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Homemade Nutty Granola



For athletes experiencing an increase in training volume, granola makes for a delicious and nutritious energy-dense food to help with meeting carbohydrate and energy needs. Granola makes for a delicious topping to yogurt or to enjoy by the handful.

In our recent newsletter, Joey shared her scrumptious granola recipe. After she shared it with me, I immediately replied "I need to make this!" 

Homemade Granola
By Joey Mock, RD, LD, CLT

This is an easy to make and delicious homemade granola recipe. Grab a handful and eat it as it is for a snack or add it to cereal, yogurt/smoothies, or top a salad with it. Mix up the nuts/seeds and dried fruits for variety each time you make it.

Ingredients
  • 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 to 1 ½ cups raw nuts and/or seeds (pecans, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, etc)
  • ½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
  • ½ cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup dried fruit, chopped if large pieces (dried cranberries, tart cherries, apricots, raisins)
Optional additional mix-ins: ½ cup chocolate chips and/or coconut flakes*


Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a large, rimmed baking sheet/sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt, and cinnamon. Stir to blend.
  3. In a pourable measuring cup, mix the oil, maple syrup and/or honey, and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and mix well until everything is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and spread in an even layer.
  4. Bake until lightly golden, about 23 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway. The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
  5. Let the granola cool completely (about 45 minutes). Mix in dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips, if desired) with a spoon breaking up large clumps of granola if desired.
  6. Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer. If freezing, let it warm to room temperature before serving to thaw the fruit.
  7. Enjoy!
*If you like toasted coconut in your granola, stir the coconut flakes into the granola halfway through baking.




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