18 Ways to Scoff Granola

Get creative with innovative recipes and find out why granola is your new go-to snacking solution.  

Granola is a much-loved mixture of toasted rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. It’s all brought together with a delicious mixture of oil, nut butters, or sweeteners and baked to perfection. Find out what ingredients can boost its nutrition, get snacking inspiration and a variety of recipes to add more granola to your menu. 

Here are some of the ways we love using granola. 

Snacking

1. Make your own trail mix. Add your favourite granola, chocolate chips, nuts and/or dried fruit, for a quick snack or to take on your next adventure.
2. It’s easy to store and lasts for a long time, which makes it a popular choice for hiking and backpacking. With nutrient dense ingredients, it provides extra energy for endurance activities.
3. Use granola to make your own granola bars. We love this recipe.  Or add it to energy balls. 
4. Try apple sandwiches. Spread nut butter on a round slice of apple, sprinkle with granola, and add another layer of apple slice.
5. Roll a banana in nut butter or melted chocolate and roll in granola. Freeze for a refreshing summer treat
6. If you’re in a rush, grab a bag of your favourite granola and snack on it straight from the bag.

Baking & Dessert 

1. Add granola to baking for a boost of nutrition and additional texture. Simply add to cookie, bread, muffin, or pancake batter. 
2. Use as a topping for baked apples or fruit crumbles.
3. Sprinkle on top cakes, cupcakes, and cheesecakes for a visual impact. 
4. Add to rocky road, for a unique treat.  
5. Sprinkle on ice cream. The sweet/salty flavour of granola goes well with smooth, creamy ice cream. 

Breakfast & Light Lunches  

1. Go for a plant-based breakfast. Granola goes with your choice plant-based milk, seasonal fruit, coconut yoghurt or make overnight oats with Swiss Bircher Muesli. Granola is toasted, while muesli is generally uncooked. 
2. Sprinkle it on yoghurt, chia pudding, a smoothie bowl, or oatmeal for a boost of flavour and texture. 
3. Granola yoghurt Parfait. Perfect for before school, after school or even a night-time nibble. We love to add a layer of frozen berries. 
4. These granola cookies are perfect for a grab and go breakfast or snack. And are perfect for school lunchboxes.

Savoury

1. This savoury crumble uses Swiss Bircher Muesli on top. The crunchy topping pairs well with pumpkin and lentils for a delicious plant-based meal.
2. Use it as a savoury sprinkle over roasted vegetables, rice dishes, green salads, or coleslaws. 
3. Try granola as an innovative soup topper.

What makes granola so appealing?  

Granola is packed with nutrient rich ingredients. It’s nutritional profile largely depends on the recipe. Some granola is also packed with sugar, so it’s important to check the ingredient list. There is not a lot of research available on the benefits of granola itself. However, traditionally used ingredient have been linked to numerous health benefits. .    

OATS offer a range of health benefits. They offer a good source of fibre and in particular beta glucan, a type of fibre that supports a healthy balance of cholesterol which supports the heart. Oats contain the unique antioxidant called avenanthramides, which is shown to offer many health benefits. Oats are also a prebiotic rich food. Find out more here.

For further benefit, choose granola made with organic oats. Conventional oat crops are commonly sprayed with Glyphosate (commonly known as RoundUp), a pesticide that has been linked to cancer and that has been banned in some countries. 

Nuts are nutrient dense and offer a high quality plant-based protein, fibre, and minerals such as water soluble vitamin E, which is shown to support brain function. Seeds such as chia, hemp, flax and pumpkin seeds are nutrient rich, bioavailable and offer antioxidant activity. 

Coconut oil is ideal to use in granola, with its higher smoke point and nutritional profile. Coconut oil is valued for its medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which is a “healthy” form of saturated fat.  The body metabolizes these fats in the liver, quickly converting this into energy, rather than being stored as fat. MCFA’s contains lauric acid, which contain antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral properties that support the body’s wellbeing and boosts the immune system. 

Granola is a treasured breakfast food that has found its way into other meals. What makes your favourite granola so delicious? And how do you like to use it? If you’re looking to add more organics to your diet, Chantal Organics have a delicious range of organic oat-based granola, as well as, paleo, gluten free and keto options.