Apple & Flax Spiced Granola

The absolute winter granola; with apple, flaxseed and many fragrant spices to make your breakfast a real pleasure! And not just your breakfast, for that matter ….

I see that you really like  the granola recipes! Why not, after all, since it is the more convenient  way for a quick breakfast, full of nutrients, energy, vitamins and rich fruity flavor. All you have to do is add some milk or Greek yogurt and have your breakfast ready. Nevertheless, it is a lovely snack, as well.

Today’s granola contains oats, flaxseed, almonds, walnuts (you can use one of the two, as long as you stick to the proportions), apple, dried cranberries, wonderful apple sauce I suggested some time ago, and some “winter” spices; cinnamon , nutmeg and cloves.

Almonds are the most nutrient-dense kind of nuts. They have almost as much calcium as milk. Also, a handful of almonds contain 35% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. It is an excellent source of magnesium, a good source of protein and fiber and offers potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron and polyunsaturated fats.ma

Walnuts, a very good source of fiber, is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fats, manganese, copper, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. They are rich in vitamin E, B vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 and folic acid.

Sesame oil which I used to roast the ingredients of granola, is known for its beneficial properties. The beneficial properties of sesame and its derivatives can be read here.

Cranberries are a natural remedy against urinary tract infections.

Maple syrup has many therapeutic ingredients, similar to the blueberry and green tea. It has rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which act against cancer, diabetes and various types of bacterial infections. Furthermore, it is very rich source of manganese.

Do not be surprised that other than maple syrup, I used sugar as well. It is necessary to give a slight sweetness in our granola. Besides, the amount of sugar is little compared to the final yield of granola.

Time needed:   50 minutes

Servings:   14-16 (yields approx. 4 cups)

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rolled oats
• ½ cup flaxseed (preferably crushed)
• ½ cup slivered almond
• ½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 large apple, peeled and cut into cubes
• 1/3 cup sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon vanilla essence
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup maple syrup, or honey
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• ¾ cup dried cranberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 160^oC (325^oF).
2. In a large bowl mix all ingredients up to the salt. Add in the diced apple.
3. In another bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients up to the sugar. Pour the liquid mixture into the bowl with the solids and mix well.
4. Spread the mixture into two baking sheets, lined with parchment paper, and bake for about 40 minutes, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes to avoid burning.
5. Let the mixture cool completely and pour in the cranberries.

 

This granola can be stored for about two weeks in an airtight container. Keep in mind that because of the fresh apple, it might loose its crisp texture eventually.

You can substitute maple syrup with honey, but the result will be a bit sweeter.

Nutritional Facts per Serving
Calories	Carbohydrates	Sugars	Total Fat	Saturated Fat	Proteins	Dietary Fibers	Cholesterol
214.2	26.2	11.9	11.6	1.2	4.2	4.3	0.0