The last couple of years I’ve really gotten into making homemade gifts. This year my two homemade gifts were supposed to be this Paleo Granola Recipe and my Homemade Chili Oil.
My son, however, fell madly in love with this granola and pretty much forbid me from taking even one cluster out of our house. I promised him I would make another batch ASAP, but if you know any toddlers, you know they are not exactly always easy to reason with (understatement).
So, most of my homemade gift recipients wound up getting jars of the chili oil except for my immediate family, whom I gifted jars of homemade granola to under the Christmas tree. And, yep, just as expected, my son wound up claiming all of those as “his”.
If you are eating grain-free and miss the crunchy taste of cereal or granola, look no further. This granola is the answer. Crunchy and full of sweet clusters of mixed nuts, toasted coconut, and sesame seeds, it truly resembles a more traditional granola.
NOTES:
- This makes a huge batch. You could easily halve it if you are making it for one or just store (once completely cool!) in airtight glass containers and only have to make it once in a while – it lasts and stays crunchy for up to one month.
- The “main” nut in this recipe is the raw cashews (since I use 1lb). I have tried this with raw walnuts in place of the cashews as well as raw almonds and both were terrific. I also think raw pecans would be good there!
- TIP: If you live near a Trader Joe’s, they have great prices on raw nuts. If not, try the bulk section of your natural foods store or local grocer and only buy what you need for the recipe to keep costs down!
- The serving size is based on 48 1/4-cup servings (at 5 Points Plus Each). If you want a larger 1/2-cup serving, you would have 24 1/2-cup servings (at 10 Points Plus Each).
- The almond meal is optional and for those who want more of a cluster. My family loves this either way but I know clusters really matter for some of you!
- The Points are the same with or without the optional 1/4 cup almond meal.
- If you love pumpkin, give this Easy Pumpkin Granola a go!
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
5 Points Plus Per Serving -- Recipe Makes Approximately 48
- 1 pound raw cashews roughly chopped
- 8 ounces raw sliced almonds
- 4 ounces raw hazelnuts roughly chopped
- 2 ounces sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal brown or golden
- 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- pinch ground nutmeg
- 8 ounces sweetened shaved coconut flakes
- 2/3 cup melted organic virgin coconut oil
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 cup almond meal optional - see NOTES
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Move oven racks to the 2nd and 4th positions from the top and preheat oven to 325F. If you have a food processor (if not, chop by hand), pulse the hazelnuts and then the cashews until they are in small chunks. Do not over-process or they will be powdered. Combine the hazelnuts and cashews with the remaining dry ingredients (sliced almonds, sesame seeds, flax meal, palm sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, coconut and almond meal if using). Mix until well combined.[img src="http://www.everydaymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0290-533x400.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="400" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11374"]
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In a measuring cup, measure 2/3 cup melted coconut oil with 1/3 cup maple syrup. Add vanilla and almond extract to the measuring cup and stir to mix. Pour liquid mixture over dry mixture and use your hands to mix until evenly distributed. You could use a spoon or spatula but this is the kind of thing that is best mixed with clean hands so you can feel if the oil/sweetener mixture is well mixed.[img src="http://www.everydaymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0293-533x400.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="400" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11376"][img src="http://www.everydaymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0294-533x400.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="400" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11377"]
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Spread half of the granola out on each baking sheet and spread out until you have one layer.[img src="http://www.everydaymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0295-533x400.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="400" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11378"]
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Place in the oven and bake undisturbed for 15 minutes.[img src="http://www.everydaymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0297-533x400.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="400" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11379"]
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Remove, use a spatula to mix around the granola and return to a single layer. Place back in the oven and bake an additional 15 minutes.[img src="http://www.everydaymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0299-533x400.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="400" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11380"]
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Remove and allow to cool completely before serving or storing. Store in an airtight glass container for up to one month. Enjoy![img src="http://www.everydaymaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IMG_0300-533x400.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="400" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11381"]
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
This looks absolutely delicious! Do you know what the nutrition facts would approximately?
Hi! I suggest using a free site like http://www.myfitnesspal.com to figure out nutritional info for any recipe. Good Luck!
Hi Lynn,
You can convert cups to ML here – http://www.metric-conversions.org/volume/us-cups-to-milliliters-table.htm good luck!
Hi there! This looks great. Just wondering what milk you would have with this (as featured in the picture) – would you recommend almond milk? Thanks!
Hi Karina,
I use either plain, unsweetened almond milk (I like 365 brand) or full fat coconut milk (from a can). Enjoy!
Nice post. I think its delicious. I want to try it. its a unique recipe.
Thank you! I am still hoping to find your product in one of my local stores so I can try it – looks great!
why this is just fantastic.. and so much scope to adjust and replace depending on what is in the pantry.. thank you.. found you on pinterest!! .. love it.. c
I love homemade granola and I’m all about the clusters – this looks so tasty!
Ohhh I could so go for a big bowl of this beauty!!
We had the last of this batch this morning – time to make more!
This is just fantastic and I love almonds! Unfortunately here in Saigon it’s hard to get some of the ingredients of your recipe (hazelnuts for example). Actually this fits perfectly into my meal plan – I’m cooking sugar free since 3 months now, after my husband started to get problems with his sugar. Initially we did the 21 day sugar detox challenge (for your ref: timreviews.com/21daysugardetox). Thank you and I’m looking forward for more healthy recipes 🙂
Hi Linh – Try subbing walnuts or pecans for the hazelnuts. Do you have access to those nuts?
I agree with Joanne this would be good with yogurt.
It is Norma! My son had some (again) for breakfast this morning with vanilla coconut yogurt.
Fabulous, Alyssa! I’ve been wanting a grain free granola and can’t to make yours. Or maybe you can sneak some out of your house… 🙂 Love that your son claims and devours all the jars! That’s a wonderful endorsement of its deliciousness!
I have plans to sneak you a jar! 😉
Alyssa,
Your son is a smart kid! That granola looks yummy. After I got a gift of Meghan’s (Clean Eats Fast Feets) granola in August I got hooked on homemade–then the spouse came home and with his daily oatmeal habit I’ve been watching the supply of both my beloved granola and his rolled oats dwindle–now I’ve got a solution.
Thanks!
Yum! This looks wonderful. And I’m lucky enough to live close to a Trader Joe’s! Good stuff – thanks.
Trader Joe’s is such a great store!
This sounds like the perfect way to start off the day or as a snack Alyssa!
I’m on a bit of a yogurt kick at the moment, so I could see myself sprinkling this all over it and calling it breakfast!
So is my son (coconut yogurt) although he refuses to put them in the same bowl which is funny. He takes a spoonful of yogurt, puts it in his mouth and then shovels a spoonful of granola lol.