A Loverbee Staple: Granola

I love granola. The whole family does. Between breakfast and snack times a batch will only last us two or three days. As soon as Mateo can smell it baking in the oven he's on the prowl. He often sneaks pieces as it cools and then goes in for a handful when I'm not looking.

Maple Walnut Granola

This crunchy and healthy treat is one of our favorite snacks year round. We usually eat it with milk like a bowl of cereal. Every once in a while we eat it over homemade yogurt. We also gift it around the holidays.

I got my basic recipe from Better Homes and Gardens several years ago. I've totally modified it so that it's gluten free and high in protein.

Honey, coconut, pecan granola awaiting its banana chips

This recipe is so much fun to play with. Mix and match different nuts. Use different spices. Stir in mini chocolate chips after baking. Allergic to nuts? Sub more oats and coconut. Don't have almond meal or flax seed meal? Use wheat germ or bran. Don't like melting coconut oil? Use vegetable oil. Out of oats? Try quinoa. The possibilities are endless.

A double batch to get us through the week - I hope.

Here are my two favorite versions.

Maple Walnut Granola

INGREDIENTS

2 cups whole oats (certified gluten free for gluten free eaters)

1 cup walnuts

½ cup slivered almonds

½ cup sunflower seeds, unroasted and unsalted

¼ cup almond meal

¼ cup flax seed meal

½ cup pure maple syrup

2 Tbsp melted coconut oil

2 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

3. Combine syrup, oil, and cinnamon in a small bowl and stir until well combined.

4. Dump wet ingredients into dry and mix well until all coated.

5. Dump onto lined baking sheet and spread out evenly.

6. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip sections of granola until all flipped and bake another 10 minutes.

7. Cool completely.

8. Store in an air-tight container.

Banana Pecan Granola

INGREDIENTS

2 cups whole oats (certified gluten free for gluten free eaters)

1 cup pecans

½ cup slivered almonds

½ cup unsweetened coconut

¼ cup almond meal

¼ cup flax seed meal

½ cup honey

2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted

¼ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp ginger

1 to 1 1/2 cups banana chips, broken up a little

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine all the dry ingredients (minus banana chips) in a large bowl.

3. Combine honey, oil, and spices in a small bowl and stir until well combined.

4. Dump wet ingredients into dry and mix well until all coated.

5. Dump onto lined baking sheet and spread out evenly.

6. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip sections of granola until all flipped and bake another 10 minutes.

7. Immediately add banana chips and stir to combine.

8. Cool completely.

9. Store in an air-tight container.