HONEY NUT GRANOLA

This is my absolute favourite breakfast! It has the perfect balance of sweetness from the cranberries, raisins and honey, the perfect crunch from the deliciously roasted nuts and seeds and then the coconut flakes enveloped in fragrant cinnamon round it off to perfection.

Everyone who tastes it loves it and always asks for the recipe, so here it is, with love. A healthy granola really is the best way to start your day, especially when eaten with fresh fruit such as strawberries, blueberries and banana. I love eating it on top of a smooth and creamy yoghurt, the textures are perfect together, or drenched in fresh almond milk (or any milk for that matter) or sprinkled over a colourful smoothie bowl for some crunchy satisfaction. I love knowing that my husband and kids have been fed properly before their busy day, so this is the perfect breakfast or snack, whether you’re in a rush or have a leisurely morning to sip on coffee, read a magazine and eat your muesli. You will be getting so many amazing nutrients first thing in the morning, that you will glowing, happy and energetic for the rest of the day!

Ingredients:

(makes one large jar)

1 cup brazil nuts or hazelnuts

1 cup almonds

1/2 cup hazelnuts (skinned)

1/4 cup white sesame seeds

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup coconut flakes

2 cups rolled oats

3 Tbsp coconut oil

4 Tbsp honey (or maple syrup)

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 tsp salt

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180 C.

Chop the nuts so that they are nice and chunky.

Pour the nuts, seeds, coconut flakes and oats into a large mixing bowl.

Pour the coconut oil, honey and cinnamon into a small pot on the stove and melt until all of the ingredients are combined. You can also do this in the microwave for about 40 seconds.

Add the melted wet ingredients to the dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir to coat all of the ingredients in the delicious honey syrup.

Spread the mixture onto a large baking tray and bake for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes so that the granola turns a beautiful golden brown colour.

Once it has finished baking, remove it from the oven and leave it to cool. Now stir the raisins and dried cranberries through the golden granola and pour into a glass jar or any air tight container. It will stay crunchy and fresh for several weeks!

Tip:

You can place the nuts into a food processor and pulse to chop them, if you don’t feel like chopping them all up by hand.

Add any other nut or seed that you prefer.

Adding the raisins and cranberries at the end will prevent them from burning and becoming too chewy.

Health Benefits:

The nuts and seeds add such a good protein punch that you will be full for longer and glowing from all of the omega 3 and vitamin E! I love adding cinnamon to my granola or muesli as it gives the most amazing flavour and fragrance and most importantly it also helps to stabilize your blood sugar levels.

I have used coconut oil in this recipe as it is one of my favourite ingredients. I find that it gives such a beautiful subtle flavour to the granola and also helps to give it the perfect crunch that we are after! Coconut oil has incredible health benefits, to name a few, it helps to reduce obesity, improves your metabolism, protects your body against insulin resistance therefore helping to reduce your risk of getting diabetes. Coconut oil also helps to boost your immunity as it kills harmful bacteria in your body.