Healthy Homemade Vanilla Almond Granola
Ohhhhh. How I love this!! It can be used in so many ways. Use it to top fresh fruit, or on top of yogurt. You can even use it as a topper for overnight oats or chia parfaits. This healthy version is baked, not fried and uses heart healthy coconut oil. It is sweetened with raw, organic honey, cinnamon, almond extract and white raisins instead of sugar. Once you try this, you will never buy store bought again. I found a package of super seed oatmeal at my local Trader Joe’s (in pic below) that gives this super food status. I didn’t put it in the recipe because it can be made without. I like to add it when I can find it.
ingredients:
3 Cups old fashioned, gluten free rolled oats
1/4 Cup slivered raw almonds
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 Cup raw honey
1/4 Cup coconut oil
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 Tbsp vanilla (yes, you read that right. A whole Tbsp)
pinch salt
1/2 Cup raw, shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 Cup gold raisins
1/4 Cup pepitas (omit if you add the super seed oatmeal)
directions:
Heat oven to 300 degrees. In a small pot, heat oil, vanilla, almond extract and honey until oil is melted. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix oats and almonds, stirring in coconut oil mixture. Spread mixture onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with cinnamon and salt. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 min (don’t forget, because it will burn if you don’t). Allow to fully cool down and dry out before you package it. This will last up 1 week in an airtight container on the counter, or up to 3 weeks in the fridge.
Enjoy!
