Nut-Free Paleo Granola

A delicious, satisfying, hearty granola that is gluten-free, grain-free and nut-free. Delicious with yogurt, on top of smoothies or eaten on its own!

You guys, I have been less than human for the past few weeks. I’m talking straight up zombie-mode, and I just can’t seem to shake it. 

Thankfully, winter quarter is rapidly coming to a close. While this means I am getting my butt handed to me by my Chemistry final, having a week off during spring break to function as a human being will be much appreciated, even if it’s short-lived. 

However, if there is any activity that can always put a pep in my step no matter how groggy/zombie-esque I am, it’s grocery shopping.

I’m not joking when I say grocery shopping is one of my top 10 favorite activities. I love walking around an entire store and getting ideas for new dishes based off of ingredients I see. Trader Joe’s has a special place in my heart. And when I saw they had the ingredients below I was over the moon:

HEMP SEEDS AND UNSWEETENED COCONUT FLAKES. Two loves of my life. Thank you TJ’s for giving the people (me) what they (I) want. Hemp seeds have an awesome balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, and are an amazing source of vegan protein that is easy for our bodies to digest and actually use.

The coconut flakes? 100% necessary. Where do I even begin. I’m a coconut lover through and through. You can either be coconut lover, or a coconut hater. There is no in-between. Coconut haters, I just can’t with you right now. I will never understand.

When I saw these bad boys at my local store a few weeks ago, I knew I needed them immediately. 

This granola recipe is a huge winner. Bonus: it’s completely nut-free. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with nuts (I love em!) but lately I have noticed my consumption of nut goods is getting a little out of hand. It’s a little excessive to have almond milk in my coffee and morning smoothie, peanut butter on my apple and a pack of cashews in the afternoon. Every. Single. Day. There can be too much of a good thing, so let’s mix up our healthy fats with this grain-free goodness.

Yeah, I said it. Nut-free and grain-free. Not that you’d know it because it’s sweet, crunchy and totally delicious. Whip up a batch next time you’re craving granola or crunchy cereal!

Nut-Free Paleo Granola

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Author: The Balanced Berry

Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds
• 1 Cup Raw Sunflower Seeds
• ½ Cup Hemp Seeds
• ½ Cup Shredded Unsweetened Coconut
• ⅓ Cup Honey (can sub maple syrup for vegan)
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil, Melted
• 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
• Mix-Ins:
• Dried Fruit (raisins, dried cranberries, etc.)
• Cocoa Powder
• Chocolate Chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300F.
2. In a food processor, pulse the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds until chopped.
3. Transfer chopped seeds to a large bowl, and stir in hemp seeds coconut and cinnamon. Stir until combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together coconut oil, honey and vanilla until smooth.
5. Add coconut oil mixture to the seed mixture and mix well. It should form a sticky granola consistency.
6. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet, and spread into an even flat layer.
7. Bake for 20-23 minutes. Keep a close eye on it so it doesn't burn! Remove from oven and allow it to cool to room temperature (it will get crunchier as it cools).
8. Transfer to a bowl and stir in mix-ins (I used dried cranberries).
9. Store in a sealed container for up to one week.

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Enjoy!

Are you a coconut lover, or a coconut hater?