This recipe is fabulous because it is super easy to make and entirely customizable! You can substitute any type of fresh berries, nuts, or dried fruit that you prefer!
I added fresh blueberries and dates to my batch for a little extra sweetness and a chewy texture.
Another reason why this recipe rocks is because it is completely made from scratch, to control for unwanted refined sugars in the form of added sugar typically present in granola bought from the store. Granola is marketed as a “healthy” food but packaged granola brands can have upwards of 15 grams of sugar per ⅓ cup serving! I don’t know about yout, but when I eat granola it's usually at least double that! Maybe triple! We’re talking 30-45 grams of added sugar just here from a seemingly healthy breakfast cereal!
When we start the day with a high intake of refined sugars in the form of breakfast cereal, frozen waffles, toaster strudels, poptarts, breakfast shakes… we instantly set the body up for disaster for the rest of the day. Immediately afterwards, blood sugar spikes giving a quick burst of energy and a feeling of euphoria. Not much later, blood sugar crashes leaving us cranky, irritated, and simply STARVING! For what? More sugar! Something that’s going to give us that quick burst of energy to get us through our day! We unknowingly chase after sodas, juices, teas, granola bars, chips, crackers, pretzels, anything that is going to get us through the blood sugar roller coaster ride… and that’s just the morning!
Not a great way to start the day….
Try cooking up these oats instead! They are sweet, scrumptious, perfect for topping on yogurt or a smoothie bowl, will keep you full and focused throughout your morning, and take next to no time to make! Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
4 c organic rolled oats (*conventional oats are sprayed with high levels of pesticides and highly processed for manufacturing*), if you are gluten-free, make sure your oats specify “gluten-free” on the label.
½ c coconut oil, melted
¼ c Lakato Maple Flavored Monk Fruit sugar-free syrup (or pure Vermont maple syrup)
Pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ c chopped walnuts
1 cup blueberries, chopped
½ c dates, chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
¼ c honey
Dark chocolate chips (optional, 60% cacao or higher)
Methods:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Scoop 4 cups of oats into a large bowl. Add cinnamon, chopped walnuts, chopped dates, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
Add melted coconut oil, sugar-free maple syrup, honey, and vanilla extract (if desired). Mix thoroughly until oats are evenly coated.
Grease a large baking dish or baking sheet with butter, olive oil, or coconut oil.
Transfer oat mixture into baking dish. Add chopped blueberries and distribute evenly on top. Drizzle with honey if desired.
Bake in the oven for 27 minutes. Take out, allow to cool, add dark chocolate chips if desired.
Sprinkle granola on top of yogurt, smoothie bowl, or enjoy with milk or plant based milk alternative.
Transfer to a Ziploc baggie once cool or a glass storage container.