Wednesday 19 September 2012

Granola

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially after an early morning workout at the gym. I can be guilty, like a lot of people, of "having" and not "enjoying" breakfast, due to habit or a busy schedule. Yes, we can all pick up a box from our local supermarket but it is very satisfying to sit down to enjoy a bowl of tasty home-made granola. This is a simple recipe and one that you can adapt with your personal choice of ingredients. I love mine served with cold milk or it would work equally well with natural yoghurt. Once you've tried the home-made variety you will wonder why you never made your own before. This granola will keep good for a month in an airtight container.

 
Granola

Serves 12

Ingredients 
300g rolled oats
4 heaped tbsp regular shop-bought apple sauce
4 heaped tbsp clear/runny honey
1 tbsp golden/maple syrup
3 tbsp oil (sunflower or non-virgin olive oil)
60g soft dark brown sugar (or light if you prefer)
4 heaped tbsp dessicated coconut
60g mixed nuts (almonds, pecans or hazelnuts) roughly chopped
100g dried fruits (apricots, cherries, cranberries, pineapple pieces, anything you like really), chopped

Preheat the oven to 170oC/150oC fan oven/325oF/Gas Mark 3.

Mix all the ingredients together, except for the dried fruit, in a large roomy bowl. Make sure that the oats are well coated in the honey, syrup and oil.

Turn the mixture out into a large baking tray in a single layer; shake the tray slightly so that you have some clumps and some smaller bits.

Bake on the middle shelf of the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes until golden. You will need to keep stirring and jiggling the granola around while it bakes so that is browns evenly.

Once baked, remove from the oven, add the chopped dried fruits and stir to combine. Leave to cool completely and then store in an airtight container. It will keep for a good month.

8 comments:

Anna's kitchen table said...

Maria, that looks so good! Worth getting up for! :)

Lisa said...

You're so right, Maria. Have you tried "Andy's Fairfield Granola" from Nigella's "Feast". It's a permanent fixture for guest breakfasts here at La Folie and everyone loves it!

Maria♥ said...

Thanks Anna :)

Lisa, I have tried "Andy's Fairfield Granola" from Nigella's "Feast" and that is another excellent recipe. Your guests are very lucky, not many B&B's provide home-made goodies on the menu!

Lisa said...

Ah, well, we like to be different! Our guests get to eat home-made yoghurt with their granola and to spread home-made jams on their bread and croissants. I haven't yet resorted to churning my own butter, but I'm not ruling it out!!

Vimitha Durai said...

Would make a filling and healthy breakfast.. Happy to join u...

Choclette said...

You are so right Maria, breakfast is important and I am very guilty of eating mine on the run down to the train station in the mornings. I've made granola before, but I've not used apple sauce. I'm intrigued now and want to try it.

Maggie said...

I love granola - the addition of apple sauce is new to me. I'm definitely going to make your recipe:)

Kirsten said...

Thanks for the recipe Maria, it turned out really well! I've made Jamie O's good-for-you granola a few times before and it's very dry, so before this one went in the oven I thought it was too wet and would come out more like flapjack but I was wrong! The apple sauce gives it a lovely, not-sugary sweetness and OH loves it! Will certainly be making again!