Most granola is full of added sugar, not so healthy fats and only one grain, typically oats. Not to mention the price tag! It’s so easy to make it at home and you can mix and match your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit, you’ll never get bored. Here we’re using walnuts, chia seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and dried cherries. Not only is this granola delicious but it’s packed with fiber and protein with a bonus of natural melatonin from the walnuts and tryptophan, zinc and magnesium from pepitas. All important nutrients as we age.
Walnut, Pepitas, and Dried Cherry Granola
Ingredients
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups walnuts
1 1/2 cups pepitas
1/2 cup chia seeds
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 cup dried cherries
Directions
- Set oven to 300 degrees and place oven rack in upper third of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together maple syrup, brown sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla and salt.
- Add oats, walnuts, pepitas, chia seeds, and wheat germ. Stir until well coated.
- Pour oat mixture onto lined baking sheet and with a spatula, press down to evenly distribute the oat mixture over the entire surface of the pan.
- Bake on rack placed in upper third of oven for about 25-30 minutes, turning the sheet pan around half way through cooking. The granola should be golden brown but not dark brown.
- Remove from oven. Top with dried cherries and allow to cool on rack. Once cooled, break up into pieces, stirring in cherries and store in glass container with tight-fitted lid.
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