Mixed Nut, Maple Syrup and Black Sesame Seed Granola

Homemade granola is simple to make, healthy, extremely satisfying and always tastes better. Store-bought granola can contain quite a lot of added sugar and additives. Making your own granola allows you to control what goes in, particularly if you have any food allergies or intolerances and gives you the ability to add more healthy ingredients. I find making granola is fantastic for incorporating more nuts and seeds in my diet.

I always make my granola recipes in fairly small batches as its so simple to make, I will not run the risk of storing it for too long before eating. I do not have a go-to granola recipe as all my recipes generally use ingredients I have available in the pantry so they vary, I have never made the same recipe more than once.

This granola recipe is merely a guideline, if you do not have any of the ingredients from the list available, try an alternative. I do hope you enjoy getting creative with your granola making.

Ingredients

500g Jumbo organic oats

100g Pecans

100g Cashews

20g Coconut flakes

10g Black sesame seeds

2 cups Maple syrup

20g coconut oil

2tbsp vanilla paste

Method

Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3.

Line two large roasting (or one and cook in batches) with baking parchment. Put the oats and all the flakes, nuts and seeds in a bowl and mix them together.

Put the maple syrup, vanilla and oil in a big heavy-bottomed saucepan and gently heat. Add the grain mixture and stir until all the dry ingredients are coated – you are not cooking the mixture, just coating it. Spread the cereal over the parchment (it should not lie in big clumps unless that is what you desire) and bake for about 20 mins.

Remove the tins from the oven, turn the temperature up to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then return to the oven, swapping the tins over. Cook for another 5 mins but keep an eye on things. You want a golden toasted mixture – you may even start to smell some caramelisation – but do not take it too far.

Take the tins out of the oven and leave to cool. Break the granola up into small chunks with your hands and add the dried fruit. Will keep well in an airtight container for two weeks. You can ‘refresh’ it by putting it all in the oven again (at 160C/140C/gas 3) for 5 mins.

Serve with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit.