Granola’s Origins
Granola was first invented by Dr. James Caleb Jackson in 1863 at the Jackson Sanitarium in Dansville, New York, a leading health spa of the day. The cereal became a very popular breakfast item and competed with JH Kellogg Grape Nuts. Kellogg made a similar version called Granola which popularized the name. In Europe and Australia this dish is known as muesli.
Packed with Nutrition
Nutritionally, granola is a good source of iron, zinc and magnesium, as well as vitamin E and B vitamins. Making your own gives you control of the amount of sugars, salt and ingredients. A wide variety of ingredients can be used to make a batch of granola. This version is very tasty, but other versions using pistachios, pecans, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, raspberry, blueberry or raisins can be substituted. There are no preservatives in this homemade recipe, but the granola is great for 2-3 weeks in an airtight container.
Add White Chocolate Opalys for Sweetness
This recipe is really easy to make and tastes great when you want to treat yourself or your family to a special breakfast. It can be made beforehand and kept ready to go when you need it. I’m using White Chocolate Opalys (white chocolate crunchy cereal pearls) which are a confection made by Valrhona Chocolates. They can be used as they are here in granola or as decoration on cakes and cupcakes.
My wife loves her bowl of granola with almond milk. It is equally delicious with whole milk, 2% or skim. I even find people eating this by the handful while hiking or using as a snack any time.
Mise en place: Get everything together before you start. It is always helpful to print out a recipe to follow along as you go.
Be sure to use rolled oats which have been partially processed. Don’t use whole oats since they will be too tough.
Add all of the dry ingredients to the rolled oats.
Mix everything together to evenly distribute the ingredients.
Add the honey to the dry mix.
Warm the butter, coconut oil and vegetable/avocado/grape-seed oil.
Heat the oils until they are just melted.
Add the oils and water to the granola.
Add the granola to a sheet pan lined with nonstick parchment paper or a Silpat. Bake the granola in a pre-heated oven at 325F/163C for 15 minutes, then rotate the sheet pan and bake an additional 15 minutes to evenly cook the granola.
While the granola is toasting in the oven prepare a cooling area with a wire rack.
Once the granola becomes fragrant and is just toasted, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before adding the next ingredients.
Add the granola to a medium sized mixing bowl.
Add the freeze-dried strawberries or dried fruit of you choice, and mix to incorporate.
Add the crunchy white chocolate pearls. Again, these are from Valrhona.
Mix the granola to thoroughly distribute the ingredients.
Store the granola in an airtight container. After a few days the granola will start to stick together. This is normal. Take out the amount you wish and break it up with a spoon. Store bought brands will add chemicals and additives to keep the cereal loose.
A delicious treat for breakfast! Try this out at your next family gathering.
White Chocolate Pearls and Strawberry Granola
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- spatula or kitchen spoon
- measuring cups and spoons
- baking sheet pan
- non stick parchment paper or Silpat
- airtight container
Ingredients
- 4½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- ½ cup flour, buckwheat
- ¼ cup milk powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup coconut flakes, unsweetened
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ⅛ cup coconut oil, warm
- ⅛ cup avocado oil (any neutral flavored oil will substitute: canola, vegetable, grapeseed)
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup water
- ¾ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup OPALYS 33% white chocolate crunchy Pearls Preferably Valrhona brand
- ½ cup strawberries, freeze dried
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F/163°C
- Line a standard half (13x18) sheet pan with non-stick parchment paper. Reserve. (If you don't have a standard half sheet pan, use what you have and bake off in batches.)
- Using a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients (oats, brown sugar, almonds, buckwheat flour, milk powder, salt, cinnamon, coconut flakes) and mix thoroughly with a large spatula or kitchen spoon.
- Melt the butter, coconut oil, avocado oil in a sauce pan. Mix the oils thoroughly and add to the dry mix. Stir to combine.
- Mix the honey, water and vanilla together and add to the granola mixture. Stir to combine.
- Place the granola mixture on the prepared baking sheet and spread out evenly. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn the sheet pan and granola in the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes. This will help the granola cook evenly.
- Remove granola from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Once the granola has cooled, add the white chocolate pearls and dried strawberries. Mix to combine.
- Store the White Chocolate Strawberry Granola in an airtight container and use as desired.