This recipe is my favorite, go-to granola recipe. Over the years, I’ve played around with it to create a bunch of fun variations. Here they are for inspiration:

Some of you, like me, love big clumps in your granola. Here are my tips to achieving the best clumps: Instead, the first few ingredients should be whole foods, such as oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Dried fruit and nuts also contain antioxidants, like vitamin E, which can lower inflammation in the body. Antioxidants prevent cell damage that can cause serious diseases such as cancer. What’s more, you should carefully consider serving sizes, which vary from 2 tablespoons (12.5 grams) to 2/3 cup (67 grams). Particularly small serving sizes can be misleading, as you’re likely to consume more than that amount. As I grew older, I tried eating cereal/granola (trying to act healthy haha), but since I dislike the taste of milk, I tried to have it with soy milk, but not only it’s time consuming, it also feels weird to have cold food for breakfast. I wasn’t a fan of granola bars as well as they are dry and too sweet.Now, its time to add in the melted coconut oil, maple syrup and/or honey and vanilla extract. Mix very well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Reduce blood sugar. Whole grains, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds may help reduce and control blood sugar levels, particularly in people with obesity or prediabetes ( 12, 13, 14). Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes). Top with the dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips, if using). Break the granola into pieces with your hands if you want to retain big chunks, or stir it around with a spoon if you don’t want extra-clumpy granola. Granola: a crunchy, chunky breakfast cereal (a bit like muesli) typically made from oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit and served with Greek yoghurt and berries. You know the one.

I used pecans and pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) to make this batch. Other options include walnuts, which are rich in Omega-3s, whole or slivered almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts and sunflower seeds. Unrefined Oil You may also want to look for varieties high in protein and fiber. Aim for at least 3–5 grams of fiber per serving ( 25). These ingredients are full of fiber and good fats, making granola a nutrient-dense food. Here are some of the ways eating granola can benefit your health: However, these can supply excess calories. Eating more than the specified portion may lead to unwanted weight gain, increasing your risk of obesity and metabolic disease ( 18).Some granolas have nearly 4 teaspoons (17 grams) of sugar in a single serving. Because it’s common to eat more than the standard serving size, you could be getting a substantial amount of sugar in just one bowl. Certain foods, like flaxseeds, fruits, and whole grains, have been shown to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure). Making diet and lifestyle changes like eating a diet rich in whole grains and vegetables may reduce the amount of medication you need to take. Other whole grains found in granola types, like quinoa or teff, contain important amino acids and protein. I added cinnamon to this batch for some subtle warming spice. Ground ginger (use half as much) and pumpkin spice blends are other options. Dried Fruit

Triple Coconut Granola: This recipe calls for coconut oil, large coconut flakes and shredded coconut.You can use extra-virgin olive oil instead, if you’d like your granola to be a little more on the savory side. If you’re watching your saturated fat intake, olive oil is a better choice! Natural Sweetener

I love using real maple syrup in my granola. Honey works great, too. As a bonus, these natural sweeteners infuse your granola extra-delicious flavor that sugar would not. Salt and Spice Cranberry Orange Granola: This recipe is quite similar to this one, but a little sweeter and full of vibrant orange flavor. Finally, you can make granola yourself to minimize or eliminate added sugar and fat. However, remember that nuts and seed are still calorie-dense, so be sure to watch your portions even for homemade varieties. Summary Although there’s little scientific research on granola itself, common ingredients, including oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, and almonds, are linked to numerous health benefits. Filling and high in fiber

Granola Variations

The morning staple has been pretty demonised over the years, with some studies citing high sugar and calorie levels as reasons to swerve it altogether. Here's a sample of nutrition information for a 2/3 cup serving of Quaker® low-fat granola with raisins: