Healthy Granola

Granola is one of those things that I think is healthy...at least that's what I sit there and tell myself as I munch through my second giant bowl of the evening whilst watching Made in Chelsea. But so many of the shop-bought bags (my personal fave is Sainsbury's own-brand tropical granola) are full of sugar and actually pretty calorific. So I've come up with a recipe that goes slightly easier on the fat and calories but still tastes just as great. It's also going to be a lovely distraction when I get back in after going out tonight, and hopefully will stop me from doing my usual tipsy clear-out of the biscuit cupboard! 

 

Healthy Granola

Ingredients: 

• 100g oats
• 75g chopped mixed nuts (e.g peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pine nuts) 
• 50g sunflower seeds 
• 75g raisins
• 3 dates (chopped) 
• 1/2 lemon
• 2 tbsp maple syrup (you can get away with one if you're trying to be really healthy)
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 
• Cooking oil spray

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Weigh out all the dry ingredients (excluding the fruit) chopping any nuts into smaller pieces if necessary. Add all dry ingredients into a large bowl.
• Squeeze half a lemon over the mix and stir in.
• Add in the maple syrup, honey and cinnamon and stir in until everything is coated.
• Spray a baking tray with a small amount of cooking oil then bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Take out every 5 minutes to toss the mix to avoid chunks burning. Keep an eye on the granola- it may take just under 20 minutes or a few minutes longer. Once the granola is a golden brown colour and feels fairly dry remove from the oven.
• Stir in the raisins and dates and any other fruit you want to add. Dried apricots and banana chips can be a tasty addition. 

Notes:

• Keeps in a airtight container for 2-3 weeks. 
• Serve with yoghurt, milk or snack on it dry like I do!