I have been making and eating granola like a crazy person the last few months. I’ve been trying different ratios of certain ingredients and perfecting it to get the perfect crunch and right amount of everything. Granola seems like… the easiest thing in the world now, so I highly recommend that you make Dan’s easy granola recipe. This recipe is great if you haven’t ever tried making granola at home because it’s so easy. Just do it! This recipe will make your house smell amazing, by the way. I like to make this before guests come over because then the house smells great AND you have a fun snack to share.

Dan’s granola recipe is focused on a variety of nutrients to help fuel your body for running, recovery, and general tastiness. The pumpkin seeds and molasses in this recipe have great iron which helps transport oxygen from your lungs, through the rest of the body. That is pretty important! There is about 4 grams of fiber in a half a cup of this granola. The cinnamon in this recipe is great for blood sugar regulation and helping you feel full. Although I will note that granola on an empty stomach is NOT a great snack for anyone with sensitive blood sugar. However, this granola is TASTY in yogurt for breakfast. I also eat a handful as a snack every now and then. The oats and the maple syrup are the things you have to watch out for if you are trying to be careful of your blood sugar. But this granola makes a fairly healthy, very tasty, snack.

Dan’s Easy Granola Recipe Ingredients

• 3 cups of rolled oats
• 1 cup of shredded, unsweetened, dried, coconut
• 1 cup of raisins
• 1/2 cup of chopped almonds (I buy them pre chopped in the bulk bins as Sprouts)
• 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds (raw, no added salt or oils)
• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
• 3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/3 cup of coconut oil
• 6 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons of blackstrap molasses
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla

I firmly believe that the cinnamon and the vanilla are the MOST important ingredients in making this yummy!

Instructions for making Dan’s Easy Granola Recipe

1. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees F and add parchment paper to a baking sheet.
2. In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
3. In a microwavable bowl, mix the coconut oil, maple syrup, molasses together and microwave until the coconut oil melts together with the other ingredients. About 30-45 seconds will do the trick in the microwave.
4. Combine everything in a large bowl (don’t forget the vanilla).
5. Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet in a thick layer. sometimes mine is more than an inch thick, I wouldn’t go much thicker than 1.5 inches though.
6. Bake for 45 minutes, but stir it gently every 15 minutes (so twice, during the baking process).
7. When you take the granola out after 45 minutes it will still be a little wet. That is okay. Let it cool completely in the baking sheet and then it will be a crunchy, crispy, tasty, treat!
8. Store it in a container (glass preferred) at room temperature and it will stay fresh longer than you can keep it around. (Over a month).

For some nutrition tips, check out this article for 3 foods you should be incorporating into your diet for great nutritional value.

Cheers and happy granola eating!

Dan