Monday, July 24, 2017

Super Easy - Crockpot Granola - Uses Less Dishes Than Traditional Granola


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Super Easy Crockpot Granola

  • 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup raw nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.)  (I only had about 2/3 cup) (nuts could be omitted all together)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup oil (olive oil or melted coconut oil) (I used coconut oil)
  • 1/2 cup liquid sweetener, such as maple syrup, honey, agave syrup)  (I used maple syrup)
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla
  • Add-ins for after cooking (dried fruit such as dried blueberries, cranberries, raisins, apricots, apples)
Super Easy Instructions:
  1. Spray or lightly oil the sides and bottom of crockpot.
  2. In a small bowl/mug, mix the liquid sweetener (maple syrup), liquid oil (melted coconut oil or olive oil), and vanilla- stir well.
  3. To the crockpot, add oats, nuts, cinnamon, salt, and sprinkle over the brown sugar.  Stir well.
  4. Pour liquid ingredients over the oat mixture in the crockpot.  
  5. Stir well to combine.
  6. Place lid on the crockpot- with the lid cracked allowing a very small gap for moisture to escape - KEY - MAKE SURE OF A SMALL GAP
  7. Cook on high 2 1/2 hours - stirring occasionally (every 30 minutes to one hour), or until granola is lightly brown and smelling wonderful.
  8. Cool completely before placing away for storage.  I use a gallon, glass jar, but a ziploc back will work, or other storage vessel (cookie tin, glass or plastic sealing bowl).
  9. Mix any dried fruits after the granola is cold!
Serving options:

Serve over yogurt, apple sauce, peaches, or with milk and fruit as for cold cereal.  




Super Easy Crockpot Granola

I love having granola around for easy breakfasts, quick suppers as a bowl of cereal, or just for snacking!  

What I dread about granola are the DISHES!  Ugh.  I typically use measuring cups and spoons, a pot for heating the sugar/oil mixture, a large bowl for stirring all together, and then a cookie sheet for baking in the oven.  EEk! I don't know about you, but I am not a fan of a bunch of dishes!

Plus, this weekend in mid Missouri, the temperature on Saturday was 102 degrees and my AC was having issues. Baking granola in the oven? No way!  Need I say more?

Solution: I scanned Pinterest and found basic instructions for making granola in my crockpot.  I knew it would work. But, I assumed I would still have to heat the liquid in a pot, mix the ingredients in a huge bowl, bake it in the crockpot, still making all of those dishes.   However, I was willing to sacrifice my time at the sink for not having to turn on the oven and so we could have this awesome homemade treat in our pantry.

Wrong!

I didn't need all of those dishes after all.  You mix and bake this granola in the crockpot.  It was dreamy easy!  This is what I used.:
  • 1 cup measuring cup (I just filled it half full for measuring the 1/2 cup portions of oil and maple syrup.)
  • 1 measuring spoon (Tablespoon/teaspoon all-in-one)
  • 1 mug for mixing the liquids
  • 1 crockpot with lid for cooking
  • 1 spoon for stirring

Probably you could mix the liquids in the crockpot and then add the dry ingredients avoiding the small bowl/mug for liquids.  I haven't tried that, but might do that next time.  

Talk about a time saver!!  

I also loved that this recipe didn't have to be hovered over.  In fact, we left home for a couple of hours so I reduced the temperature to low and when we got home it was all done.  In a crockpot, nothing is going to burn in the span of an extra 30 minutes or an hour, so I wasn't worried about it.  

That wonderful aroma of granola coming in the kitchen was so amazing!

Make some crockpot granola for your family!  It is easy, you know what's in it, and its delicious!  Talk about a win!

Enjoy!



Gina