I’ve been sharing my Healthy Homemade Granola recipe for years, and thankfully it’s always received loving feedback!

A few nights ago when whipping up a batch for myself, I switched up the ingredients slightly, made a few tweaks (everything is made better with the addition of nut butter right!?) and came up with this Valentines Inspired Granola.

I adore granola and eat is most days. I personally love it as an evening snack with Greek yoghurt and on top of my smoothie bowls and overnight oats… heavenly! Or just a bowl full of this with a splash of cold milk or almond milk, or simply eaten by the handful for a snack – totally delicious!

Whichever way you eat this, I hope you enjoy. Let me know if you try it…

 

Valentines Inspired Granola 

Ingredients:

– 3 cups rolled oats (not quick cook oats)
– 1 cup raw walnuts / pecan nuts / cashew nuts (or a combination), roughly chopped
– 1 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries (no added sugar)
– ½ cup (125ml) agave syrup or maple syrup
– 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
– ½ cup (125g) natural peanut butter (or cashew / almond butter)
– 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
– 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
– ½ tsp. fine sea salt
– ½ cup white or dark chocolate chips (I used dairy-free white chocolate chips here)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped nuts, ground cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir until well mixed. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, agave or maple syrup, nut butter, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir well to ensure that everything is thoroughly coated. Spread the mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the granola is golden brown. Allow to cool completely (this helps it become crunchy), and then mix in the dried cranberries / cherries and chocolate chips. Transfer the granola to an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place. Serve with milk, yogurt, or simply enjoy it as a snack!

Happy Valentines Day!! x

Notes:

– Feel free to adjust the sweetness by adding more or less agave/maple syrup based on your taste.
– You can also substitute the dried cranberries with other dried fruits (e.g. chopped dates or raisins), if desired.
– This recipe is totally versatile – you could add seeds (e.g. pumpkin or sunflower seeds), coconut flakes, or other mix-ins to suit your preferences.