Soft-Baked Granola Clusters
- Breakfast, Dairy-Free, Diet, Fall, Recipes, Season, Vegan, Vegetarian
- September 8, 2021
- Ashley Tyrner
Prep
5 mins
cook
30 mins
serves
8
With back-to-school season in full effect, I am constantly seeking out easy, quick breakfast recipes that not only I’ll enjoy but also my daughter. She has had quite a particular set of taste buds, beginning during her infancy when at just two years young, she self-proclaimed a diet free of animal products, and heavy on the fruits and vegetables. While this isn’t the typical request from young children, I am super grateful this is the type of lifestyle my daughter has naturally gravitated towards. Her way of eating is actually what prompted my first company FarmboxRx, but any who! Let’s get into the practicality of having a simple, speedy breakfast meal that can be eaten on the go, or even paired alongside another early morning meal like chia seed pudding. Yum!
Time Saver
Like many working parents, time is of the essence, especially in the mornings. Now that we are back in the rhythm of in-person schooling, we are getting used to our morning flow. We may not always have time to sit down and eat at the table for breakfast, however, it is on those days that having a breakfast that travels well becomes crucial. Not only is it easy for the kids to eat in the car, but if they don’t finish it, it becomes an afternoon snack that they can enjoy later.
I like to prepare these granola clusters in bulk for the week, that way we can keep them stored in a large, airtight container, and it becomes one less task we have to worry about in the mornings. My daughter especially loves eating the granola clusters with yogurt or applesauce to add some additional sweetness. The granola clusters are super versatile in that they can be eaten alone, as is, with milk as cereal, on top of yogurt or chia seed pudding, or just eaten along with a piece of fruit for a well-rounded first meal of the day.
Healthy start to the day
A huge indicator of a successful breakfast in my opinion goes beyond wanting it to be easy to make, quick, and tasty. It’s also very important that some nutrients are included in the recipe to make sure that the brain can receive the brain food it needs to soar through the day. The bulk of any granola starts with high quality rolled oats. Some benefits of eating oats include:
Nutritiously dense – Being that they are one of the healthiest grains on Earth, oats are filled with manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, folate, as well as vitamins B1 & B5. Not bad! In addition, oats offer an impressive amount of healthy carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Talk about a healthy start to the day!
Rich in antioxidants – Antioxidants are responsible for protecting the body against harmful free radicals that damage cells. They improve blood flow throughout the body, which is another important factor to consider when choosing your breakfast, or any meal for that matter. Particularly high in avenanthramides, which are exclusive to oats, these antioxidants contribute to better blood circulation. Better blood circulation results in both better brain and body performance. And while it’s typically adults that are mindful of these topics, children are never too young to learn the effects that foods can have on their bodies.
May decrease the risk of childhood asthma – After learning that asthma was one of the leading chronic diseases in children, I wanted to become more mindful about how I can help my child. It is especially difficult living in a big city, because as we know there is more pollution and smoke in urban areas. While moving from NYC to Boston, may or may not have had too much of a major impact on reducing the number of pollutants floating around in the air we breathe, I have become more adamant on my daughter enjoying more physical outside activities as well as utilizing our summer home which is fortunate enough to be surrounded by nature. In addition, certain foods can help protect against developing asthma, and according to a National Library of Medicine study, oats may be one of those foods.
And there you have it! Just a few reasons for trying out this simple, tasty granola recipe. Make it in bulk and then enjoy it with a piece of fruit for the ultimate breakfast. To simplify your life even further, you can forget about the hassle of having to remember to run to the store to pick up your fruits to pair with it for the week. We recommend using our produce delivery service FarmboxRx to have your groceries shipped to your door. Ordering healthy food online has never been easier, and you’ll soon find that always having fresh fruits and vegetables in your home makes it a lot easier to be healthy. Even when you don’t have the inspiration for an elaborate recipe, you can just add a piece of produce to your meal, in this case your granola clusters, and instantly the meal becomes even more nutrient-dense.
Now let’s jump right into these soft-baked granola clusters. Be sure to try the recipe out for yourself and give us a tag at @FarmboxRx and make sure to use the hashtag #FarmboxRx #FarmboxLiving so that we can see how the recipe turns out. Happy eating!
Ingredients
5 tbsp coconut oil
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup slivered almond
½ cup roasted and salted pecans, roughly chopped
½ tsp cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 300º F.
- In a small ramekin, melt coconut oil to liquid, about 20-30 seconds.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, and stir. Mix the granola until everything is well coated with the wet ingredients.
- Spread the granola onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Create a single mass that is about 1/2 inch thick throughout. This will allow for larger clusters.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until granola is nice and toasty. Timing will vary based on your baking sheet, so watch the granola closely during this time frame. For example, if you have a dark baking sheet, your granola will likely be done at 25 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely before breaking up into large clusters. Enjoy fresh with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit, or store it in your pantry in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
Soft-Baked Granola Clusters
Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
- Large baking sheet
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almonds slivered
- 1/2 cup pecans roasted, salted, roughly chopped
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300º F.
- In a small ramekin, melt coconut oil to liquid, about 20-30 seconds.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, and stir. Mix the granola until everything is well coated with the wet ingredients.
- Spread the granola onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Create a single mass that is about 1/2 inch thick throughout. This will allow for larger clusters.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until granola is nice and toasty. Timing will vary based on your baking sheet, so watch the granola closely during this time frame. For example, if you have a dark baking sheet, your granola will likely be done at 25 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely before breaking up into large clusters. Enjoy fresh with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit, or store it in your pantry in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.