Homemade Granola

This granola is pure love. Rolled oats, chopped pecans, pepitas, chia and flax seeds, dried cranberries, coconut flakes, maple syrup and cinnamon all baked to a crisp/chewy texture. How can I resist!

I am literally sitting here right now typing out this post eating some of this homemade granola. It is Monday, and while for most of my life, (and for many people) Mondays are a drag, I however, love them now. They have become the day of the week that I can stay home and cook/blog by myself without any interruptions! Ahhhh. When you add in a day like today where there is a fresh layer of snow on the ground and sun pouring through the windows you bet I’m making one thing. My Homemade Granola. I have the Christmas tunes turned up and the house smells heavenly!

I am also gift wrapping today, so I thought I would jar up some of this goodness and tie a ribbon round it! As long as the lid is on tight, this should stay good for a week or two. This granola makes a great last minute gift. Who wouldn’t want some delicious granola to munch on Christmas morning between present opening!

How Else Do I Use Homemade Granola

Ok ok, so I’ve been talking a lot about Christmas because that is the current season as I’m writing. But This granola is good year round! I make it as part of my regular snack/breakfast rotation. Honestly one of my favorite times to make it is in the summer. I will make a double batch and put it in a large air tight container and bring it with us when we go up North. It is the perfect thing to take on a morning boat cruise. If I leave it out on the counter my husband and son have it gone before I even get to the boat! Here are a few other uses for this granola:

A crunchy topping for vanilla plant based yoghurt
Sprinkled over some fresh fruit puree or smoothie bowl
As a crunchy topping for oatmeal or Overnight Oats
As a flavor topping for cakes and breads

Is Homemade Granola Healthy?

Well yes and no. First off, there are so many nutritious ingredients in here! Nuts, seeds, chia and flax all contribute to great health benefits. That being said, some of those same ingredients are also high in calories so if you are trying to loose weight, this may not be the breakfast or snack for you in the same way as a granola bar wouldn’t be. It also has some coconut oil in it so if you are no-oil, either leave it out (it may not get as crisp) or choose a different dessert. I like to eat it over some blended fruit as in a smoothie bowl so a little sprinkle is like a nutritious spoonful of sugar!

How Long Does Homemade Granola Keep?

You can keep this granola for a week or up to two weeks in an air tight container. No need to refrigerate. That will just make it soggy. Do not freeze either. This is best enjoyed within a few days of baking. Trust me, it won’t last that long. You can also keep in glass jars or a ziplock bag. Store in the pantry and it should stay good and crisp.

Cooking Tips

Use your senses! After stirring all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet and spread out evenly. Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes stirring halfway. This is where your senses come in. If you see extra browning, especially on the pecans take it out. I will also notice a nutty smell that intensifies as it nears doneness. This also tells me to take it out. It will crisp up a bit more as it cools. Just don’t overcook or it won’t taste right.

Want A Fast Easy Recipe Cheat?

Here is the best hack for this recipe. If you have access to a Costco store, you can purchase this bag of mixed pecans, pepitas, and dried cranberries. You can also order them from Target HERE

Then just sub in 1 cup of the mixture in place of the pecans pepitas and cranberries in the recipe. Same goodness!