Granola is so easy to DIY, I don’t know why I bought the boxed kind for so long! It’s as easy as combining energy-boosting ingredients like nuts or dried fruits with some whole grains like oats. Add some honey to sweeten the deal, and a healthy scoop of coconut oil to hold the clusters together, and bake it up to perfection. Voila – your new favorite granola recipe!
Homemade granola can be a comforting and delicious treat, and since you made it yourself you know that it’s healthy for you, too. Store-bought granola is often pumped full of sugars and unhealthy fats and oils. Whipping it up yourself allows you to control the quality of the ingredients, so let’s get started!
Wait, There’s No Dried Fruit In This Granola Recipe?
Personally, I’m not a fan of dried fruit. I know, I know, they’re antioxidant rich and filled with fiber, I just can’t get past the texture. I also find most dried fruits to be way too sweet for my taste. Some dried fruits are actually pumped full of added sugars, so you really have to be careful when choosing your dried fruits.
I prefer to sweeten my granola with honey, thank you very much. In ancient times, honey was used a both as a food and as a wound-healing medicine. Today, high-quality honey has been found to contain antioxidants itself, so I’ll just skip those dried fruits. If you’re a huge fan and can’t live without them, feel free to chuck in 1/4 cup of your favorite dried fruit while the granola is cooling.
Why We Love Pumpkin Seeds
Now that we’ve moved past why we skip dried fruits in our granola recipe, let’s talk about what it does contain: super tasty pumpkin seeds. Oh, man, do I love pumpkin seeds, and I’m not just talking about eating them after carving pumpkins. I eat these things up all year round.
They’re perfect as a snack, and I often chuck a handful of them on top of my favorite energy bowl to add some extra fiber to my diet. So why not make them the cornerstone of my favorite granola recipe?
I really can’t go on enough about the health benefits of pumpkin seeds. They contain heart-healthy magnesium, zinc to boost your immune system, and they’re a complete protein! That means they contain all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs, just like meat.
Perfect for Breakfast, or an Energy Boosting Snack
Granola is a great way to start your day, beginning with all those heart-healthy ingredients. Serve it up with your favorite Greek yogurt or milk (I’m loving Califia toasted coconut almond milk these days!). Or, top your favorite oatmeal with this granola recipe to increase your fiber intake.
I also love snacking on granola throughout the day. Usually, around 3 pm, my energy tank is completely zapped and I don’t feel productive at all! A bag of this granola at my desk at work to give me a much-needed boost of energy.
Having a nutrient-rich, healthy snack ready at hand is exactly what I need. This granola recipe has enough protein to boost your energy level. It will keep you going for longer than sugary snacks because it’s naturally low in sugars and saturated fat. Perfect!
If you’re looking for more energy-boosting foods, check out these 15 foods that will give you the energy boost you need.
Healthier “Energy-Boosting” Granola Recipe
Yield: 3 1/2 cups | Serving size: 1/4 cup | Calories: 93 | Total Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1mg | Carbohydrates: 9g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Protein: 3g | SmartPoints: 3
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup sesame seeds, optional sunflower seeds
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients. Evenly spread granola on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake granola 15 minutes, stirring after 8 minutes. Allow to cool completely before storing in a covered container.
- Enjoy this delicious and healthy granola over oatmeal, as a breakfast cereal, or mix with 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.
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