Maple Granola – Homemade Breakfast Cereal
This maple granola has turned me into a cereal blogger (pun totally intended).
So, how do you often start the day?
I’m an easy camper, happy with a slice of multigrain toast; or a tartine of toasted baguette with a scraping of good Normandy butter; or sometimes my favourite homemade brioche and jam. If we have more time together as a family on Sundays, the ultimate treat are the flakiest, buttery croissants from the local boulangerie.
Breakfast cereal somehow dropped down the shopping list since I moved to France. Why? The answer is simply Paris; wouldn’t you also be tempted, surrounded by all those amazing bakeries with croissants, pain au chocolats and pain aux raisins, just for morning starters?
It’s confession time: each time I saw homemade granola on friends’ blogs, such as Kim of LivLife’s lovely cinnamon and coconut cereal, I should have picked up on it like a good serial blogger.
My final “Just-do-it” push came via an old thumbed Elle magazine at the orthodontist’s waiting room. One of the only recipes that wasn’t ripped out was for a maple granola, so I tried it. Boy was it overly sweet! Read ridiculously sweet.
Cutting out the Sugar
It took many experiments to come to this to suit our Antoine’s taste – not too many nuts, more oats please, oh I love the graines de courges (pepitas or roasted pumpkin seeds) for that crunch but not too crunchy. The magazine’s recipe has, as a result, changed beyond recognition and its original whopping 140g sugar has now been omitted entirely. You don’t need it; the dried fruits and the maple syrup are naturally sweet. You could use the coconut oil but I honestly prefer it with the neutral oil. So here is our favourite cereal, totally subjective, of course: adapt the quantities and ingredients to your own liking but try this first!
Warning: you’ll discover that this has to be made at least once a week. The good news is, by going to our local organic health food store (La Vie Claire), I’m cutting down costs on bigger packs of oats and seeds and they’re better quality too. Ensure that your ingredients are organic. Your body will thank you.
Maple Granola – Homemade Breakfast Cereal
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes
Serves 12
Nutritional Information: 230 Calories per 50g serving
300g medium porridge oats
50g pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
50g sunflower seeds (or a mixture with flax, sesame)
100g walnuts, broken
pinch salt (fleur de sel)
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
3 tbsp neutral oil (I use grapeseed oil or coconut oil, melted if solid)
5 tbsp maple syrup
10g flaked/slivered almonds
100g dried cranberries, blueberries, or raisins
1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (150°C fan)/340°F (Gas 3).
2. Measure* all the ingredients (except the almonds and dried fruits) in a large bowl and stir to mix them all well together.
3. Grease a large rimmed baking tray with more oil or use a baking tray covered with baking paper (or a silicone mat /Silpat). Spread out the oat mixture by shaking the tray gently from side to side.
4. Bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, turn over the mixture and sprinkle on the slivered almonds and bake for a further 10-15 minutes.
5. Leave to cool then add the dried fruits.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature. At its best to be enjoyed within 10 days.
Serve with the milk of your choice or yogurt and fresh berries. This granola is also delicious with homemade rhubarb compote.
I love to sprinkle on a teaspoon of bee pollen, which is not only natural tasting of honey but it’s good for boosting the body’s immune and digestive system a couple of times a year.
* I use digital scales. If you’re used to using ounces, then just switch over to grams.
Homemade Maple Granola breakfast cereal with no added sugar, just maple syrup and dried fruits. Vegan friendly too!
- 300 g (10.5oz) medium porridge oats
- 50 g (2oz) pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 50 g (2oz) sunflower seeds (or a mixture with flax, sesame)
- 100 g (3.5oz) walnuts (broken)
- pinch salt fleur de sel
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- 3 tbsp neutral oil I use grapeseed oil or coconut oil, melted if solid
- 5 tbsp maple syrup
- 10 g (0.5oz) flaked/slivered almonds
- 100 g (3.5oz) dried cranberries (or dried blueberries/sultana raisins)
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (150°C fan)/340°F (Gas 3).
Measure all the ingredients (except the almonds and dried fruits) in a large bowl and stir to mix them all well together.
Grease a large rimmed baking tray with more oil or use a baking tray covered with baking paper (or a silicone mat/Silpat). Spread out the oat mixture by shaking the tray gently from side to side.
Bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, turn over the mixture and sprinkle on the slivered almonds and bake for a further 10-15 minutes.
Leave to cool then add the dried fruits.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy within 10 days. Serve with the milk of your choice or yogurt and fresh berries. Also delicious with homemade rhubarb compote.
Jill Colonna
Update!
After our visit to Brazil, I’ve replaced this maple granola dried fruit with pineapple and guava, replaced the walnuts with broken brazil nuts, and added a touch of extra spice. Try it! If you love spice, then enjoy this Festive Spiced Granola for Christmas too.