You'll love this granola! This recipe is much tastier, less expensive, and lower in fat than most of the regular, store-bought varieties. The baking time is worth the effort.
Ingredients
1 cup 100% fresh squeezed orange juice
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup honey
3 cups regular oats
2 cups whole-wheat toasted oat cereal (such as Cheerios)
1 cup toasted wheat germ
1 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley
1/2 cup nut-like cereal nuggets (such as Grape-Nuts)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup unsalted soy nuts
1/4 cup flaxseed
1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seed kernels
Cooking spray
1 (6-ounce) package dried cherries
2 (4-ounce) packages dried blueberries
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Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300°.
2. Heat juice and the next 3 ingredients (through honey) in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until dissolved; set aside.
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3. Combine oats and the next 10 ingredients (through sunflower seed kernels) in a large bowl.
4. Pour juice mixture over oat mixture; toss.
5. Divide mixture in half; spread evenly over 2 baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 300° for 45 minutes or until dry and crispy, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely; stir in dried fruit. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Granola benefits
Although there’s little scientific research on granola itself, common ingredients, including oats, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and almonds, are linked to numerous health benefits, according to Healthline
Because granola often includes nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews, and seeds like hemp, pumpkin, sesame, and oats; it is high in protein and fiber. This can slow down the emptying of your stomach and increase digestion time, helping you feel fuller for longer.
Here's how granola can benefit your health, according to Healthline:
- Improve blood pressure. High-fiber ingredients like oats and flax seeds have been shown to help reduce blood pressure.
- Reduce cholesterol levels. Oats are a good source of beta-glucan, a type of fiber that works to reduce total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, two risk factors for heart disease.
- Reduce blood sugar. Whole grains, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds may help reduce and control blood sugar levels, particularly in people with obesity or prediabetes.
- Improve gut health. Granola has been found to increase levels of healthy gut bacteria, compared with refined breakfast cereals.
- Provide many antioxidants. Ingredients such as coconut, chia seeds, and Brazil nuts are good sources of inflammation-fighting antioxidants like gallic acid, quercetin, selenium, and vitamin E.
