Homemade Chunky Granola

I LOVE SNACKS! I’m all about keeping healthy snacks around throughout the day to keep me going. Often times when we buy pre-packaged “healthy snacks” they can have a lot of additional ingredients that aren’t actually so healthy. That is why this Homemade Chunky Granola Recipe is so good!

Granola is so versatile…..something you can eat as cereal with milk if you prefer or you can add some on top of greek yogurt with fruit and a drizzle of honey. I prefer to make a big batch of Homemade Chunky Granola and eat it as a snack by itself. The possibilities are endless!

the perfect snack

What makes a good snack? In my opinion it is something that will “hold you over” until lunch or dinner. A satisfying snack for me would be something with protein, fiber and some healthy fats. This Homemade Chunky Granola checks all of those boxes. Especially when you get creative with the mix-in ingredients.

Some really great choices to add to this granola would be dried fruits like cranberries or goji berries, dark chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, any nuts you prefer (I like peanuts, cashews, almonds, or walnuts), and different types of seeds (chia, flax, sesame etc).

Coconut flakes are also another delicious ingredient. Get creative with it and create something your whole family will love.

The key with some of the mix-in ingredients like dried fruits or coconut flakes is to add them after your granola base has finished baking and you’ve already broken it up. This ensures they stay chewy and don’t get hard. Any nuts or seeds can be added and baked with the granola base.

Any salty and sweet combination would work with this Homemade Chunky Granola. This is one snack that is loaded with healthy ingredients, vitamins, protein, fiber, and other nutrients your body needs. It will keep your energy high and give you the fuel you need to keep going. Especially through that afternoon slump that we can all experience.

Health benefits

*Oats– can reduce cholesterol, balance out blood sugar, they are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, help with regularity, and can help fight inflammation in the body. One cup of oats can have 6g of protein.

*Sunflower Seeds– contains important nutrients like copper, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B6. Also has the higher amount of protein over other seeds (flax and chia).

*Cinnamon– high in antioxidants, can reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar levels, can help fight off viruses, and can help lower sugar cravings.

*Flax Meal (ground Flax Seeds)– good source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids which has been shown to lower inflammation in the body. It is also high in antioxidants and fiber, great for your skin, helps with healthy digestion and may help lower cholesterol.

NOTE: The reason you want to use flax meal instead of flax seeds is because your body will absorb the most nutrients from them. If you consume whole flax seeds they will mostly pass through your system without being absorbed.

I like to store flax meal in the refrigerator in a clear container with a lid or some sort of clear sealed storage bag. This ensures freshness since ground flax meal can become rancid quickly if not stored properly.

Buy in bulk

The items above are just a few reasons why I love to add these ingredients into this Homemade Chunky Granola or any other healthy snack. I usually add cinnamon and flax meal to my protein smoothie each day as well. This is a great way to boost my nutrition.

I buy all of these ingredients from the bulk section of my grocery store. Often you can find the same great ingredients that are pre-packaged but for a much lower price. With the others you are mostly paying for the packaging.

Shopping the bulk section of your store is the way to go when it comes to finding all the healthy mix-ins you will need for this recipe. Save yourself money and get all your oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruits there. Just buy re-usable, sealed containers to store them in at home.

Recipe: Homemade Chunky Granola

DRY INGREDIENTS

3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 Cup Unsalted Raw Cashew Pieces

1/2 Cup Shredded Sweetened Coconut

2 Tbsp Sunflower Seeds (Removed from shell)

2 Tbsp Flax Meal

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

 

WET INGREDIENTS

1/2 Cup Real Organic Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup Honey

1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

 

NOTE: Make sure you have Coarse or Flaky Sea Salt to sprinkle on top of Granola

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Melt wet ingredients in large saucepan on medium heat. When mixture comes to a boil set a timer for 2 minutes and stir continuously. After 2 minutes add vanilla, stir and turn off heat.

2) Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center. Pour caramel mixture in the middle and slowly incorporate into dry mixture.

3) When combined, spread Granola mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press down mixture with the back of a sturdy mixing spoon or spatula.

You will want to apply some pressure here to ensure you’ll get those big chunks in your granola after baking. Focus mainly on the entire center area. You don’t have to press the outer edges since you will want some smaller pieces as well.

4) Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes. Then take out and lightly sprinkle sea salt all over the granola. Put it back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes. You want the granola to look set and light golden brown without burning the edges. I take mine out when the color looks right (about 13 or 14 minutes in my oven which runs hot).

5) Let cool completely to allow the granola to harden. Once cooled break it up with your hands into whatever sized chunks you like. I like to have some small pieces and some one or two inches thick. Store in a sealed bag or container for up to 2-3 weeks for best freshness.

Share the love

I hope you enjoy this Homemade Chunky Granola Recipe as much as we do. It is such a great healthy snack to have around. If you make it be sure to tag me on social media using @motivate.educate.repeat (Instagram) or use the hashtag #MotivateEducateRepeat. I’d love to see what you come up with.

Also make sure to follow me on Instagram HERE since that is where I spend most of my time. Be the first to know about all my latest recipes! If you have any questions or comments you can leave them here below this recipe or on social media. 🙂

For another healthy snack, check out my Homemade Granola Bars Recipe HERE.