Nut-Free, Picky-Eater Approved Granola
I have always wanted to make granola, but for some reason thought it was impossibly hard?!? It’s absolutely not! It’s incredibly easy & quick to throw together. Maybe I thought it was hard because I have a relative who makes homemade granola & gives it to the whole family when she’s in town & everyone calls her a saint for slaving away. (p.s. if you’re the relative I’m talking about & you’re reading this: don’t worry, your secret it safe with me 🤫) But hell, I might start making granola for friends & coworkers because it’s healthy, delicious, & did I mention easy?? Anyway, enough chit chat! Let’s get to the recipe!
Ingredients:
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 tbsp chia seeds
3 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or substitute for -12 tsp cinnamon if you’re a monster who hates pumpkin pie spice)
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup real maple syrup
2 egg whites, beaten (this helps the granola to clump up in that classic granola-y way)
1 cup optional add-ins like mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, etc…
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees fahrenheit & prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl (except for the optional add-ins— we’ll mix those in at the end)
Melt the coconut oil in the microwave & stir in the maple syrup. Pour the mixture on top of the dry ingredients and mix well.
Beat the 2 egg whites in a small bowl & mix into the oats. Stir extra well to ensure the eggs are well distributed. (Pro tip: instead of chucking the egg yolks, use them for a protein treatment for your hair. Trust me! Add 5-10 drops of Cedarwood essential oil. It will leave your hair soft and oddly clean. Just make sure you rinse it out with cold water.)
Spread the oats evenly over your baking sheet & bake for around 30 mins, stirring every 10 minutes to prevent burning.
Once your granola is golden brown, remove from the oven & let cool completely untouched for another 30-40 mins. Then go ahead and mix in your add-ins!
Store it in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
