A lower in sugar granola made from oats, with olive oil and a touch of honey. A versatile base recipe – get creative with your extras!
Does the world really need yet another granola recipe? I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if every single recipe blog in the land had their own version, all equally delicious I’m sure. So why add mine into the fold?
I’ve served up this granola to over 60 guests on Stretching the City yoga retreats (as well as at cooking classes and nutrition demos) this year, and at each retreat I am always asked for the recipe, so at the risk of giving away all my trade secrets here it is.
All this talk of granola has led me to question what exactly is the perfect granola combination? (as well as the etymology of this odd word – any ideas?). Always start with a base of oats, or choose to add whole grains like quinoa or buckwheat? Then there’s the fat, sweetener and all the added extras to consider too. Finally, after all these decisions have been made we need to make decisions on the cooking method. The permutations and combinations are endless!
When devising my perfect recipe it was really important for me to keep the sugar content low. Most of us are aware that even with a wealth of wholesome ingredients in granola, you add a tonne of sugar into the mix and you move swiftly from a whole grain dish to a very occasional treat; In fact I’ve tried many a granola that might as well have been labelled ‘flapjack’. The majority of the liquid that coats the oats in this recipe is olive oil (you can also use coconut), and the added sugar honey is much less than you’d find in commercially bought granola.
When making granola I personally prefer to toast just the oats in the oven and then add seeds, dried fruit and coconut half way through cooking. I just don’t like the way the nuts burn, or the dried fruit over caramelises in the full heat of a hot oven. This recipe totally allows you complete creative freedom on the end dish; fill it up with what ever you like, then serve it with fresh seasonal fruit, Greek, natural or coconut yoghurt, and perhaps an extra drizzle of milk.
My preference for granola is to use jumbo oats, rolled oats will of course work also, but the texture with jumbo oats is less ‘floury’.
Today’s granola contains dried cranberries and coconut flakes for a festive feel (along with mixed seeds), served with coconut yoghurt, clementines and pomegranate seeds. The prize for the most over used ingredient on this blog in 2015 most definitely goes to pomegranate. I figure there are worse ingredients to be addicted to.
photos updated September 2017, recipe updated March 2019, and yes I’m still serving this EVERY yoga retreat.
- 400g jumbo oats
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 75g olive oil (or coconut oil)
- 50g honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- + Chopped seeds, nuts, dried fruit, coconut - desiccated or chips, your choice.
- Pre heat the oven to 160ºC (fan)
- In a large bowl toss the oats with the cinnamon and salt
- Warm the olive oil and honey together in a saucepan until melted and well blended. Add the vanilla extract and pour over the oat mixture, coating well.
- Spread the oiled oats on a lined baking sheet and transfer to the oven.
- After 10 minutes, remove and sprinkle over your chopped nuts, seeds, dried fruit and coconut. Stir so everything is evenly spread and return to the oven for a further 10 minutes or so until toasty and browned.
- Allow to cool fully before transferring to an airtight glass jar where it will keep for a few weeks.
- A serving of granola is approximately 40g.
Love granola, want some more inspiration? Here are ten other healthy granola recipes from food bloggers. Each and every single one is different; granola-diversity is at large on the internet!
- Spiced Apple Granola , from Recipes from a Pantry
- Ginger Nut Granola , from Emily’s Recipes and Reviews
- Cherry, Coconut and Almond Butter Granola from Baking Queen 74
- Coconut Almond Quinoa Granola from Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen
- Fruit & Nut Granola from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
- Cacao, Cashew Granola from Rough Measures
- Pecan Maple Cinnamon Granola from Celery and Cupcakes
- Back to School Granola from The Little Plantation
- Cinnamon Ginger Granola from Nourish Everyday
- Granola and musings on Ingredients from Botanical Baker
What would you put in your perfect granola?
Wonderful! I can’t wait to try this at the weekend, thanks for sharing x
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy the granola!
I love the use of dried cranberries and coconut in your granola, and with fresh pomegranate to serve, it sounds and looks delicious. I must make more granola, it is so useful to have ready isn’t it. Thank you for linking to my recipe too 🙂
Thanks Lucy! I have to admit I don’t usually make granola for me to eat at home, but it does feel like a wonderful treat, and ready to have for rushed mornings (like this morning!) – your recipe looks super too!
Despite not eating much granola I seem to have, I think, three recipes for it on the blog! One of my favourite lower sugar ways is to sweeten with apple or ripe pear puree. You would think it would be wet and never bake but I keep it at a very low temp and bake for quite a while – more like dehydrating I guess. Like brownie recipes, the world can never have enough – healthy – granola recipes 😉
Wow – 3 recipes for a non eater is impressive! I have to admit I don’t usually make granola for me to eat at home, but have enjoyed the leftovers and eating it on the retreats – I just know its not best breakfast nutrition protocol for me ;). Love your puree idea – especially using current seasonal fruit! And yes I agree re the brownies!!
I love granola and whenever I make it I tend to leave out the sugar or keep the content very low too. I love the sound of yours with its festive twist! Hope you are well and not too stressed at the prospect of getting all those presents sorted. I think if you just cooked up some of your recipes your friends and family would be very very happy!!
Great minds think alike there then Vicki! Thanks so much, glad you like the sound of this one (we also made a version of it at my recent cooking class 😉 )! Presents and Christmas (and making granola no doubt) will be attacked with a vengeance next week – then all will certainly we well here! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I don’t think you can ever have too many granola recipes. This is a really good picture too 🙂
Thanks Dannii, was pleased with the pics too! Now I just need to plot my next Granola recipe!
great to see a low stage version. pumpkin seeds is always a must in mine!
Yes, love pumpkin seeds in mine too – some sneaky hiding in my mixed seeds I added! Thanks Roz
I’ve never really tied fruit in my cereal because I didn’t like the idea of it. Your post however has certainly got me interested 🙂
Really, never? Yes definitely helping you to your 5 (or 9) a day by having a piece of fruit with breakfast!
I really should make my own granola as it’s one of my favourite cereals. Your granola looks fab and love that it’s low sugar;-)
Thanks Camilla, yes definitely look into making your own – so much better than shop bought – and you get to add whatever ingredients you want! woop!
Delicious! This is perfect for me as I really need to cut down on sugar. And festive too! xx
Thanks Emily! It needn’t be a festive dish, but I rather like the way I managed to time it perfectly with this time of year!
Making granola fro 6 guests is awesome. You make me wanna throw a granola party with that idea. Love the addition of dried cranberries.
60! though not all at the same time thankfully, that would be a hell of a lot of oats. A granola party sounds like a most excellent idea! Thanks Bintu
I don’t think there will ever be enough granola recipes out there! The smallest variation makes a big difference to the taste and texture. I agree with you about the added sugar, it’s not necessary to add too much, just enough to add a little sweetness and to help everything stick together 🙂
I’m starting to agree with you Nadia, although I have to say I hardly ever make this at home for me – usually just when catering for others and then I end up having leftovers! Must try another version next time around.