I often struggle to get out of bed and make it to the dining hall for breakfast before my AM classes. So getting a nutritious start to my day is hard to come by at times. I’ve slowly learned, however, there are many solutions to this problem. For one, I could skip breakfast (don’t do that silly!), grab a granola bar on my way out the door, attempt to eat a banana or I could invest a little time in making a yogurt bowl. Over the past few months, I’ve chosen the later all thanks to this four ingredient gluten free granola recipe.
I enjoy finding creative ways to jazz up my Chobani Greek yogurt cups with different granola combinations. So whenever I find a way to get to the grocery store amongst my busy college schedule, I grab a few. I love utilizing these yogurt cups because they’re a perfect base for mix-ins like fresh fruit, honey, and of course granola.
This four ingredient gluten free granola recipe is something I’ve started to add to my morning breakfast routine and it never fails. Plus, it makes waking up every morning a little easier. The convenient nature of this recipe also allows for your own creativity. The four main elements are: oats, nuts, dried fruit, and a liquid sweetener.
1. Oats
The first element to any great granola is an oat blend. This blend can be either regular rolled oats or steel cut oats if you want a crunch factor. I prefer to buy Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oats which is commonly found in a two pound bag. No prep is needed to dress up the oat blend unless a spice like cinnamon or nutmeg is calling your name.
2. Nuts
The second element of this flexible granola recipe is any type of nut. Given the variety of flavor profiles and textures nuts can have, it is best to choose one. My go-to types for granola are almonds and pecans. In my room, I keep a stash of whole raw almonds for snacking and baking needs alike. Therefore, in my most recent rendition of this granola recipe you will see them featured. The best way to prep your nuts for this recipe is a rough chop or thinly sliced. Gently toss your choice of nuts into the oats and place on a sheet pan for toasting.
3. Dried Fruit
The third element is dried fruit. I’ve found that dried fruits like blueberries and raspberries are another excellent snack food on their own, so in a pinch they can be transformed from your midnight dorm snack into tomorrow morning’s granola. If you don’t have any of these stashed in your dorm, I suggest adding fresh, baked, or microwaved fruit during assembly of your yogurt bowl. After mixing your dried fruit option with your nut and oat blend, it’s time for the fourth (and final) ingredient.
4. Liquid Sweetener
Any complimentary sweetener is the fourth element to this flexible four ingredient granola. For a richer, earthier sweetness molasses may be your best choice. Another vegan option is a liquid sweetener derived from sugar cane or stevia. My choice for this recipe is honey.
Drizzle your choice of liquid sweetener over the oats, nuts, and dried fruit. Mix together and place on a baking sheet. Slide your baking sheet into a 350 degree preheated oven for 15 minutes. After about 15 minutes, or until the oats and nuts are golden brown, remove from the oven. Let cool before storing.
Pro tip: make a double (or triple) batch in case your granola craving strikes.
