How to make your own homemade granola in different healthy versions

Granola is a healthy food, very popular and undeniably delicious. There are numerous benefits brought by the frequent consumption of granola, and among them we can list the possibility of lowering cholesterol, regulating digestion and increasing energy.

Although beneficial for health, granola has a lot of fat and sugars from fruits and nuts, which makes it high in calories.

To get an idea about 1 cup of granola contains approximately 600 calories. Therefore, the ideal is to limit yourself to portions of ¼ cup and consume it with milk and low-fat yogurt that have less fat.

Check out the step-by-step guide below and adapt the granola combinations according to your preference. You can also assemble combinations with the help of a nutritionist to ensure healthy, nutrient-rich portions.

How to make granola at home

Making granola at home is great for controlling the amount of sugar and fat it contains. In addition to being a way to make sure it is free of sweeteners and preservatives. The recipe below is a good granola for everyday, healthy and very tasty.

• 3 cups of oatmeal in thick flakes;
• 1 cup (tea) of hazelnuts without chopped shell;
• ½ cup (tea) of unsweetened dry coconut;
• 3 spoons of brown sugar;
• ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon powder;
• ¼ teaspoon of powdered ginger;
• ¼ teaspoon of salt;
• ⅓ cup (tea) of honey;
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil;
• 1 cup (tea) of dried fruit.

Preheat the oven to 300 °C. Line a shape with parchment paper. Mix the first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Place the honey and oil in a pan and bake over medium-low heat until smooth. Pour the honey mixture into the bowl and mix. Spread in the shape and take it to the oven for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove, stir and let cool. Add the dried fruits and keep in a closed jar.

You can use this recipe as a base to create your own granola. Instead of hazelnuts, use walnuts, almonds or cashews. Include pumpkin, sunflower or sesame seeds. In the dried fruits put goji berry or raisin.

Other factors are worth considering when preparing your granola:

1. If you prefer larger pieces of granola, add more honey, as the sugar makes the ingredients stick together more. Another tip for larger pieces is not to stir the granola as soon as it comes out of the oven.

2. When making substitutions, do not forget to maintain the dry to liquid ratio. Also don’t forget to consider that some ingredients are sweeter than others, agave, for example, is sweeter than other types of sugar and so you may have to substitute a smaller amount.

3. Spices like cinnamon and cardamom go great in granola. But be careful that they don’t get too intense. With cinnamon 1 teaspoon per mold is more than enough. For stronger seasonings, start with ¼ teaspoon and add more if desired.

Combinations to use with your granola

With granola ready, the combinations to use it are limitless. In addition to the classic mix with milk or yogurt, you can use granola in sweets and even some savory preparations (always paying attention to the ingredients you used in your granola before combining it).

You can use granola in cookies, muffins or pancakes to add a crunchy texture to these candies. You can also sprinkle granola over salads with sweeter vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes. Pulse the granola with butter in the food processor and you have a mixture that you can use to make a fruit crumble. The options are endless. Just put your creativity to work.

Different homemade granola recipes

We made a selection of homemade granola recipes for you to be inspired and create your own version according to your taste. Don’t forget the tips above for substitutions and always try the mixture before putting it in the oven, adapting to your taste.

1. quick granola
2. Granola with Coconut Milk
3. Granola with molasses and coconut oil
4. gluten free granola
5. Multigrain Granola with Cocoa
6. salted granola
7. Chocolate granola bar

Making granola at home is not only healthier and cheaper. It is very versatile and there is no rule to prepare it, which allows for infinite variations. Always remember to keep it in a closed container so it stays crunchy and delicious for longer.