ORANGE shares a few recipes meant for mixing and matching to make a nutritious treat.

Story by Catherine Harpold
Illustration by Allegra Gonzalez-Abreu

Granola can be a tasty snack, a healthy dessert or a crunchy topping. Unfortunately, it can also be expensive and full of unnecessary ingredients. Using pantry staples, you can make your own granola and customize it however you like. Granola can be adjusted to meet any dietary needs. Time to get creative!

Base

• Cashews

• Hazelnuts

• Pecans

• Walnuts

• Pistachios

• Almonds

• Macadamia nuts

• Sunflower seeds

• Pumpkin seeds

• Rolled oats (substitute for GF oats if needed!)

Add-Ins

• Chocolate Chips

• Cacao nibs

• Coconut flakes

• Flax seeds

• Chia seeds

• Hemp seeds

• Quinoa

• Dried fruit

Sweeteners and Oils

• Maple syrup

• Honey

• Agave nectar

• Olive oil

• Coconut oil

Nut Butters

• Peanut butter

• Almond butter

• Cashew butter

• Sunflower seed butter

• Tahini

Here are two recipes to get you started!

Seasonal Pumpkin Spice Granola

Nothing says fall like the aroma of pumpkin spice! This granola is lightly sweetened and provides a satisfying flavor for your pumpkin cravings.

Serving size ¼ cup. Makes about 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups various nuts/seeds or oats

• 1 cup coconut flakes

• 2 Tbsp. flax seeds (or other add-ins of your choosing)

• ⅓ cup pumpkin puree

• ⅓ cup sweetener

• 2 Tbsp. oil

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• ½ Tbsp. cinnamon

• ¼ tsp. salt

• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

2. Chop the nuts into smaller pieces. Put into a large mixing bowl. If only using oats, skip this step.

3. Add the coconut flakes, flax seeds or other add-ins, cinnamon, salt and pumpkin pie spice to the large bowl. Mix with nuts.

4. Whisk together the pumpkin puree, sweetener, vanilla extract and oil in a small mixing bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the large mixing bowl and combine.

5. Arrange the mixture evenly on baking sheet.

6. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then take out and stir the mixture. Place it back in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven and let it sit for 30 minutes to cool. This allows it to crisp.

8. Enjoy! It should stay fresh for three weeks. Store in a lidded container.

Healthy Nut Butter Granola

Take your nut butter addiction to another level with this sweet and salty combination. For a sweet twist, add some chocolate chips or dried bananas!

Serving size ¼ cup. Makes about 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups various nuts/seeds or oats

• 2 Tbsp. chia seeds (or other add-ins of your choosing)

• ⅓ cup sweetener

• ½ cup nut butter

• 2 Tbsp. oil

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• ¼ tsp. salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

2. Chop the nuts into smaller pieces.. Put into a large mixing bowl. If only using oats, skip this step

3. Add the chia seeds or other add-ins, cinnamon and salt to the large bowl. Mix with nuts.

4. Whisk together the nut butter, sweetener, vanilla extract and oil in a small mixing bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the large mixing bowl and combine.

5. Arrange the mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet.

6. Bake the mixture in the oven for 15 minutes. Then take out the baking sheet and stir the contents. Place it back in the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven and let it sit for 30 minutes to cool. This allows the granola to crisp.

8. Enjoy! It should stay fresh for several weeks. Store in a lidded container.

Notes

Granola is very adaptable to dietary needs or food allergies. If you are allergic to nuts, only use oats.