Protein-Packed Granola

Name: Protein-Packed Granola
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 5
Ingredients: 3 cups rolled oats; 3 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seed; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/4-1/2 tsp ground cardamom, adjust to taste; 1/4 tsp sea salt; 2 1/2 tbsp almond butter, or other nut butter; 2 tbsp pure maple syrup; 1/2 tsp blackstrap molasses; 1/3 cup brown rice syrup; 1 tsp pure vanilla; 1/2-3/4 cup combination of raisins, and chopped dates; 1 tsp orange zest, or lemon zest

Prep Time5 mins
Total Time35 mins
Makes5 1/2 cups

Combining rolled oats, natural nut butter and pumpkin seeds, this granola is higher in protein than many boxed cereals. Kids will also love it as a snack straight up!

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats
3 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seed
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4-1/2 tsp ground cardamom, adjust to taste
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 1/2 tbsp almond butter, or other nut butter
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp blackstrap molasses
1/3 cup brown rice syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla
1/2-3/4 cup combination of raisins, and chopped dates
1 tsp orange zest, or lemon zest

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300°F. In a bowl, combine the rolled oats, seeds, cinnamon, cardamom and sea salt.
In another bowl, stir together almond butter, maple syrup, molasses, brown rice syrup and vanilla. Add wet mixture to dry, combining well.
Transfer to parchment sheet lined baking sheet and spread out. Bake for 27-30 minutes. Remove from oven.
Sprinkle in raisins/dates and zest, and let cool completely. Break up into clusters after cooling.

Watch our video tutorial for step-by-step instructions:

This article was originally published on Aug 27, 2014