Crafting My Own Crunchy Delight

Hi again,

If you're like me, granola is a regular feature in your breakfast or snack routine. However, let's talk facts – most store-bought options are loaded with sugars and calories that don't quite align with my health goals. So, what's my solution? Crafting my own granola at home!

Ingredient Essentials: Selecting the Right Mix

Let's start with the basics – the ingredients. From oats to nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, I'm on a mission to create a granola blend that's both tasty and a healthier choice compared to what's on the shelves.

• I went pretty basic this time with rolled oats, sliced almonds, shredded coconut (sugar free), chia seeds, and flax seeds.

Mixing Tips: Perfecting the Recipe

I'll share a simple recipe that strikes the right balance – achieving sweetness without going overboard on sugar and ensuring that golden crunch we all love.

• I used coconut oil, sugar free maple syrup and brown monk fruit sweetener.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. 
2. Mix the oats, almond flour, cinnamon, salt, shredded coconut, almonds and seeds together in a large bowl. Set aside. 
3. Combine the coconut oil, brown monk fruit, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Mix until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, whisk in the vanilla, and pour over the oat mixture. Stir until everything comes together. The mixture should be sticky.
4. Pour the mixture into the pan and, using a spatula, press the mixture tightly in an even layer in the pan.
5. Bake for 40 minutes, rotating the pan every 10 minutes to ensure that the granola bakes evenly. Remove the baking pan when time is done, but do not turn off the oven. Let the granola cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes.
6. Break up into smaller pieces. Place the clusters back into the baking pan, and bake the cluster for another 10 minutes to give it a more crunchy toast.
7. Remove clusters from the oven and let cool completely. Clusters become crunchier the longer they cool.
8. Cover and store the cooled clusters at room temperature in an airtight container (or your mouth).
9. Enjoy these granola clusters with a sponge, in a bowl with milk/yogurt, or just as a regular go-to snack. This also can be sprinkled into oatmeal or ice cream to add that crunchy factor to your meal ;).

Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Clusters:

• Customizing Your Granola: Why settle for basic? Granola is all about personalization. I recommend simple ways to add a touch of uniqueness, whether through spice blends or creative mix-ins, elevating your granola experience. While this time I kept it basic, feel free to experiment and tailor it to your preferences.
• Watch the Clock: Granola is prone to burning if you're not on top of timing, also its outcome can also be influenced by the oven and temperature. I noticed that some of my granola was getting darker each time I flipped it—possibly because the granola wasn't evenly spread out when I flattened it. So, be sure to maintain an even distribution to avoid uneven cooking.
• No nuts? No worries! Swap out almond flour for oat flour and choose a different add-in of your liking.

Must have picks:

• Drip Ez BBQ Prep Tub
• Ultimate Spatula
• Outset Grill Leather Gloves

SNACK IDEAS:

1. Eating the clusters by itself. 
2. Upgrade your frozen yogurt game with a generous sprinkle of granola for that extra crunch!
3. Toast Topping: Toast is twice as tasty when you top it with a crunchy granola!
4. Sprinkled On a (Healthier) Banana Split: cut your banana in half, spread plain yogurt in one side and nut butter in the other side. Sprinkle on any topping you fancy!

Let your imagination run wild – granola isn't just a topping; it's the crunch factor you've been waiting for!