Teaching kids to be handy in the kitchen ensures your whole family will eat well. My son Will makes a killer guacamole (he’ll share that recipe another time). Today we wanted to share a favorite in our house — homemade granola. It’s simple to make and great to eat in a breakfast bowl with fresh fruit and milk, or as a topping for fresh fruit and yogurt. And it will make your whole house smell great!
(If you have younger children, you might want to coarsely chop the nuts and dried fruit. Don’t add the fruit until after baking. Some granola recipes suggest stirring halfway through baking. If you like your granola chunky (like we do), then don’t stir.)
Will’s Fruit and Nut Granola
Ingredients
4 cups “old fashioned” oats (not quick oats)
1 cup each — whole pecans, whole walnuts, whole almonds
1 cup — sunflower seeds
1 cup — sweetened coconut (shredded)
1 cup — dried fruit (half raisins, half craisins)
1/2 cup — extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup — 100% maple syrup
2 egg whites — whisked to a froth
2 tbsp — honey
1 tbsp — ground cinnamon
1 tsp — salt (optional)
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place nuts and seeds in a large bowl. Add honey, cinnamon, and salt and mix well. Add oats and shredded coconut and mix some more. Add olive oil, maple syrup, and whisked egg whites and keep mixing!
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread granola mixture evenly. Bake at 300° for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle dried fruit evenly. Allow granola to cool and break apart into large chunks. Store in an airtight container.
Update 4/24/18: Adding 4 cups of Rice Krispies to the mix before baking brings an additional layer of crunch!
***Does your child have a favorite healthy meal? Send their favorite recipes to Palblog@pediatricalliance.com and we’ll share it on The PediaBlog!***