Homemade Granola, Ready to Bake

Preparation Time:  15 minutes.  Cooking time:  45 minutes.

What is the deal with calories and fat in store-bought granola?  Granola has a reputation for being healthy.  But when you stand in the aisle of the store reading the nutrition label, you find most commercial granola is surprisingly high in calories, carbs, sugar, and fat.  And the taste usually does not justify the calories.     

Kayla frequently eats granola mixed with yogurt for lunch, and has granola with fresh fruit as a snack.  She experimented with numerous homemade granola recipes.  This recipe, adapted from Nigella Lawson, is her favorite.

Why this recipe works:  This homemade granola is really delicious, and it is easy and fast to prepare.  It has half the fat of most of the store-bought granola (even the “low-fat” versions), thanks to using applesauce as the sweetener.  Also, it has twice the fiber and more protein than the others, thanks to the wheat germ.    

You can find the ingredients for this recipe at Coastal Bend Health Foods, and Kimmi can offer her own wonderful suggestions about homemade granola, as well. 

Ingredients

• 5 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cup add-ins such as coconut, dried fruit, nuts, or seeds
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup honey
• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or other fruit puree
• 2 Tbsp water
• Flavoring: 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp almond extract, 1 tsp ground ginger, 2 tbsp orange zest
  

  Mixing Granola prior to Baking

Directions

Preheat oven to 275.

Mix oats, wheat germ, nuts and/or seeds (as desired), and salt in a large bowl. Simmer apple sauce, maple syrup, honey and water in a small sauce pan over low heat. Pour wet mixture into combined dry ingredients. Squeeze the mixture with your hands to form small, bite-sized clumps. Spread evenly on two greased baking sheets.

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Add in dried fruit, as desired.

Nutrition information (serving size: 1/2 cup):

Calories:  210 kcal
Carbohydrate:  41 grams
Fiber:  5 grams
Sugar:  14 grams
Fat:  3 grams
Saturated fat:  0 grams
Trans fat:  0 grams
Protein:  6 grams