Annika Angelo
How many of y’all have tried to make homemade granola – and it turned out as just a bunch of coated, non-clumpy oats? It took me months of trial and error, but I finally perfected the homemade granola that actually clumps beautifully and tastes amazing. I make this batch once a week because THAT’S how fast I go through it. Making my own granola has been such a great move for me since it’s. . .
- WAY CHEAPER (oh my goodness, store-bought granola is wildly expensive)
- Easily customizable to my preferences
- Nutrient dense
Now, the beauty of granola is that you can edit the recipe to your preferences. The base of the recipe should stay as close to the same as possible: 1 egg white, 3 TBSP ground flax, 1/4-1/3c sweetener, 1tsp salt, and enough quick oats to be clumpy (not too dry, but not too wet). However, you can edit the additions to your hearts content! Some extra add-in options are:
- Dried strawberries
- Slivered almonds
- Sesame seeds
- Different spices
- etc!
I always do about 1/8c of this granola with 1/2c of bran flakes (from Aldi). Fortified bran flakes have so many nutrients – especially the B vitamins. I also add almond milk as a good calcium and vitamin E source as well as adding a fresh berry to the mix. Adding a protein source to this mixture creates a beautifully balanced breakfast that focuses on brain health! Here’s why:
- Chia seed = Omega-3s = brain inflammation reduction
- Flaxseed = Lignans = hormone regulation and brain antioxidants
- Pumpkin seeds = tryptophan + magnesium = neurotransmitter synthesis and cognitive functioning
- Maple syrup = polyphenols = cognitive decline protectant + anti-inflammatory
- Oats = B-vitamin (1, 6, + 9) concentrated = brain health promoting vitamins
Clumpy Brain-Focused Granola
Equipment
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
- 1 Egg white
- 4 TBSP Ground flaxseed
- 1/3 Cup Maple Syrup
- 2 Tsp Cinnamon
- 2 Tsp Nutmeg
- 7 TBSP Chia seed
- 1 Cup Ground pumpkin seeds (salted)
- 2-4 cups Quick oats
Instructions
- Mix egg white with ground flax. Let sit for five minutes.
- Add maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, chia seed, and pumpkin seed. Mix well.
- Mix in quick oats. Add 1 cup at a time until the mixture coats the oats well. The consistency should be a little sticky yet dry – you will see some specks of white yet from the oats.
- Spread in a thin layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Dehydrate in an oven at 200F for 2-4 hours until granola-like.
- After you pull the granola from the oven, let sit for at least 10 minutes before dumping into a container.
Ready to use food to improve your mental health?
Hi, I’m Annika. I’m a nutritional mental health practitioner with a masters in health psychology. My goal is to help people learn how to use food to support their mental health conditions using evidence-backed research and 1:1 individualized coaching.