Granola is a great addition to oatmeal, cereal, pancakes…its even great on its own!  But most granola in stores is full of unwanted sugars and additives.  It’s very easy to make your own granola at home, and personalize it for your own tastes.  Here’s how:

Dry Ingredients

3 c large old fashion oats (not quick oats)

1/2 c ground flax seed

1/2 c Chia seeds

1/2 hemp hearts

1 c slivered almonds (or walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds)

1 c coconut

1 c crasins or rasins

Wet Ingredients

1/3 c nut butter ( I’ve tried this with peanut butter and once with almond butter)

1/3 c sweetener (maple syrup, sugar free syrup, agave, honey etc.)

1 tsp extract (vanilla,maple,almond)

Instructions

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl (except crasins/raisins. They go in very last!)

Combine all wet ingredients into a saucepan on low to medium heat and stir until just melted.

Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix well.

Lay out on a baking pan at about 300 degress for 35 minutes or until brown and crisp (or just the way you like it!)

Now you’ve got a great batch of homemade granola to enjoy.  Easy right?  Do you have any favourite additions for granola?  Share below!

-Summer

Don’t you just love guilt-free goodies?  Here are some great homemade “granola” bars that work equally-well as a healthy snack, post-workout fuel, or breakfast on-the-go.

This is a very easy, quick receipe.  No baking required!

Here is what you’ll need:

Dry Ingredients:
1.5 c Oats
1/2 c Shredded Coconut
1 c or more of a mix of sunflower seeds, raisins, pumpkin seeds, almonds and cashews
1/2 c Chocolate Chips
3 scoops Protein Powder (my fav? Visalus protien powder)
2 Tbsp Flax Seeds
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
2 Tbsp Hemp Seeds

Other items I like to use: Craisins, sesame seeds and walnuts.

Wet Ingredients:

1 Ripe Banana (mashed)
1/2 c Maple Syrup or agave syrup (you can also try sugar-free syrups)
1/2 c Peanut Butter (or any nut butter, i.e. almond, pecan, cashew, etc.)
1 Tsp Vanilla or Maple Extract
Combine all DRY ingredients in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, mash ripe banana, and add all wet ingredients.

Pour wet ingredients into dry, and mix well.  The consistency should be moist and sticky.

Spread mixture into 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish lined with plastic wrap or waxed paper. Press until flat.

Place dish in freezer for a few hours, or until firm. Remove from dish and carefully cut into squares/bars or logs. For easy grab-and-go snacks, wrap bars individually.

Store in fridge or freezer for up to a month. Be careful: these bars soften quickly at room temperature.

Shout out to my girl Rachel at Daily Routine Blog for the recipe!