Homemade Fruit And Nut Granola

Granola is like candy to me, I seriously love the stuff, but only when it is freshly made and not too sweet.  There are a few great things about making your granola.  Despite what people think, it is straightforward to do and it is extremely adaptable.  Store-bought granola is always so sweet and, to me, it can have a slight cardboard taste.  When you make your own, you can easily adjust the sweetness level, choose whether to add fruit, toasted coconut, chocolate, seeds, or chai, and switch out different oils.

You name it, it’s possible.  Homemade granola also keeps well, at least a week in an airtight container or up to two weeks in the refrigerator.  But trust me, it won’t last that long.  Add this homemade fruit and nut granola to some yogurt (my favorite is low-fat, skyr) and you have a great, easy breakfast the whole family will enjoy, packed with protein, fiber, and less sugar than in most cereals.

In this recipe, I like to mix in heart-healthy nut and seed options like walnuts (rich in Omega-3s), pecans (high in fiber), and pepitas (which have a substantial quantity of healthy fat, magnesium, and zinc).  Although it may seem counterintuitive, adding oil helps keep granola crunchy. There are options here as well.  I use coconut oil, but you can use olive oil sunflower oil, or even vegetable oil.

For a sweetening agent, I typically use local honey, (with a little brown sugar mixed in) but maple syrup or agave also works great. Lastly, dried fruit is important to me for its flavor, texture, and sweetness.  Cherries and blueberries are my natural go-to dried fruits. Cherries are rich in antioxidants and are believed to support heart health.  Dried blueberries and their superfruit quality add a ton of dietary fiber to your morning meal.