Super Nutty Granola

If you ask anyone who knows me, they will probably tell you my favorite food is cereal. I like to think that my favorite food is a smoothie, because it is a lot better for you than cereal, but I have a confession. I am a cereal addict. I could eat granola all day long and never tire of it.

This is a recipe I don't make often because it is really hardy and dense. Therefore, if I binged on it like I do other granolas I make, I would feel really sick. I like to make this kind when we go backpacking or camping because I know that I am going to need a lot of energy to hike as far and carry as much as I do and this granola has everything I need: protein, healthy fats, omega 3's, and whole grains. Not to mention it is delicious.

I will warn you, it is an easy recipe, but much more time consuming than most of my recipes because you have to be diligent in stirring it while it bakes to prevent it from burning.

Ingredients

2 c nuts of your choice: almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanuts. Any combo as long as it = 2 c

1/2 c raw pumpkin seeds

2 c oats (gf oats to make gf)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 T chia seed

1 T flax seed

9 T water (1/2 c + 1 T for easier measuring)

1/4 c coconut oil, melted

1/3-1/2 c maple syrup or agave nectar (depending on how sweet you want it)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 c shredded coconut

dried fruit, optional

*picture of breakfast on the road. Plain almond yogurt, banana, super nutty granola, and a cutie.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (250 is better, but it takes much longer to bake)

2. Combine chia seed, flax seed, and water in a jar with a lid and shake to combine. Let rest and thicken a few minutes while you combine other ingredients.

3. Combine nuts, pumpkin seeds, oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg is a bowl.

4. In a small sauce pan, melt coconut oil. Once melted, reduce heat and add sweetener, whisking constantly to combine. Once combined, remove from heat and add vanilla and whisk.

5. Pour sweetener over dry mixture, add chia/flax mix and stir to combine. (Make sure everything is coated well)

4. Fold in coconut

5. Spread onto a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent the nuts from burning

6. Let cool to room temperature and store in a sealed container.

7. ENJOY

#vegan #glutenfree #granola #breakfast #snack #oats #nuts #almonds #peanuts #walnuts #cashews #pecans #cooking #baking #sweettreat