Cinnamon Crunch Granola

Toasted muesli or granola usually gets its ‘crunch’ from added oils. This delicious version uses versatile applesauce in place of oil… and still packs a satisfying crunch! If you can’t find unsweetened applesauce, use the unsweetened apple purée from the kids’ lunchbox aisle in the supermarket, or even the baby food aisle.

Ingredients:

5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats)
3 tbsp ground flaxseed/linseed
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup raisins
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp desiccated coconut – optional; omit for an even lower-fat version
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla essence
5 tbsp date sugar/4 tbsp maple syrup

 

Method:

Preheat the oven to 170°C. Line one extra large, or 2 small, baking trays with baking paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, raisins, cinnamon and coconut (if using). Stir to combine.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the applesauce and sugar (or syrup), then pour this over the oat mixture. Mix well to ensure that the oats are evenly coated with the applesauce.

Spread mixture out over the baking tray(s) in an even layer. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove tray from the oven, and toss the mixture with a spatula to redistribute the ingredients. Return to the oven and bake for a further 10 minutes.

* Important: make sure that the oats around the edges of the tray don’t burn when cooking the granola. Keep an eye on it as it cooks, and remove the tray twice during baking to mix the oats if necessary. If you have a small oven, or are using small baking trays, toast the granola in 2 batches instead of one, to ensure that it cooks evenly.*

Set aside to cool for 1 hour, during which time the oats will crisp up. Once cooled, transfer granola to a large container or glass jar, and store in the refrigerator.

(Recipe adapted slightly from The Plant Plate – with thanks to Emma Roche.)

Leave your comments below:

3 Comments

  • Yola

    Reply Reply 29/02/2016

    Oh this looks amazing! I’m definitely trying this one.

  • Barry Ellery

    Reply Reply 07/02/2017

    Dear Robin,
    I was impressed with your interview with Dennis. I am diabetes 2 since 2005 and after a trans Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific sailing journey I arrived in Australia and was advised to take lantus and actrapid. insulin. I had been taking Metaformin beforehand.
    I found that the insulin regimen was quite unmanageable and that particularly the Actrapid fast acting insulin was causing to many swings and sometimes I was getting lows.
    Whilst in Hong Kong recently I found glucobay which stopped the hi GI swings that mostly was due to carbs.(I stopped the Actrapid ) I eat muesli and cinammon for breakfast however the worst is the sandwiches albeit that I do not eat white flour unless there is no choice.

    So I was quite content in HK and able to limit to 2 times a day morning and evening Lantus and always before a meal with some carbs one tab of Glucobay.

    On arrival back in Australia my dumbed down doctor does not know about glucobay because most MD`s are not serious caring professionals and do not understand naturecure,Ayurevedic or Chinese herbal medicines or understand that diet/ exercise is the real issue and recently I was in NSW and short of lantus and this bizarre doctor refused to fax a scrip for lantus which the chemist on Avalon NSW would have accepted. Luckily I keep a stash of Metaformin and have been able to manage.
    I am impressed by what Dennis has achieved and was wondering if some guidance plus my reporting back on progress if we could come to some arrangement.

    There could be risks so I will not hold you responsible however I would rather take the next saucer to Mars than be manipulated by stupid MD`s anymore.

    I cant come down to visit and just want some occasional support. I am very energetic and pretty fit @ 70 yrs but I can wind down using some metaformin so if I was on a diet like Dennis I should hope for some positive results.
    I am prepared to stop eating meat ……..flat white coffee will be the most difficult but lactose free milk should be OK.

    I am on billberry, hi omega fish oil plus glucofactors forte (alpha lipoic, Biotin, Chromiumn chloride plus piccolate.

    Bayer is a horrific company that managed a Death Camp and the have made millions by concentrating ingredients from willow bark. Glucobay works and slows Carb uptake and I wish I could get a scrip…… I guess you are or are not a GP…. Do you know anyone who might do this or is there a herbal substitute ?
    OK just stop carbs altogether or just take them in Muesli ……..Yes that is hard to get used to when one whips oneself around in this ridiculous society where without a pension it is do or die.

    Kind Regards
    Barry

    • Robyn Chuter

      Reply Reply 07/02/2017

      Hi Barry
      The majority of type 2 diabetics are able to cease all medications and maintain a healthy blood glucose level and HbA1c if they adopt the diet that I put Dennis onto.
      I would be very happy to provide guidance and support using Skype if you are unable to attend my clinic. We would need to work with a prescribing doctor so your medication dosages can be safely lowered; I’ll help you find a supportive doctor if your current one won’t cooperate.
      Just click the Consult with Robyn button at the top of my website to make an appointment.
      By the way, ‘carbs’ are not your problem. The problem with type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance, and once that is corrected, you can eat healthy carbohydrate-rich foods such as whole grains without any glucose spikes.

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