Coconut Granola Clusters

Hi friends!

I feel like it’s been awhile since I’ve been creating recipes for you on here.  School has been picking and between that and my full time job, it’s been hard to keep up!  I am always looking to create recipes for myself and for you that are either quick, versatile or can make a big yield (for meal prep) for our busy lives.  It seems like everyone lives a busy life these days so really recipes like this are a no brainer.  Do you ever hear someone saying that they have all the time in the world to cook for hours each day? Nope? Didn’t think so! That’s why meal prepping is so essential! It’s a guarantee to yourself that you will eat well for the week because when hunger strikes, we all grab the closest, fastest foods to us and usually they are not the most nutritious.

Granola is such an amazing nutrient dense snack to get you through your day. To minimize the amount of time I spend meal prepping on the weekends, I have started having coconut or goat yogurt with cereal or granola as a snack but I found that so many store bought granola brands are full of so much sugar, additives that I don’t like or simply ingredients that aren’t as clean as I would like! So I decided to make my own and skip the junk!

I wanted a CHUNKY granola recipe with lots of big clusters that could be eaten by the handful or with yogurt/milk.  The trick to chunky clusters is egg whites (if you’re not vegan) and to not stir your granola…at all!  To avoid my granola from burning, I cook it at a low heat and then let it cool completely before I break it into big chunks.  I know, I know – I’m impatient too but trust me, letting it cool completely will give you the big clusters you are looking for.  The egg whites help create the big clusters but if you’re vegan, just omit it but make sure to follow the rest of the instructions.

I’d love for you to try my recipe, please tag me on Facebook or Instagram (@balancingandie) so I can follow along :).  Click here to pin this recipe for future reference or subscribe to my blog to never miss a post!

Coconut Granola Clusters

June 15, 2017

by Andrea

Category Recipes

Notes

Feel free to use any combo of fruit and nuts and gluten free oats if required.
It's important to not stir the baking sheet for maximum chunks :).

Ingredients

Dry ingredients

• 3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1 cup of nuts/seeds (ex. hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts etc.)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut shreds
• 1/3 cup of dried cranberries (or other dried fruit - chopped if large)
• 2 tbsp chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Wet ingredients

• 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
• 75 ml maple syrup (or honey)
• 1/4 cup beaten egg whites (approx 2 eggs)

Instructions

1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. You can use any nuts or dried fruits you like!
3. Beat egg white with a fork for about 1 minute until light and frothy.
4. Add to dry ingredients, along with melted coconut oil and maple syrup. Mix thoroughly.
5. Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 30-45 minutes. Don't stir unless absolutely necessary if the mixture is burning. It is done when fragrant and lightly brown.
6. Cool completely (about 30 minutes).
7. Once cooled, break into big chunks and enjoy!

Tags

dairy-free,

gluten-free,

Snack,

Vegan-friendly

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Nutritional Disclaimer

This information is provided as an estimate only.  The below information may change with any substitution you make or variances in items used.