Granola Recipe Challenge

I went to a store and bought a bag of crunchy granola that was great and pretty paleo compliant. The ingredients were "Organic Coconut, Roasted Peanuts, Cane Sugar, Sea Salt." I'd love to figure out the recipe and make it myself. Anybody have thoughts on how to prepare granola from these ingredients?

I've only done granola a few times but I really liked it when I have. The basic idea of granola is to toss some stuff together and toast it in the oven. Ta-da!

I have used a little syrup or honey when I've done it so using a parchment paper on the cookie sheet for easier clean up. And doing several batches on a tray you can get by with one piece of parchment for it all.

kadence blevins wrote:I've only done granola a few times but I really liked it when I have. The basic idea of granola is to toss some stuff together and toast it in the oven. Ta-da!

I have used a little syrup or honey when I've done it so using a parchment paper on the cookie sheet for easier clean up. And doing several batches on a tray you can get by with one piece of parchment for it all.

Is the purpose of the syrup or honey to ensure the granola sticks together? Is there a nonsweet food I can use to get stuff to stick together?

When I used to make granola, I would put about six cups of oats and then add 1/2 to 1 cup of each other crunchy ingredient (nuts, seeds, dried fruits, etc).  I also liked a tablespoon of cinnamon, and maybe a teaspoon of nutmeg.  Then I would melt about 4 oz of butter and mix it through, then toast it gently in the oven.

To make granola with your ingredients, I would take a big proportion of shredded coconut and add smaller amounts of any nuts or seeds.  I recommend using some melted fat to get it to stick together, coconut oil springs to mind if you're avoiding dairy;  however, coconut is fairly fatty anyway, so it might not make chunks like regular granola.  Mix in the salt (with the fat, if you're using it);  I would say around 1-2 tablespoons per 5-6 cups coconut.  I didn't add salt when I made my own oat granola, though I did use salted butter.  Then spread it on a tray and toast it in the oven.  Watch it closely, as coconut burns quickly.

Yes it sweetens and helps it stick together. I haven't really heard of anything else commonly used for it. You could try some butter and see how it goes. Test a small batch first.

Gelatin would be an unsweetened option perhaps. After I posted that a quick search came up with:      http://www.provincialpaleo.com/vanilla-matcha-aip-breakfast-granola/

N Thomas wrote:I went to a store and bought a bag of crunchy granola that was great and pretty paleo compliant. The ingredients were "Organic Coconut, Roasted Peanuts, Cane Sugar, Sea Salt." I'd love to figure out the recipe and make it myself. Anybody have thoughts on how to prepare granola from these ingredients?

With just those ingredients I can imagine that at least some of the peanuts were ground very fine to make a natural peanut butter.  This peanut butter might then have been the sticky part holding things together when it all gets mixed.  It it was crunchy granola then I'm guessing it was also baked.  I would think the oil from the peanut butter might help the coconut brown and toast up when baking.

Related to all this, and hopefully something you will find of interest I make a completely healthy fruit and nut mix.  It's less like granola and more like a bar or cookie though, if I bother to form it into shapes and dehydrate it.  I keep meaning to try baking it sometime too.  Often I just eat the stuff straight out of the bowl I mixed it in.  There are plenty of possible variations.  My core binding and sweetening ingredient is date paste.  I wrote a blog about it earlier this year with more info if anyone's interested.  A Healthy Cure for a Sweet Tooth

I usually make granola bars as I don't make as big a mess eating them. This recipe also requires no baking.

3 cups oatmeal (quick or old-fashioned)
1 cup nuts of your choice, chopped
1 cup dried fruit if you want
Optional - 1/4 c ground flaxseed, 1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp cinnamon or spice of your choice ( I use cinnamon as we have diabetics in the house)
1/4 cup local honey
1 to 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (I use cashew butter since the diabetics like it)

Mix together and press in a 9x9 square cake pan lined with waxed paper. I refrigerate for a few hours, then cut into squares. I wrap them in waxed paper and store in a box in the fridge.

The ingredients can be mixed and matched until you find what you like.