps. We must ensure that we press the ingredients into an even layer before baking. We will stir the granola once halfway through cooking. To get an extra crunch in the granola, press the dough before it completely cools to room temperature, then avoid pounding until it cools completely.
The way you store it is also important to prevent it from becoming soft. Granola should be stored like dry oats. Since this recipe is homemade, it can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Experts recommend storing it in a glass jar in the fridge or in a BPA-free plastic bag when we go on a trip or spend hours away from home.
How to substitute some ingredients?
For this recipe you can make some substitutions or exchanges, depending on our tastes or what we have at home.
Oatmeal
Old fashioned oats are the most common grain used for granola. They roast beautifully and have a delicious nutty flavor. Below you will find some other exchanges.
- Puffy quinoa
- cooked quinoa
- desiccated coconut strips
- Puffed rice
dried fruit
We use dried cranberries and raisins in this healthy granola recipe. The dried fruit should be added after baking (or with a few minutes remaining) so it doesn't burn or harden. Here are other tasty nut options:
- dried apricots
- dried cherries
- dried dates
- dried bananas
- banana chips
- dried mangoes
- dried apples
Nuts and seeds
We can add some protein and fiber to any granola recipe by adding nuts and seeds. They can be cut or left whole.
- Almonds
- Nuts
- Cashew nuts
- Pistachios
- Pecans
- Sesame seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Macadamia nuts
Natural sweeteners
To make a fit granola, we prefer to use natural sweeteners (think honey or maple syrup) because it tastes better and is healthier. We use honey in this recipe, but there are a few other options below.
- Maple syrup
- Stevia
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
- monk fruit syrup
Buy
Oil is important in any healthy granola recipe because it helps bind the dough together and make it crisp. There are so many options when it comes to oil, so we can feel free to substitute our favorite.
- Coco
- Olive
- Grapeseed
- Avocado
- Macadamia nut
- Nut
Spices
We can flavor the granola by adding our favorite dry extracts and spices. We kept it simple and just added cinnamon to this granola, but we could also spice things up using a couple teaspoons of other spices.
- Ginger
- Jaimacan pepper
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom
- Sea salt
- Almond extract
- Vanilla extract
