Build Your Own Granola

When in doubt, make granola.

I've used this formula to bake a few granolas in the past and thought now was the perfect time to publish it. The best part about this recipe is its flexibility. Don't have nuts? No problem. Fresh out of olive oil? Don't worry. All you need are oats and a few other odds and ends to make this granola delicious. 

Let me know what you think of the recipe and don't forget to follow the sustainability tips below! 

Time: 1 hour

Makes: 5 cups of granola

Ingredients

• 3 cups mix-and-match whole-grains

  • Ideas: old fashioned oats, kamut flakes, barely flakes, buckwheat groats, Cheerios, Bran Flakes

• 1 cup raw nuts and seeds

  • Ideas: almonds, pepitas, chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Up to 4 teaspoons of mixed spices

• 3 tablespoons oil or melted butter

  •  Ideas: coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil

• 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

• 2 egg whites (optional, for a clumpier texture)

• 1 cup room temperature add-ins

  • Ideas: dried mixed berries, chocolate chips, candied ginger

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 300 F. In a large bowl, stir together all dry ingredients. In a small liquid measuring cup, whisk together melted oil or butter, syrup or honey, and extract. 

2. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until fully combined. If using egg whites, whip them until frothy in a small glass bowl or liquid measuring cup and then fold them into the mixture. 

3. Spread the granola in a thin layer on a large, parchment-lined sheet tray (or two smaller lined sheet trays). Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until granola is evenly golden brown. Stir halfway through for more even coloring. Let the granola cool before adding mixed berries, chocolate chips or other add-ins. Serve with yogurt, cereal or pancakes, or eat as a snack on its own!

Sustainability Tips

• Whole grains: Organic and locally grown whole grains are best here. Buying organically and locally means that your grains won't contribute as much to pesticide pollution or greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. 

• Nuts and seeds: Try to buy locally sourced nuts and seeds and avoid water-guzzling nuts like almonds and walnuts. Read all about your local nuts in my nuts sustainability profile!

• Oil: For most oils, fair trade varieties are the most sustainable. That fair trade logo means your oil was produced ethically and sustainably. Extra, extra read all about it in my sustainable oils post!

• Sweetener: Whether you go with syrup or honey, try to buy local varieties. This will cut back on emissions from travel and help you get to know your local food producers. 

• Egg whites: Local egg whites for the win, and don't ditch the yolks! Eggs are super easy to find locally, which will cut down on GHG emissions from travel. Use the yolks in another recipe, like my single-serve eggnog.