Granola is such a great breakfast food that is often marketed by the food industry as a “health food”. Although traditional granola may taste delicious, it’s often loaded with tons of excess fat and sugar calories, not to mention, the base of granola is often oats, which we all know is a “no-no” in the Paleo world.
I’ve tried my fair share of grain-free granolas and this is by far the best recipe I have found that mimics the texture and consistency of a regular granola. Many grain-free granolas are heavy on the dried fruit, which can be tasty, but doesn’t quite give you the right texture. This recipe relies heavily on different varieties of nuts to mimic a regular granola.
Feel free to alter the types of nuts to your liking! I think in the future I will also try adding some seeds to make this a really well-rounded Paleo breakfast food. I love eating this with berries in the morning and a little bit of almond milk. Seriously, so good.
Here is the recipe from Paleo Parents book “Eat Like a Dinosaur”, but slightly adapted by End of Three Fitness:
Grain-Free Granola (adapted from Paleo Parents)
- 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
- 1 1/2 cups coconut flakes
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup hazelnuts
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 cup fresh medjool dates
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp cinnamon
First, preheat your oven to 275° and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Add the pecans and hazelnuts to your food processor or blender to create a fine meal. Be careful not to over-process so you don’t create nut butter! Nice, but not what we’re looking for here 😉
Coarsely process your dates, cherries, and coconut flakes. You want these to still have a chunky texture.
Combine your pecans, hazelnuts, dates, coconut flakes, cherries, and almonds.
In a small bowl, add the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Wisk together until combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated and everything is coated.
Spread onto baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 or 20 minutes to ensure an even bake. Cool on a wire rack.
That’s it!! It really couldn’t be simpler and I can guarantee you won’t be missing that grain-filled granola of the past! This is so much healthier for you and since it is homemade, it’s completely clean-eating at its finest. I really hope you guys enjoy this recipe and that it becomes part of your healthy breakfasts.