So I’ve been wanting to make my own granola for a long time now. Every time I buy it at the store I think to myself this is so stupid… I make TONS of things from scratch and I’m pretty sure I have every single ingredient needed to make healthy homemade granola at home… and then it doesn’t happen? Well, I’ll never have that excuse every again because this was incredibly delicious and way better than anything I have EVER bought at a store. Hands down amazing, I honestly can’t stop eating it straight out of the jar. Actually, what finally motivated me to try making my own was this:

I love the Walden Farms Balsalmic Vinegar dressing, so figured I would love everything Walden Farms. Turns out that wasn’t the case, this syrup was way to diety tasting for me (hello fake sugar aftertaste how are you?) Okay, so a normal person would have thrown it out right? Not me, I can NOT throw away food (especially when I paid upwards of $4 dollars for that little bottle.) Then I came up with a genius idea, use it to help sweetened the granola I’ve been putting off making! Yes! Now, time to search granola recipes… 40 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours….whooooo Whaaaaaatttttt? I don’t think so. Then I remembered I had seen a couple of quinoa granola recipes here and here recently that looked super simple… and time required was only about 15 minutes. Swaeeeeeettttt success, now time to modify so that I can use some of that syrup. Here is what I came up with:

Quinoa Granola

Ingredients:

• 3 cups old fashion rolled oats (GF Oats are fine)
• ½ cup quinoa, rinsed
• ¼ cup Walden farms blueberry syrup
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ cup sliced almonds
• ¼ cup pepitas
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
• ½ scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 cup dried fruit

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F

2. Rinse Quinoa (even if you have the Costco kind you don’t have to rinse, then just get it wet).

3. Combine all ingredients in large bowl except dried fruit .

4. Spread out mix on a large parchment paper lined baking sheet.

5. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring half way through.

6. Let granola cool completely, it will get crunchier as it cools! Then add in a cup of dried fruit (I used raisins and cranberries).

Store in an airtight container like the famous mason jar or other. Actually you might want to store it in somewhere with a lock because it is THAT addicting! I see so many variations for this in the future… chocolate, peanut butter, tropical…it’s only too bad I didn’t discover this before Christmas. I could have made everyone presents for less than a buck, oh well… Valentine’s Day is next?

Try this: One Cup Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt mixed with 1T honey and 1T Walden Farms Blueberry Syrup, topped with this granola and berries. Less sugar than a store bought flavored yogurt or granola and better tasting. After making this you will never be able to buy store bought granola again, it just won’t be the same.