A pantry staple that is the easiest snack. Add to yogurt, eat like a bowl of cereal with your desired milk choice, or just grab a handful and pop in your mouth if you’re on the go. This no fuss granola recipe comes together on your stovetop, then baked in the oven to make a delicious, crunchy granola.
I don’t know about you, but I love granola. The crunch, the salty-sweet, and the convenience factor makes it the best go to snack. But I hate the price tag that comes along with high quality granola, especially without a bunch of processed sugars.
This no fuss granola is super easy. Basically just throwing the bulk of the ingredients together on the stovetop to toast, then pop in the oven to bake the granola, and lastly tossing in the nuts and fruits. This recipe is super flexible, using a lot of what you may already have in your pantry, along with whatever fruits and nuts you have to get rid of. The flexibility makes this one of my favorite go to snacks to meal prep and have in the pantry for a healthy and easy snack.
Benefits of oats
Oats are naturally gluten-free and packed with protein, healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants. Oats are great for your heart and wonderful for your body. Full of vitamins such as magnesium, iron, and zinc. It keeps you fuller for longer and affordable, and easy to source. Oats in granola is a staple which makes this recipe super budget friendly. Oats are great to have in your pantry to make granola, muffins, or turn into oat flour.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is an excellent pantry staple. Jam packed with omega 3 fatty acids, loaded with vitamins such as magnesium, zinc, and iron, just to name a few. Rich in fiber, may stabilize blood sugar levels and promote blood sugar control. Flaxseed is super versatile. Add to your yogurt, smoothies, or granola. Need an egg in a recipe ? Use flax instead! Great in pancakes, meatloaf, or even meatballs.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are a versatile and nutritious addition to your pantry. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iron, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. These tiny seeds are easy to incorporate into any meal, whether it’s a salad, granola, meat loaf, yogurt, or smoothie. With a neutral flavor, they provide texture without overpowering other flavors.
Hemp hearts
Hemp hearts are a highly nutritious pantry staple to keep on hand, along with chia seeds and flaxseeds. They are rich in protein, vitamins, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, making them great for both heart and brain health. They have a neutral taste and a delicious texture, making them an easy addition to meals like yogurt, granola, meatballs, or as a sprinkle on salads.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is so multi purpose. Use it in the kitchen, skin care, makeup remover, lotion, all natural goo-gone, or even diaper rash cream for your baby! Coconut oil is a high heat neutral oil meaning it is great for cooking and doesn’t have a flavor. Also great for seasoning your cast iron as it’s heating point is up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. And for comparison, butter is 350 and Extra Virgin Olive oil is 425. I recommend refined coconut oil because of its neutral taste instead of a extra virgin coconut oil that had more of a coconut-y flavor.
Cacao
Optional in this recipe but I highly recommend for the nutritional value. I could go on and on about my love of cacao. Considered a super food, cacao has so many wonderful properties and can easily be added to any recipe that needs chocolate. Incredible for your brain and mental health, cacao contains theobromine, a natural, mild stimulant similar to caffeine, and can uplift your mood. It’s known to help relieve stress and anxiety.
When sourcing cacao there’s a couple different options on the market. My two favorites are cacao powder which is super easy to work with. Add to any recipe that calls for chocolate such as hot chocolate, brownies, this granola recipe, or coffee for a mocha vibe.
Think of Cacao nibs as a step up from cacao powder. Cacao nibs do not melt and add great texture to a recipe. I find it the perfect addition to this no fuss granola recipe. Cacao nibs are pure cacao beans that are chopped up into small “nib” pieces. Basically, when you eat cacao nibs you are eating the cacao bean. So they are less processed from their other counter parts such as cacao powder or chocolate bars. Which means you get more medicinal properties which include high in fiber, magnesium and is an anti inflammatory.
How to make
To a pot on medium heat add coconut oil and oats
Toast your oats for about 5-10 minutes until the oil has been fully absorbed in the oats and have a slight darker color to them.
Next, add your dry ingredients and syrup: hemp, chia, flax, cacao powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Combine until all ingredients are coated in oil and syrup
Remove from heat and put on a prepped baking tray. I like to use a reusable silicone mat but you can also use parchment paper.
Using the back of your spoon, pat down the granola. This will give you some oat clusters.
Time to bake.
About half way through baking, toss the granola with a spatula. This will allow an even toast to the oats.
Then remove from oven and leave to cool before transferring to storage container.
Once cooled transfer to your storage container and add the remaining ingredients: nuts, dried fruit, coconut flakes, and cacao nibs
Give it a shake and enjoy!
Substitutions
Chocolate: instead of using cacao powder or cacao nibs, feel free to use chocolate chips instead.
Sweetener: a delicious alternative to the syrup would be honey. Could also use coconut sugar.
Nut selection: use whatever you have! This time I used a mix of cashews and walnuts but feel free to use whatever you have in your pantry! Some delicious options are pistachios, pumpkin seeds, almonds or even peanuts.
Dried fruit: get creative ! Again, use what you have! This time I used raisins, but craisins or dried blueberries are great choices that I often use.
This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Coconut Oil – https://amzn.to/3YIllQk
Shredded Coconut – https://amzn.to/3HYe73T
Hemp Seeds – https://amzn.to/3I0hkQi
Chia Seeds – https://amzn.to/3jPXFLc
Flaxseed Meal – https://amzn.to/3YKdKAB
Nesting Bowls Set – https://amzn.to/3IngTBm
My favorite spatula – https://amzn.to/3JZPxlT
Baking Sheet with Rack – https://amzn.to/3RZHozY
Non-Stick Baking Mat – https://amzn.to/3E2YK9f
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