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I was inspired by this super delicious recipe from Gourmande in the Kitchen, and decided to experiment with some variations on a theme. The recipes can be made vegan or with butter and honey, depending on your diet or personal preferences. Both are equally yummy and healthy options.
Ingredients:
Grain-Free Granola Basics:
The below ingredients are used for all of the recipes, with the flavoring and additional ingredients listed below each variation on the recipe. For best taste and health benefits, I recommend buying all ingredients organic, whenever possible.
- 2 cups of raw, organic nuts (I use a mix of equal parts hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds)
- Pinch of sea-salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, coconut oil, or raw cacao butter
- 3 tablespoons honey or brown rice syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon home-made vanilla extract*
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons golden flax seeds
- 1/4 cup raw, unsweetened, shredded coconut
Lavender & Earl Grey with Dark Chocolate Chunks:
Spices/Flavoring:
(I recommend grinding the lavender and tea leaves in a spice grinder)
- 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
- 2 tablespoons earl grey tea leaves
Add-ins:
- 2 oz bitter, dark chocolate
Vanilla Chai with Candied Ginger and Black-Tea Infused Raisins:
Spices/Flavoring:
(Grind the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom seeds, and peppercorns together in a spice grinder)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 8 whole cloves
- 6 whole cardamom pods (break the pods and remove the shells prior to grinding with the other spices)
- 1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1/2 inch nub of peeled and grated fresh ginger
Add-ins:
- 1/4 cup sultana raisins soaked overnight in warm black-tea and dehydrated in the oven or dehydrator
- 1/4 cup chopped, candied ginger
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Oatmeal Apple Pie:Spices/Flavoring:
- Substitute 1/2 cup apple butter for the honey/brown rice syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
Add-ins:
- 1 medium apple, chopped medium, and dehydrated in the oven or dehydrator (you can also buy dehydrated apple slices)
Double Chocolate Chunk with Cranberries and Toasted Almonds:
Spices/Flavoring:- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
Add-ins:
- 2 oz bitter, dark chocolate
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cranberries
- 1/4 cup toasted almonds
*To make home-made vanilla extract, combine vodka and whole vanilla beans in a sealable jar for at least one month. I leave the beans in the jar indefinitely, but you can remove the vanilla beans if you want.
Instructions:
To start, soak the nuts overnight with a pinch of sea salt and remove any almond skins before draining and rinsing the nuts (you can also buy the almonds blanched, without skins).
Blend the nuts together in a food processor until they are the consistency of coarse sand.
Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees.
On the stove, combine the butter or oil together with the sweetener of your choice over low heat until melted and combined. Add the spices/flavorings and simmer on low heat for about a minute, or until fragrant (I also like to add a pinch of sea salt at this stage to bring out the sweetness).
Add your liquids to the food processor with the chopped nuts, shredded coconut, flax, and chia seeds and pulse until well combined.
Spread your mixture on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for about 4-5 hours, or until dry and crisp.
Once the granola is out of the oven and cooled, combine it with your mix-ins of choice. Best if enjoyed within a week (if it lasts that long!).
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To start, soak the nuts overnight with a pinch of sea salt and remove any almond skins before draining and rinsing the nuts (you can also buy the almonds blanched, without skins).
Blend the nuts together in a food processor until they are the consistency of coarse sand.
Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees.
On the stove, combine the butter or oil together with the sweetener of your choice over low heat until melted and combined. Add the spices/flavorings and simmer on low heat for about a minute, or until fragrant (I also like to add a pinch of sea salt at this stage to bring out the sweetness).
Add your liquids to the food processor with the chopped nuts, shredded coconut, flax, and chia seeds and pulse until well combined.
Spread your mixture on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for about 4-5 hours, or until dry and crisp.
Once the granola is out of the oven and cooled, combine it with your mix-ins of choice. Best if enjoyed within a week (if it lasts that long!).
