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    Home » Breakfast | Brunch

    Healthy Granola with Cacao Nibs

    By Robyn | Published: Dec 9, 2019 | Modified: Mar 5, 2022

    TO THE RECIPE
    no added sugar healthy granola with cacao nibs in white bowl served with bowls or berries and plain yogurt to the left
    This oil free, no added sugar granola is much cheaper – and so much tastier – than shop bought.
    white bowl filled with granola with berries above it and orange slices

    I love granola, but shop bought ones tend to be loaded with sugar, not to mention they are very expensive! By making your own granola, you get to make one full of the good stuff for a fraction of the price you. And it takes just 20 minutes.

    Another benefit to making your own granola is you get to add exactly what you like. If, like me, you love nuts and seeds and are always somewhat disappointed when you buy it and it doesn’t contain many, this granola doesn’t have that problem! You can make it to suit your tastes too: If you love walnuts, use those instead of the almonds; or if you want a granola made with just oats and sunflower seeds, you can do that too!

    I’ve been making granola for many years, with and without various forms of sugars, but this is my favourite healthy recipe for granola. With no added sugar, and no oil; it is packed full of the good stuff: oats, nuts and seeds.

    close up of granola with almonds and pumpkin seeds

    How can you make granola with no oil or sugar?

    By using the juice of an orange!
    You boil it so it becomes thicker and sweeter, and this reduced juice becomes the glue to mind your granola together. It also adds a hint of sweetness, meaning you don’t need to add any more sugar.

    Aren’t cacao nibs chocolate – and therefore unhealthy?

    Cacao nibs are the purest form of chocolate that you can buy – they are cacao beans dried and fermented then chopped into pieces. So they contain no added sugars or fat that chocolate chips or chocolate would. The less processed the cacao is, the more antioxidants it contains – so cacao nibs are very high in antioxidants! They also contain the mood boosting chemicals and lipids that a bar of dark chocolate does – and we could all do with some of that on a grey Monday morning! You can buy them in many health food stores and supermarkets these days. I love their crunchy but soft texture and the slight bitterness they bring to the granola but if you don’t like them or can’t get them, the granola will still taste delicious without!

    Not only is this granola a tasty, healthy breakfast; it also makes a great snack – just put a handful into a mini container and take it to work, in the car, or on a walk.

    How long will this healthy granola keep?

    It will keep for up to a week in an airtight container.

    Serving Ideas:

    >With milk of your choice
    With yogurt and berries
    Over cooked fruit as a crumble
    Straight out of the jar as a snack

    Make it Yours:

    Gluten free: Make sure the oats are gluten free
    Nut free: Omit the nuts and add more seeds. Or add sultanas, cranberries, or other dried fruit of your choice to the cooked and cooled granola.
    No cacao nibs: Eat without them, or sub sultanas or other dried fruit of your choice.Cranberries would be delicious with the orange.
    Toddler Friendly: Make it without the nuts and cacao nibs – Mini Jones loves this ‘seed’ version with yogurt and blueberries for both breakfast and a morning snack.

    If you are looking for more breakfast or brunch ideas, why not have a look at my simple Apple bircher, refreshing Raspberry bircher , Spanish style french toast, Torrijas, or these granola cups

    bowl of granola with nuts and seeds with sliced orange in the background

    Healthy Granola

    Author: Robyn

    This healthy granola with no added sugar is a delicious make ahead breakfast recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Course Breakfast | Brunch, Plant Based | Vegetarian, Snacks | Lunchbox
    Cuisine Modern english/modern australian
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 111 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 orange juiced
    • ⅔c (70g) oats
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ c / 35g almonds
    • 1 tablespoon / 15 g pumpkin seeds
    • 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
    • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
    • 1 teaspoon linseeds (also known as flax)
    • 1 tablespoon cacao nibs optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 170˚C/340˚F
    • Line a baking tin with baking paper.
    • Pour the orange juice into a small saucepan, then bring up to a boil and boil for 2-3 minutes, until reduced by half.
    • Whilst the orange juice is reducing, mix together then oats, cinnamon, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and linseeds.
    • Pour the orange juice over the oats and seeds and mix well until thoroughly combined.
    • Spread out on the prepared tin in an even layer and bake for 10-12 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
    • The granola is ready when it is a light golden brown.
    • Leave to cool on the tin.
    • When cool, stir through the cacao nibs, if using.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 4gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 51IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword breakfast oats, healthy breakfast recipe, make ahead breakfast, vegan breakfast

    HAVE YOU MADE THIS RECIPE?

    I’d love to see your creation!

    Tag me! #atmrsjoneskitchen
    Tag me! @atmrsjoneskitchen

    Or just leave a comment below!

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    Robyn Jones, Recipe Developer & Food Photographer

    Robyn Jones

    Recipe Developer | Food Photographer | Writer

    Hi! I'm Robyn, a toddler mum with a passion for all things food! Having moved internationally 7 times in the past 12 years I have developed a love of making international recipes into family friendly ones you can make in your own home, with local ingredients; wherever you live!

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