What can I say about granola that hasn’t been said before? Everyone loves it! It’s super crunchy and sweet and you can have it in countless varieties. Unfortunately, the shop versions are usually sweetened with sugar or glucose syrup and have plenty of unnecessary ingredients, which make the whole thing unhealthy and artificial.

Luckily, making your own granola is super easy and quick and even if you’re the world’s worst cook, I guarantee you will make it with this recipe. It has only 7 ingredients, which you probably have in your cupboard anyway.

I gave this granola a Christmas twist by adding spices so it tastes a bit like crunchy gingerbread. It smells so good when you bake it that I just can’t stop myself from eating it straight from the oven.

This homemade winter granola can be a delicious addition to a Christmas gift; you can give it in a nice big jar after you’ve decorated it. It stores really well, too.

I like to eat it with my homemade berry compote and soya yoghurt, or just straight from the jar while watching TV.

 

For the granola:

• 150g jumbo oats
• 60g dried cranberries
• 100g mixed nuts (I used almonds, pecans, cashews and hazelnuts)
• 50g mixed seeds (I used pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds and sunflower seeds)
• 5 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• a pinch of salt

 

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees.
2. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
3. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and put the mix on top making sure you spread it evenly.
4. Bake for 15 min, take out of the oven and let it cool down.
5. Put in a jar and store up to a month in a dry and cool place.

 

For the berry compote:

• 300g mixed frozen berries
• 50g dried cranberries
• 3 tbsp orange juice
• 5 tbsp maple syrup
• ½ tsp agar powder
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Method:

1. Put the all fruit and juice in a saucepan and start heating.
2. When all the fruit has defrosted and the mix is starting to boil, stir in the maple syrup, agar powder and ground cinnamon. Mix well and heat for 3 more minutes.
3. Take off the heat and let it cool down.
4. Put in a jar and store in the fridge up to a week.

Enjoy!

Julia X