When I was growing up, one of my best friend’s mama used to make the most amazing granola. When I went off to college I made sure to ask for the recipe and never looked back. I would treat my roommates, aka the 21 sorority sisters I lived with, as I experimented with different nuts, died fruits and other additions, filling the house with sweet aromas. Such variations were passed along to friends and family members and could possibly be the reason/recipe that stole my boyfriend’s heart.
When I switched from a vegetarian diet (and removed grains and dairy), my beloved granola recipe was no more. Due to my boyfriends obsession, he tried to reinvent it, and did a pretty amazing job when he created these grain-free granola bars. But, I still missed making the OG recipe and was determined to replicate it.
After a few burnt batches (beware this happens in a blink of an eye) and adjustments – ALAS! I’m proud to say I’ve created a no-oat granola that resembles (if not tastier) the original recipe.
Now a-days I no longer use granola to top my yogurt, but, instead I like to snack on small handfuls or sprinkle it in with some fruit. Also, this recipe works great as a cereal! YES! A grain-free, nutritious cereal!
- 1 cup raw pecans, chopped
- 1 cup raw cashews, chopped
- 1 cup raw almond, sliced or slivered
- 1 cup unsweetened shaved coconut
- 1/4 cup flax seed meal
- 1/4 cup chia seeds (optional)
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar (optional)
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- 1/2 coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup dried cherries, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon whiskey (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a sauce pan on low, add all of the liquids together until combined.
- While you're heating the liquid, prepare the granola mixture. If nuts are not chopped, take this to do so. ** Watch your liquid, you don't want to burn the honey.
- In a large bowl add all nuts, shaved coconut, chia and flax seed meal, cinnamon, and salt (and the optional coconut sugar) together. Mix with a wooden spoon until well mixed.
- Pour liquid mixture over nuts mixture and stir with your wooden spoon until the liquid is mixed with the nut mixture.
- On a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper, spread granola evenly across the cookie sheet making one thin layer of yumminess.
- Put cookie sheet into the oven and lower the temperature to 250. Set the timer for 5 minutes. ** Depending on your oven, you want to stay close and check on the granola frequently.
- With your wooden spoon, stir mixture around and spread across the cookie sheet again. Set your timer for another 3 minutes and increase the oven to 350. Again, stay close mixture can burn quickly.
- At this point mixture should golden brown and you can take it out to cool. If it still needs a little more browning, lower temperature to 300 and check on it in 3 minute increments to avoid burning.
- Once granola is perfectly golden brown, set aside to cool completley.
- Once granola is cool, you can break apart the granola and place it in an high tight container. At this step as well, you can add any dried fruit you would like.
