Healthy Granola and Honey And Nuts

A healthy granola recipe made with honey, nuts, seeds and dried fruit. This recipe is so easy to make and makes enough for a whole week of yummy breakfasts. Adapt it with your own favourite nuts and fruits and serve it with a dollop of Greek yogurt or milk and fresh berries.

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day….

Although we love nothing more than a long, lazy breakfast usually containing eggs, smoked salmon and a large steaming cup of tea. Throughout the week there is no time for that, let's face it.

On weekdays we want to start our day with something good but quick to make (we're talking seconds) and it has to be relatively healthy. Banana on toast, chopped fruit and yogurt, a warming bowl of porridge or this homemade healthy granola.

What's great about this healthy granola recipe is that you can adapt it with so many different flavours. We went with a mix of whole nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried apricots and blueberries. If you're looking for some other great ingredients to add to your homemade granola then check out the list below.

What Ingredients Can we Add To our Granola?

• Any unsalted nuts of your choice (walnuts, cashews, pistachios, almonds etc)
• Dried fruits such as raisins, pineapple, figs, ginger etc.
• Goji berries (healthy and great for the immune system)
• Desiccated coconut or finely sliced coconut (one of our favourite additions)
• Mixed seeds

How To Make Homemade Healthy Granola

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl except for the dried fruit. Tip: If you are using desiccated coconut then add this at the last stage.

Add the honey, sugar and orange juice to a pan and heat it gently until the sugar has dissolved. Do not let the mixture boil. Add the sunflower oil and stir (photos 2-4).

Add the orange/honey mixture to the granola mix and toss it until it's completely coated. Spread it out in an even layer over two large, lined baking trays. Tip: rub the baking parchment with a little drizzle of sunflower oil before spreading the granola over to stop it sticking (photos 5-6).

Bake the granola for 10 minutes until starting to turn golden then toss and bake for another 5-10 minutes. Don't let the colour go past golden. Let it cool completely then add the chopped dried fruit and toss it until completely mixed together. Store in sealed containers for up to 1 month (photos 7-8).

More recipes you might like

• Dark chocolate avocado truffles
• Carrot Cake Doughnuts with Maple Frosting
• Roasted veg sandwich with avocado mayo and goats cheese
• Berry Banana Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients

Makes 7 cups (around 800g)

• 3 cups (300g) rolled oats
• 1 1/4 cups (175g) mixed whole nuts
• 1/2 cup (70g) pumpkin seeds (, unsalted)
• 1 cup (140g) dried fruit (, finely chopped)
• 1/2 cup (125ml) orange juice
• 1/4 cup (60g) brown sugar
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp sunflower oil plus 1-2 drops for greasing

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degreesC/350F/gas mark 4 and line two large baking trays with baking parchment. Drizzle the trays with a couple drops of sunflower oil and brush over the lined trays.

2. Place all dry ingredients in a large bowl apart from the dried fruit.

3. Place the orange juice, sugar and honey in a saucepan over a medium heat and heat it gently, stirring occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 tbsp sunflowers oil.

4. Pour the orange/honey mixture over the granola mix and toss until completely coated.

5. Spread the oat mixture in thin layers on the baking trays and bake for around 10 mins or until starting to turn golden. You need to keep an eye on the granola so it does not burn. Toss the granola and bake for another 5 minutes.

6. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely. Add the chopped dried fruit and toss. Store in airtight containers for up to one month.

7. Serve with milk or Greek yoghurt and fresh berries.

Kitchen notes

• If you are using desiccated coconut then add this at the last stage with dried fruit as it will burn easily in the oven.

Optional Granola Ingredient Ideas

• Unsalted nuts of your choice (almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews etc)
• Dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, banana chips, goji berries, pineapple, figs etc)
• Desiccated coconut or finely sliced coconut
• Freeze dried fruits (raspberries/strawberries etc)
• Mixed seeds (unsalted)