Healthy Snacking Granola

Ok, so you know how most people love snacking on granola? Just straight out of the bag? Well, if that sounds like you, you’ve got to try this healthy snacking granola. Specifically made for snacking right out of the bag! 

This snacking granola recipe forms perfect giant clusters that make it perfect for sacking right out of the jar. Think roasted nuts, rice cereal and oats held together with a sticky peanut honey syrup. Sounds like the perfect snack right? 

Not only that, this snacking granola is the perfect pack-and-go snack for school, work or any outdoor adventure. Plus, it’s so much healthier than any store-bought snack you’ll buy. 

So what are you waiting for, go make this! 

Snacking Granola Ingredients 

• Rolled Oats: Adds in tons of whole-grains and protein. 
• Nuts: I like using a mix of almonds and cashews, but you can absolutely use any type of nut you prefer. 
• Rice Cereal: Adds bulk to this snack without adding too many calories — that way this snack isn’t too calorie dense! 
• Sunflower Butter: I personally prefer using sunflower butter as it’s a better alternative to peanut butter, but any nut butter will work. 
• Honey: Is the primary sweetener, adding not only sweetness but flavor and nutrients! 
• Flavoring/Spices: Think salt, cinnamon and vanilla – the trifecta of flavor! 

Substitutions

• Rolled Oats: If you’re gluten-free sub with GF oats. 
• Nuts: You can use any type of nuts you like, such as hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans etc. 
• Sunflower Butter: Sub out for any type of smooth nut butter you have on hand, such as cashew butter, peanut butter, almond butter etc.
• Honey: If you want to make this completely vegan, use maple syrup or date syrup instead. 

Tips and Tricks 

• Raw Mixture Should Look Sticky: Once all of the ingredients have been mixed together, the raw mixture should look sticky and very wet. This is essential, otherwise the snacking granola won’t form any clusters. And that would be tragic! If the mixture looks dry, I recommend adding in an extra 2-3 tablespoons more honey/date syrup to hydrate the mixture. 
• Uniform Nuts, Cereal and Oats: Another important tip for forming clusters is making sure that the chopped nuts are close in size to the rice cereal and oats. If the dry ingredients are similar in size the clusters will hold together better and it’ll ensure they bake evenly. Think about it, if the nuts are too small, they will burn before the cereal and oats have a chance to bake and vice versa! 
• How to Get Giant Clusters: the ultimate question, and I’m spilling all the secrets. First, you want the mixture to be super wet and sticky, this will help the clusters stick together. Next tip, make sure that any dry ingredients (think oats, chopped nuts, cereal, coconut etc) are all the same size, this helps them all stick together better. Different shapes will not stick together as well and will result in small or no clusters at all. Additionally, while the snacking granola bakes, do not stir it! I repeat, do not stir the granola, resist the urge. It may seem counterintuitive, but every time you stir granola, you break up any clusters that are forming. Lastly, make sure to incorporate a small amount of flour (like this recipe has) to help glue the clusters together. I usually go for oat or almond flour for best results. Wheat or all-purpose flour tends to get gummy rather than crisp – so I would avoid using that. 

Why This Snacking Granola is Healthy

You know those granola bars from the store? Or the nut clusters that Kind sells? Yep, those snacks are laden with cane sugar, added processed oils, artificial flavors and so many more ingredients and  mess with your gut health. Well, this snacking granola is the exact opposite. 

This clustery granola is packed with nutrients, whole-food ingredients, no nasty oils or cane sugar and best of all, it’s balanced and full of fiber and protein! Win, win, win!

Ingredient Highlight 

• Rolled Oats: Oatmeal is also rich in antioxidants and avenanthramides. Avenanthramides have been shown to help lower blood pressure by producing nutria oxide which helps dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow. Additionally, avenanthramides and antioxidants. are also anti-inflammatory. Furthermore, oatmeal also contains a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan that can increase growth of good bacteria in the gut! 
• Sunflower Butter: Besides tasting exactly like PB, sunflower butter provides over half the RDI of Vitamin E in just 1 tbsp. Vitamin E is amazing for your skin and helps produce collagen, keep your skin moisturized and wrinkle-free! Additionally, sunflower seeds have a host of vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, manganese and zinc.
• Nuts (almonds and cashews): Are packed with healthy fats, namely Omega-3’s. These fatty acids are essential for skin and eye health, not to mention brain function. Additionally, the fats in the nuts help slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream. Making it the perfect ingredient to pair with honey/date syrup – no insulin spikes! 
• Honey/Date Syrup: I love using honey or date syrup in these clusters as it’s the perfect natural sweetener. Meaning that these syrups won’t spike insulin and blood sugar levels too high. Additionally, unlike cane sugar, honey  and date syrup contain a host of essential minerals and vitamins – making them both a sweetener and a mini multi-vitamin! 

More Healthy Snack Recipes

• Chocolate Chip Cookie (the perfect portable sweet snack)
• Earl Grey Banana Snacking Cake (a caffeine hit in your snack)
• Bounty Bites (the classic candy bar made so much healthier)

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