I’ve always loved homemade granola, but I missed the big clumpy clusters that made up the store bought kind. You know those big granola chunks, just perfect for snacking? I needed to know how to make that kind at home with healthy ingredients.
I searched high and low, never wearying in my quest. And guess what?
I’ve found the secret. Want to hear it?
Lean in close here.
Closer…
I said closer!
Whispered: egg whites
Here’s my recipe. Printable format at the bottom of the page.
clumpy granola
4 cups rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup dried fruit
1/4 cup coconut flakes
1 cup nuts
5 tablespoons melted coconut oil or olive oil
1 tsp real vanilla
1/3 – 1/2 cup real maple syrup or honey (I go with 1/3 cup, but I like a lightly sweetened flavor)
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
- Preheat oven to 300°
- Mix together: oats, cinnamon, salt, fruit and nuts in a big bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together maple syrup, oil, egg whites, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir, making sure all dry ingredients are well coated. Split mixture between two oiled baking sheets. Spread evenly and press down firmly into a thin “donut” shaped single layer with a spatula. (This prevents an uncooked middle.)
- Bake in preheated oven for 25-35 minutes until granola is golden brown and crisp at the edges. Do not stir while baking. Allow to cool for 15 minutes on baking sheet before breaking into lovely, clumpy, clusters.
Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks, if it lasts that long.
Eat by the fistful or spooned over homemade yogurt.
| Healthy, Clumpy Granola |
|
- 4 cups rolled oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup dried fruit
- 1/4 cup coconut flakes
- 1 cup nuts
- 5 tablespoons melted coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 tsp real vanilla
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup real maple syrup or honey (I go with 1/3 cup, but I like a lightly sweetened flavor)
- 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
- Preheat oven to 300°
- Mix together: oats, cinnamon, salt, fruit and nuts in a big bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together maple syrup, oil, egg whites, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir, making sure all dry ingredients are well coated. Split mixture between two oiled baking sheets. Spread evenly and press down firmly into a thin “donut” shaped single layer with a spatula. (This prevents an uncooked middle.)
- Bake in preheated oven for 25-35 minutes until granola is golden brown and crisp at the edges. Do not stir while baking. Allow to cool for 15 minutes on baking sheet before breaking into lovely, clumpy, clusters.
I tend to mix and match the fruit and nuts depending on my mood and what I have on hand. This time I used dried cherries, apples, pecans, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
Yummy!
looks like a keeper! I’ve been wanting to make granola again and I think I found my recipe!
That is too funny! For years I wondered about that too. I adore homemade granola, but I miss those clusters. I discovered the egg white trick recently and it has taken my granola to a new level.
Thanks for sharing. This recipe looks great.
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Thanks for this recipe
I tried it (my first time making granola) and it was amazing! I love the clumps; I was definitely looking for them when I chose this recipe. Plus, I love that the granola isn’t too sweet, tastes great, and is pretty healthy. Store-bought granola can be good, but I like knowing exactly what goes into mine!
Thanks for letting me know how it turned out. I’m glad you liked it! I was just thinking this morning that I needed to make another batch. Thanks for the motivation.
So, first of all, let me say that i LOVE this granola! I just made it for the second time tonight and it’s definitely a keeper.
That said, it should be noted that while it is theoretically healthy (since all the ingredients are things your body needs), it’s definitely not a cheap or low-calorie snack. I’ve started a new thing where when I add recipes to my cookbook, I also calculate how much it costs and how many calories it has per serving, just so I’m aware.
For this recipe, I’m not sure how much is a serving size, but I did calculate the total amount of calories and cost to make it. I used walnuts and craisins, and the recipe cost a total of $6.79 and contained 3024 calories. Not that either of those two facts are going to keep me from enjoying this homemade granola and making it again, but it’s at least good to know when you’re sitting in front of the tv and are tempted to eat the whole delicious bag in one go
Oh my goodness – that is a lot of calories. Good to know. I might have to take some with on a hike, when I can really use them.
I think you can cut the cost slightly by buying bulk, but yeah, with the exception of the oatmeal, these are not cheap ingredients. Worth it though, in my book.
Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you liked it.
Fantastic recipe! This was my first attempt at homemade granola. I added flax seed, sunflower seeds and craisins. Way better than any store-bought. Next time I’ll substitute brown sugar for maple syrup. The real stuff is a little too pricey to not exclusively use it for pancakes or waffles. Cheers!
Thanks for letting me know, Keith. I ‘m glad you liked it. i love your add-ins. Yum!