super crunchy and delicious, this (in my humble opinion) is the best granola ever!
. . .
enjoy it for breakfast or munch on it as an afternoon snack, you will be really happy that you decided to make this granola!
Super easy to make, this granola has an impressive list of ingredients that will leave you deliciously satisfied whether you enjoyed it for breakfast or as an afternoon snack! And believe me, no store-bought granola comes even close to this deliciousness.
I like to include as many nuts and seeds as possible in my granola and typically only use oats, but decided to mix things up a little and do a half oats and half buckwheat for this one, which turned out to be soooo delicious! If you want to do a gluten-free version, you can simply omit the oats and just double the buckwheat instead, which will add even more crunchiness. If you would like a nut-free version, just omit the almonds and substitute with more pumpkin and/ or sunflower seeds.
additional information
Oats - a whole grain, rich in carbs and fiber, as well as higher in protein and fat than other grains. Also rich in minerals and vitamins, oats are among the most nutrient-dense foods.
Buckwheat Groats - belong to a group of foods called pseudocerelas or pseudograins (also includes quinoa and amaranth), which are not related to wheat and are gluten-free. Buckwheat has been around for ages, but has gained popularity recently because of its high mineral and antioxidant content, which can improve blood sugar control.
Pumpkin Seeds - provide healthy fats, magnesium, zinc, and are full of antioxidants. They are associated with reducing inflammation, improving heart health, prostate health and may protect against certain types of cancer.
Sesame Seeds - oil-rich seeds that are a good source of healthy fats, protein, vitamin B, fiber and antioxidants, which may aid blood sugar control, arthritis pain and lower cholesterol.
Almonds - high in monounsaturated fats, fiber, protein and important nutrients. They are also loaded with antioxidants, high in vitamin E and magnesium, and can assist with blood sugar control.
Sunflower Seeds - contain vitamin E, magnesium, protein, linoleic fatty acids and several plant compounds, which may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and control blood sugar levels.
needed ingredients:
rolled oats
buckwheat groats
pumpkin seeds
sesame seeds
slivered almonds
sunflower seeds
coconut chips
almond butter
coconut oil
maple syrup
vanila extract
spices
preparation details
The preparation is fairly straightforward and it does not take a lot of time. Start by placing all of the dry ingredients, including the spices into a large mixing bowl and mix well. I find using a spatula is the easiest way to mix them all up.
Place the coconut oil, almond butter (recipe for Homemade Almond Butter), maple syrup and vanilla extract into a pan and heat over medium heat, stirring often until it starts to bubble, but do not let it boil. Then pour over the dry ingredients and mix until everything is evenly coated. Transfer to a lined baking sheet, pressing it down with the spatula.
I prefer my granola to be more chunky, so I press it down firmly with the spatula and do not mix it throughout the baking process. If you prefer a more crumbly granola, then do not press it down and make sure to give it a nice mix halfway through the bake.
Also, I prefer my granola on the darker side for added caramelization and crunchiness, but you definitely can take it out of the oven a few minutes earlier :)
This granola is perfect when combined with some non-dairy yogurt, sliced apple and pomegranate seeds, which is currently in season and adds a good balance of tanginess and sweetness. And if I must be completely honest, I often enjoy eating the granola as an afternoon snack straight from the jar, so just do you!
Whichever way you consume it, you will be happy with how deliciously crunchy and flavorful this granola is!
recipe
Crunchy Granola
Deliciously crunchy and flavorful, this granola will have you coming back to the jar time and time again! Serve it with yogurt and fruit or enjoy it as an afternoon snack straight out of the jar, you will simply be hooked!
{vegetarian & vegan friendly}
Author: The Kitchen Plot
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cook Time: 25 min.
Overall Time: 35 min.
Serves: 6 - 8
Perfect for: breakfast, snack
Keeps for: airtight jar/ container - 1 week
Products:
1/2 cup {60 g} rolled oats
1/2 cup {90 g} buckwheat groats
1/2 cup {70 g} pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup {70 g} sesame seeds
1/2 cup {50 g} slivered almonds
1/2 cup {75 g} sunflower seeds
1/2 cup {35 g} coconut chips
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp allspice
2 Tbsp {50 g} almond butter
3 Tbsp {50 g} coconut oil
1/4 cup {70 g} maple syrup
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
non-dairy yogurt, for serving
apple slices, for serving
pomegranate seeds, for serving
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 320F convection/ 160C fan.
Place all dry ingredients along with the spices in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
Place the almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract into a pan and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until it starts to bubble. Once it starts to bubble, pour over the dry ingredients and mix until everything is evenly coated.
Transfer to the lined baking sheet and bake for 20-25 min, rotating halfway through.
* I like my granola chunky and on the darker side, so I do not mix it when baking and keep it the extra 5 min. in the oven. If you prefer a looser, more crumbly granola, give it a good mix halfway through and bake for 20 min.
Let granola cool completely before transferring it to an air-tight container or jar.
Serve the granola with some yogurt (I use non-dairy), sliced-up apples and pomegranate seeds - to see the easiest way to clean pomegranates, check out this post.
Bon appétit!
If you like the recipe, you can save it to Pinterest!