All you really need
What you do need is your favorite ingredients.
• I use oatmeal as a base for mine because for one thing, it makes the more expensive ingredients like nuts and dried fruit go a little further, plus I like the bulk it gives to the finished product.
• Next for some texture. While I know that not only does it look like bird food but it is bird food, millet is delightfully crunchy.
• An array of seeds bring an array of healthy benefits including vitamin E, magnesium, copper, protein, zinc, and omega 3’s, just to call out a few.
• It doesn’t matter if you use walnuts, or pecans, or pistachios, or almonds. Not only do they bring more protein to the party but also another slew of health boosters.
• Orange zest and juice contributes some acidity along with some sweet.
• Spice it up! I used cinnamon but try ginger or nutmeg or go big and go for some cayenne. And salt to me makes everything taste a little better.
• Coconut oil and coconut sugar add a little fat and a little sweetness. I used to make this with butter and brown sugar which was awesome of course, but trying to give it a bit of a healthy makeover.
• And finally some chewy dried fruit.
Try this suggestion below or customize it to make your own homemade granola recipe. I’d love to hear about your favorite combinations!
- 2 cups oats (make sure they're sans gluten if you're GF)
- ⅓ cup millet
- ⅓ cup sunflower seeds
- ⅓ cup pumpkin seeds
- ⅓ cup flax seeds
- ½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1 orange, zest and juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅓ cup coconut oil
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- 1 cup dried fruit of choice
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add oats through the nuts to a big bowl and mix to combine.
- Stir in orange zest and juice, cinnamon and salt.
- Melt the coconut oil either on the stove or microwave and stir in coconut sugar. Add to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
- Spread evenly out on a baking sheet and place in preheated oven.
- Bake 30 to 40 minutes or so, stirring occasionally until mixture is dry and toasty brown.
- Let cool and add dried fruit. Store in an airtight container.