golden granola
I’m breaking all the fall rules of pumpkin spice this pumpkin spice that, and going straight to the gold. Golden Milk Granola is just about the best thing I’ve made all year and that’s saying a lot, because your girl’s been busy in the kitchen!
It warms you up, brings some brightness to the usual granola flavors, and offers some pretty sweet health benefits.
For the printer-friendly version with nutrition facts, please click the following link GOLDEN GRANOLA RECIPE
GOLDEN GRANOLA
Vegan, gluten free, dairy free
Recipe by Jentry Lee Hull
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 20-25 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Yields 18, 1/4 cup servings
Golden Milk Spice Blend Ingredients
Recipe inspired by the vegan 8
3 Tbsp ground turmeric
2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 Tbsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Golden Granola Ingredients
3 cups organic rolled oats (use GF certified if needed)
1 Tbsp hemp hearts (seeds)
1 Tbsp chia seeds
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp golden milk spice blend
3/4-1tsp pink salt
3 Tbsp virgin coconut oil, melted
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 heaping cup runny* nut or seed butter (I used almond butter)
3-4 medjool dates*, pitted and diced
Method
For Spice Blend
In small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for Golden Milk Blend.
Mix thoroughly to remove any clumps.
You’ll have extra! Store leftovers* in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Keeps well for a few months.
For Golden Granola
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and line a backing sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, hemp hearts, chia seeds, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, ground cinnamon, golden milk spice blend, and salt. Stir to combine.
In a separate, tempered glass mixing bowl, melt coconut oil (in microwave or in oven).
Add maple syrup, coconut sugar, vanilla, and runny nut/seed butter to the bowl with melted coconut oil. Stir to evenly incorporate, then add diced dates. Stir again to coat the dates in mixture.
Combine the oil mixture with the dry mixture in the large mixing bowl, using a silicon spatula to scrape down the sides and throughly mix.
Adjust seasoning to taste. For more sweetness, add 1 Tbsp maple syrup. For more spice, at 1/2 tsp golden milk spice blend.
Transfer the granola mixture to the lined baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through.
Remove from heat, let cool before serving. Or, serve hot if desired.
Store completely cooled granola in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
The leftover spice blend is great in future golden granola recipes. It’s also lovely in pancakes, overnight oats, and cookies.
Runny nut/seed butter is crucial to this recipe. Avoid using any nut butters that are hard and/or contain palm oil. The runnier the better, as long as you stir the nut/seed butter first. Just as you don’t want hard butter, you also don’t want a bunch of oil. It’s a delicate balance.
Dates are also crucial. If you must, and only if you must, you can use apricots (diced) or raisins. But dates are superior in flavor, texture, and a mellow sweetness.
Look at those beautiful colors! Oats are the mother of this recipe. They’re the beacon of health, so nourishing and well-rounded, thanks to the high fiber and protein content. They’re also easy to come by, affordable, and rich in antioxidants. Don’t shy away from oats, girl. They’re a gift from the gods.
Turmeric. It’s a powerful, vibrant, inflammation-fighting spice that won’t quit. It can increase antioxidant capacity of other foods, which makes it a great addition to an already plant-powerful dish. Turmeric has been shown to improve brain function, reduce the risk of heart disease, prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s power is boosted when mixed with cayenne and black pepper. It’s also very earthy, so this golden milk spice blend brings a bright, warm flavor to more monotone granola recipe.
Pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) offer a whole cornucopia of nutrients including: protein, polyunsaturated, and fiber. They’re also a great go-to for iron, zinc, magnesium, and antioxidants. Pepitas have been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and may improve sleep quality. Almonds, hemp hearts, and chia seeds also boast a whole bunch of nutrients that improve circulation, reduce cancer and heart disease risk, and offer a healthy dose of antioxidants.
Dates. Don’t knock ‘em ‘til you try ‘em. They’re not the most beautiful, but damn they’re delish.
Mix well and taste as you go to make sure you’re happy with the sweet and savory balance.
That golden granola smell. It’s so good and warms up up from the inside out. It tastes even better once it’s cooled off, so just you wait. Your smoothie bowls, yogurt parfaits and cereal is about to be elevated by this magical delight.
