Festive Granola
Ingredients
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 whole nutmeg
- 100 g raw almonds + 100g extra to add in before baking see comments
- 100 g raw walnuts + 100g extra to add in before baking see comments
- + 100g raw brazil nuts to add in before baking see comments
- 300 g rolled oats
- 50 g cacao nibs
- 20 g Dutch cocoa powder
- 80 g sunflower seeds
- 80 g pumpkin seeds
- 80 g pitted dates cut in half
- 80 g dried cranberries
- 80 g dried currants
- 60 g shredded or flaked coconut
- 130 g honey
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 20 g olive oil
- Sprinkle of sea salt flakes before baking
- 100 g flaked almonds
- 100 g pistachios
- 100 g pecans
- 100 g Goji berries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 150 (fan forced)
- Line two trays with baking paper (place a dab of oil on the baking tray before putting the paper on so that it keeps it in place)
- Place cinnamon and nutmeg in TM bowl and mill 10 seconds x speed 9
- Add almonds and walnuts and turbo twice for 1 second per turbo
- Add remaining ingredients except salt, flaked almonds, pistachios, pecans and Goji berries
- The bowl will be full but that is okay, mix 4 minutes x 70 degrees x reverse x speed 2 … if the mix looks like it is starting to stick, insert your spatula and rotate in a reverse motion to keep it moving (sometimes I have to do this, and sometimes I don’t)
- Spread granola evenly over the two trays and sprinkle with some sea salt flakes, and add the extra almonds, walnuts and brazil nuts now if you wish (see comments)
- Bake for 12 minutes, remove trays and stir through mix to ensure even baking
- Add the flaked almonds, pistachios and pecans and allow them to sit on top of the mix to get the first lot of heat in the oven
- Return to oven for 8 minutes, remove and stir through granola again
- Return to oven for the last time and bake for a further 8 minutes
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely
- Add the Goji berries and stir through the granola with your hands, breaking up the mix as you go
- Place mix into glass jars for best storage
- Will keep in the pantry for at least four weeks
Notes
When looking at what to include in my Christmas gift list I knew I had to offer a "granola" ... I already have a recipe ( see main post ) but wanted it to be more festive and this is the end result. This also is a great gift any time of the year, but at Christmas it is even more special for people to enjoy on the morning of the big day.
Although there is the inclusion of a "chocolately" flavour in this recipe, it is not too sweet, and is a perfect topping for a little yoghurt if you are searching for something after dinner when you just "have to have something". This is now my "go to" recipe for Granola.
It may seem like a lot of ingredients, but once you make it there is enough for 36 portions (if using 50g per portion) so plenty to keep everyone happy for a while. Use whatever combination of nuts and dried fruit you like … it is a good way to use up little bits and pieces if you have any. Just stick to the weights given as you know the TM can cope with it (this recipe has been tested in a TM31, so may be able to manage a slighter heavier load in the TM5/TM6 but this has not been tested by me). I love lots of nuts, so I add another 100g each of almonds, walnuts and brazil nuts before the initial bake of 12 minutes, but this is totally optional. I add them before baking so they are whole and not broken up by the initial milling.
Have everything at room temperature before starting, otherwise coldness from the fridge will "set the honey" during the heating/mixing process making it more difficult to evenly coat the granola (this is when you may get a chunk of honey within the mix instead of being incorporated throughout the mix). Mix will keep at least 4 weeks in the pantry … if not eaten beforehand!