Perfect Crunchy Cluster Granola
Granola is probably the easiest way to meal prep something delicious with cheap, simple ingredients based on your preferences.
A simple yet satisfying granola that beats any store bought options. This deliciously crunchy cluster granola is loaded with oats, nuts and seeds and boosts your start in the day with plant based protein and healthy fatty acids. Plus it is low in sugar and contains no modified products and flavors. Serve it with plain yogurt, fresh berries and banana slices for the crunchiest start into your day.
Ingredients
100 grams (3/4 cup) mixed and chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds etc.)
200 grams (1.5 cups) rolled and/or quick oats
100 grams (3/4 cup) mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, flax, chia etc.)
50 gram (3/4 cup) puffed quinoa (or amaranth, rice, wheat etc.)
2 ripe bananas (fresh or frozen)
40 grams (4 tbsp) coconut oil (melted)
25 grams (1 tbsp + 1/4 tsp) honey (or syrup of choice)
1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients (oats, nuts, seeds, puffed quinoa) until evenly distributed.
Melt the coconut oil and defrost frozen bananas together. This works best in the microwave. The oil should melt but don’t let it cook.
Add the honey (syrup) and cinnamon and puree everything with a blender. If you don’t have a blender you can also whisk everything with a spoon until even.
Preheat oven to 230 F/150 C and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper
Combine dry and wet ingredients in bowl and mix until even.
Spread mixture on baking sheet as thin as possible.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes to brown granola evenly until golden and fragrant.
Take out and let the granola cool down. If it feels too moist, pop it back in the cooling down oven to dry it out without burning it.
Store in airtight container for up to a month.
Your Questions about this Recipe
If you can’t find your answer, send me an email to info@happybabybelly.com and I’ll get back to you!
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A portion, about 45-50 grams contains 4 grams of sugar which includes the naturally occurring sugars in the banana and the oats as well as the sugar of the honey. A comparable store bought granola contains a minimum of 10 grams of sugar (at least I didn’t find a lesser options as of today).
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Swapping out the coconut oil with another oil will change the texture of the finished granola, as the combination of coconut oil and banana allows the ingredients to build clusters. If you are only going for flavor you can try using 3 tbsp of Canola oil. This helps to lower the Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio and increases the important unsaturated fats. If you swap out with butter it doesn’t change much of the texture. Proceed the same way with the recipe.
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Description text goes hereI consider this recipe a base recipe to try out whatever flavors you like. Here are some ideas:
Peanut Butter Choco Cups: Swap 1 tbsp of Coconut oil for peanut butter and add some crushed peanuts into the nut mix. Once the granola is completely cool, sprinkle a handful of semisweet chocolate chips into the mix.
Fruitsations: Once the granola is cooled down add some raisins, dried apple slices or other berries. If you have some freeze dried fruit, those would work lovely too.
Chocolate Lover: Add 1-2 tbsp unsweetened chocolate powder to the coconut oil & banana mix. Once the granola is cool add some chocolate chips or cocoa nibs.
Let me know your ideas and we’ll try them out. :)
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First of all it is low in sugar despite it’s deliciously sweet crunch. If you want, you can omit the honey or syrup and make this granola sugar free (except the natural sugars from the banana).
Secondly it is filled with nuts which are the one food that should be part of your daily diet. Nuts and seeds contain healthy fats, protein and fibers as well of vitamins and minerals that are highly beneficial for our body.
And last but not least the oats. Those should be another regular guest on your meal plan. It is cheap, super nutritious, filled with fibers, calcium, folate, zink and Vitamin B.
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This recipe contains less sugar (4gr per 50 grams) than any granola I found at the grocery store (min. 10 gr per 50 gr). It is also free of natural flavors (which are chemically produced flavor agents from natural sources f.e. natural strawberry flavor is derived from certain mold spores and saw dust). Any flavor agents added to foods are confusing our brain - body response and should be avoided as much as possible.
This granola is salt free and can be easily adjusted to be vegan and any other personal preferences.
