It's granola time! A kind of classic gingerbread flavored and a spicy, hot salted version.
I went back to school a week ago. I'm getting used to the fact that I have to write homework and write tests and I have less time than in the summer. But it's Friday sooo there is no place for sadness!
Granola is my go to snack / breakfast. It is healthy, delicious and there are lots of ways to use it.
My all time favorite is the gingerbread flavored with all the cozy fall-y winter-y spices. Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, all spice, honey. Winner combination. You can add this granola to yoghurt, fruit salads, use as a topping for a muffin or grilled fruits (like in this grilled nectarine recipe) or eat it just as a snack.
I have never seen a savory granola before, but when I was thinking about new flavor combinations this one came into my mind. I mean why not? This time I used chili flakes and powder to give a hot kick to the granola. It turned out AMAZING. First you taste a little sweetness from the honey, but then it turns into a spicy hot flavor. Not burning hot, just perfect. Though of course you can always reduce or increase the amount of spice you add. You can use this as a crunchy element of a salad, and it's much healthier than croutons or to be honest I just ate it with a spoon straight from the jar.
These granola recipes are really simple and you can easily double or tripple the amount. That I would recommend, because it will be gone in minutes! Just store it in an airthight container or a jar. It is also a perfect snack to bring with you to the school. Since It's back to school season I had to mention this!
Gingerbread & Chili Granola
Prep Time: 5 min. Baking Time: 15 min. Total Time: 20 min. Portions: around 1 and 1/2 cups granola
Ingredients:
Gingerbread Granola:
1 cup oats
¼ cup seeds (I used a mixture of sesame seeds, flaxseeds and sunflower seeds)
¼ cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional you can add any kind of nuts instead or just leave it out)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon of all spice
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon butter
4 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Chili Granola:
1 cup oats
¼ cup seeds (I used a mixture of sesame seeds, flaxseeds and sunflower seeds)
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teasoon chili flakes
½ teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon water
Directions:
Gingerbread Granola:
Preheat your oven to 350F or 175 C. Line a baking sheet with a parchment paper.
Mix the oats, seeds, nuts or dried fruit and spices together in a medium bowl.
Melt the butter and add the honey, water and brown sugar.
Pour the butter mixture to the oat mixture and toss them together until all the pieces are coated.
Spread the mixture on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake it for 5 minutes then toss and bake for 5-10 more minutes. Take it out and let it cool down. It'll get crispier as it cools down.
Chili Granola:
Preheat your oven to 350F or 175 C. Line a baking sheet with a parchment paper.
Mix the oats, seeds and spices together in a medium bowl.
Melt the butter and add the honey and water.
Pour the butter mixture to the oat mixture and toss them together until all the pieces are coated.
Spread the mixture on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake it for 5 minutes then toss and bake for 5-10 more minutes. Take it out and let it cool down. It'll get crispier as it cools down.
