Toasted Coconut & Almond Granola

 

Recipe PDF

▸ ▹ Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free

Yield: 6 cups (12 servings) 

Prep Time: 10 min 

Cook Time: 1 hr 15 min 

Total Time: 1 hr 25 min 

INGREDIENTS

3 cups rolled oats (be sure to purchase gluten free if following a GF diet)

1 cup raw almonds, roughly chopped (or other nut of choice)

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds (or other nut/seed of choice)

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds (or other nut/seed of choice)

3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut flakes

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dried fruit, chopped if large (optional) 

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 250F (120C) and place a baking sheet onto a sheet pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, seeds, coconut and brown sugar.
3. In a medium bowl combine the maple syrup, oil and salt.
4. Combine the two mixtures together and mix, then pour onto the baking sheet.
5. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15-20 minutes to achieve an even golden colour.
6. That's it! Let it cool and harden, and then transfer to air-tight jars. If you want to add any dried fruits, this is when you should do it (do not cook the dried fruit). 

Notes

1. Make sure the nuts and seeds you use are raw. If they are already roasted, it's best to toss them in after the oats have baked, to avoid overcooking the nuts/seeds.
2. Get creative: add any nuts or seeds of your choice, or dried fruit such as dried cranberries or raisins, and even spices such as cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Make it differently each time for a new combination of flavours. 
3. Want to shorten the cooking time? Turn up the heat a bit, but be sure to keep an eye on it and stir more frequently to avoid burning. The mixture is ready when it's lightly golden - don't worry if it's not hard. It will harden as it cools. Enjoy!

Healthiest Ever Granola » Whole Foods & oil-free

Recipe PDF

▸ ▹ Slightly modified recipe from Jenny Mustards’ Super Healthy Granola recipe (shared with permission)
▸ ▹ Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, refined sugar-free

Yield: approx. 7 cups 
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 30 min

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup (175 g) dates*

1/2 cup (120 mL) tahini

3 cups (270 g) old-fashioned rolled oats (GF if desired)

1 cup (140 g) raw mixed nuts (I used almond and cashew), roughly chopped

1/2 cup (75 g) organic raisins**

1/4 cup (30 g) dried cranberries

1/4 cup (35 g) raw sunflower seeds

1/4 cup (35 g) raw pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup (15 g) unsweetened shredded coconut 

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt (optional) 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 150 C / 300 F.  
2. Mix dates, tahini and 3 Tbsp (45 mL) water in a food processor and blend until creamy. 
3. And all ingredients to a large bowl and mix to combine. 
4. Spread granola evenly on baking paper and press flat. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown, stopping one or two times to stir and flatten again if needed to prevent burning and to ensure the granola cooks evenly.
5. Let cool and transfer to an airtight container to store. Enjoy with smoothies, plant-based yogurts or on its own as a snack. 

Notes

1. *If  dry, soak in warm water until softened, drain. 
2. ** Organic raisins are optional but recommended as grapes tend to be a food very high in pesticide use. 
3. Variations: swap for your own desired raw nuts, raw seeds, and dried fruit to change it up. 
4. Storage: store in an air-tight container on the counter for up to two weeks.

 ~~~~~

This granola recipe is both sweet, because of the dates, raisins and dried cranberries, as well as savoury, because of the tahini. You can vary it up each time depending on the dried fruit or nuts and seeds you choose to add.

Let's walk through the step-by-step guide to make this yourself:

Step 1: gather your whole foods ingredients

Step 2: create the date + tahini mixture by blending in a food processor 

Step 3: roughly chop your raw nuts

Step 4: mix!

Step 5: transfer to oven-safe dish lined with parchment paper 

Step 6: bake until golden and fragrant 

Step 7: serve with plant-based yogurt and fresh fruit - make it look pretty! 

This granola recipe also makes for a wonderful gift, whether for house-warming events, birthdays or as a thank-you present. Kind of like this: