Nut-free Granola, Three Ways

Preparation: 20 minutes
Chilling: 2 hours
Cooking: 20 minutes
Makes: 8 cups / 2 litres

Ingredients

• 3 cups (750 ml) large-flake or old fashioned rolled oats
• 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) pumpkin seeds
• 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) sunflower seeds
• 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) hemp hearts
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) white chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) whole wheat flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) freshly grated nutmeg
• 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground ginger
• 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) ground allspice
• 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) + 1 tablespoon (15 ml) canola or sunflower oil
• 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) honey

Morning Mix

• 3 cups (750 ml) Basic Mix
• 1⁄3 cup (90 ml) dried cranberries
• 1⁄3 cup (90 ml) dried cherries
• 1⁄3 cup (90 ml) dried blueberries
• 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) chopped raw almonds (optional)

Gourmet Mix

• 3 cups (750 ml) Basic Mix
• 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) diced crystallized ginger
• 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) diced dried sweetened pineapple
• 1⁄2 cup (125 ml) toasted coconut flakes
• 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) chunks of dark chocolate (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 325 °F (165 °C).
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. With a spatula, stir together the rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, chia seeds, whole wheat flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice.
3. Add the oil and honey to the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until everything is well coated. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes.
4. Use your hands to break the granola into the desired size. Let cool completely for another 90 minutes. Store the Basic Mix in a closed Mason jar until ready to use.

Morning Mix

1. In a large bowl, stir all the ingredients for the Morning Mix together. Store in a closed Mason jar until ready to use.

Gourmet Mix

1. In another bowl, stir all the ingredients for the Gourmet Mix together. Store in a closed Mason jar until ready to use.