Get up and go granola – homemade breakfast ideas
Breakfast is my favourite meal by far, I think that’s got something to do with my impatience to get eating again from the night before. I admit, I don’t always have the time or headspace to make breakfast from scratch but whenever I do make homemade granola I am never disappointed and if you’re looking for homemade breakfast ideas this is one for you.
Granola is very simple to make, just a bit of mixing and baking and the ingredients do so much work for you and make something gorgeously tasty, that lasts for months and is just the most versatile food. Breakfast, desserts, snacking you name it, granola will be there for you.
I have called this my get up and go granola because it has so much of the good stuff in it that it’ll start your day off the right way. I love the combination of apricots, cranberries, banana and the hit of orange zest but the beauty of granola is that you can add whatever you want. This is your breakfast after all.
I’ve used cup measurements here, which isn’t usual for me, but for a very simple reason; sometimes, particularly in the morning, you don’t want to get the scales out and it feels so liberating to use cups and add the mix straight into the bowl as you go. Easy peasy.
Ingredients
½ cup apricots
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup banana chips
4 cups rolled oats
½ cup mixed nuts
¼ cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¾ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¾ cup vegetable oil
¾ cup maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
Zest 1 orange (optional)
1 egg white (can leave out if you want to make this vegan)
Makes a large jar of granola which will keep in an airtight container for a few months
Method for get up and go granola – homemade breakfast ideas
Preheat the oven to 180°C, GM4.
In a large bowl mix the oats, nuts, seeds, salt and spices together.
In a jug, combine the wet ingredients (maple syrup, vanilla extract, vegetable oil) and pour into the dry ingredients.
Take the egg, and separate the whites and lightly whisk into the granola mixture.
Stir everything to combine.
Add the mix to a lined baking tray and cook in the middle of the oven for 25-30 minutes.
Half way through the cooking time, toss the mix around so that it browns evenly and very importantly tightly press down on the mixture and put it back in the oven to finish cooking. This will help the granola go really crispy when it’s cool.
The granola mix will be golden brown when cooked. Another important tip – let the granola completely cool in the baking tray before breaking up into pieces and storing and this will also help the granola to be incredibly crunchy and break into large chunks.
Before storing, chop the apricots into small chunks and add this alongside the dried cranberries, banana chips and orange zest and add to the granola and stir to combine.
Store in an airtight jar or container which will last for a few months, ready for you to use whenever you like.
Looking for more brunchtime inspiration? Check out BBC brunch ideas – some brilliant recipes here.
Fancy something to go with your granola? Why not try my Cardamom and vanilla baked fruit
Looking for other healthy recipes? Check out my Cinnamon oat and banana pancakes with spiced plums, the perfect winter breakfast filled with all the good stuff.