Hello all! Question: Have you ever actually looked at the ingredients in store bought, pre-made granola? Hint: There's usually something icky in it, or something completely unnecessary. Example, high fructose corn syrup or "all-natural flavorings". Not going to get into it but, please, I implore you. Don't ever trust "all-natural flavorings".
If you have and you're as "ewww-ed" out as I was, I have a fantastic solution for you: Homemade Vanilla Almond Granola! Ridiculously easy to make and MUCH healthier for you. Great for snacking, or even with yogurt or milk, you'll never reach for that bag of weird additive granola again. I even add it to fruit cobblers instead of using the go-to flour and sugar topping for a lower-calorie dessert!
So I'm actually super excited today because I've just been on a roll with this health kick this year; Dan and I are joining a gym! But not just any gym. A friend of mine took me there on a guest pass and wow. It's enormous and secretly a spa. There are saunas and steam rooms in the locker rooms (with eucalyptus steam apparently, snazzy right?), and pools with jacuzzis. Yes please.
And the CLASSES! Included in membership. Have any of you ever taken kickboxing? I'm dying to test it out. I had an absolutely horrible bout of insomnia at the start of this week so I've been doing my zumba video game at home to make sure I'm getting enough movement but it's just not quite the same as a hardwood floor work out room with chandliers hanging from the ceiling (chandeliers!).
Seriously. Don't even try. Not only am I irritable and angry, but I can't process the world around me at all. I just zombie walk through the day. It's absolutely horrible.
Solution?? Well it pretty much never happens but this past weekend was enough to light a fire under my lazy butt and get myself moving a bit more. A quick workout and then spa time at our new gym! And if I get hungry while I'm there, in-between cardio and relaxation in the jacuzzi time, I'll have a handy bag of Vanilla Almond Granola with me 😉
Really though. This recipe couldn't be easier. All the ingredients are thrown together in a bowl, stirred until combined, and then baked off in the oven, stirring it halfway through. Presto! Your own homemade Homemade Vanilla Almond Granola. A great sweet treat without the guilt, you'll never buy pre-made granola off the shelf again!
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Vanilla Almond Granola
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 6-8 1x
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup canola oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and almonds.
- Add vanilla extract, honey, molasses and canola oil. Stir together until completely mixed.
- Spread the granola mixture onto a baking sheet.
- Bake for 40, minutes, stirring and rotating the pan after 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Store in an airtight jar and enjoy with yogurt, milk, or just as a snack!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
Dan says
These work great as a cereal backup as well. Healthy grains + milk = easy breakfast.