How many times have you been to the grocery store, passed down the granola aisle, and saw a tiny box with a huge price tag?
Too many times.
Not only does this fusion of cranberry orange granola taste better than store-bought, it's also a fraction of the price and so easy to make.
It's time to show you how it's done.
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📖 About
Who doesn't love a quick and easy breakfast? Grabbing something like a muffin is super convenient in the morning. But, not only are you hungry again in 20 minutes, the average store-bought muffin is around 500 calories!
That's why we decided to make this cranberry orange muffin-inspired granola to give you a healthier version of a classic breakfast.
This granola comes together so quickly, and you have the ability to make huge batches to last you several weeks.
🍲 Key ingredients
This granola is bursting with so much flavorful ingredients, but here are our favorites:
- Orange: the citrus notes add such a zesty, fresh taste to this granola. It's like having a glass of orange juice infused into your breakfast without all the added sugar.
- Cranberry: the sweet and tart flavor of dried cranberries balances so perfectly with the orange. It's a match made in heaven.
- Vanilla: to be completely honest, there isn't a baking recipe vanilla doesn't work well in. The sweetness lingers ever so slightly on your tongue after you finish your bite.
- Rolled oats: the fiber in this hearty grain helps keeps you full, so you won't have those hunger pains creeping back twenty minutes after your meal. Plus, it toasts up to create a rich, nutty flavor.
🔪 Instructions
The process of making granola is extremely simple. To start with, you'll need to mix together the dry ingredients and blend the wet ingredients in a food processor or blender.
If possible, use the smallest food processor or blender you have so the wet ingredients blend properly.
Once you've finished blending, you'll need to combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, including your chopped nuts. But, leave the dried cranberries out until the end. Otherwise, you will end up with little pebbles in the finished granola.
Keep a close eye on your granola when it's baking. It goes from raw to burned real quick if you aren't careful. We've had a few batches of charcoal granola in our day.
Once it's done baking, mix in the dried cranberries. You can roughly chop them to have a better chance of getting one in every bite. But, it's up to you.
🌡️ Storage
This granola stores well in a glass jar or container in your pantry for up to 1 month. Although, it's best to eat within 2 weeks for optimal freshness.
💭 Budget tips
We think everyone should be able to eat better for less, so here are a few tricks to make this recipe even more affordable:
- Use agave nectar instead of maple syrup
- Skip the orange
- Buy inexpensive vanilla like an artificial extract
🍴 Tasting notes
We know you'll love this granola. It's:
- Crunchy
- Tart
- Vanilla-infused
- Citrusy
- Sweet
If you try this for breakfast, please rate it and leave us a comment below! Want to stay up-to-date with new recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter or connect with Broke Bank Vegan on social media. Happy eating!
📋 Recipe
Cranberry Orange Granola
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Food processor
- Baking pan
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups rolled oats ($0.77)
- ½ cup coconut shreds ($0.33)
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed ($0.08)
- ½ tbsp cinnamon ($0.06)
- ½ tsp sea salt ($0.01)
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup pitted dates, soaked ($0.52)
- 3 tbsp coconut oil ($0.36)
- ¼ cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup ($0.74)
- 1 navel orange, juiced and zested ($0.89)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract ($0.42)
Add-Ins
- ¾ cup dried cranberries ($0.51)
- ⅓ cup almonds, roughly chopped ($0.33)
Instructions
- Soak dates in a bowl overnight, or for at least 2 hours in boiling water.
- Preheat your oven to 300°F, and line two baking pans with parchment paper.
- Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, leaving the cranberries out.
- Drain dates, and add those plus the coconut oil, maple syrup, orange juice & zest, and vanilla extract into a food processor or high-speed blender.
- Once you have a smooth consistency, combine almonds, dry and wet ingredients, but don't mix the cranberries in at this point.
- Spread granola mixture evenly on your parchment-lined pans, and bake at 300°F for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway. Once your granola is nice and golden brown, remove trays from the oven and mix in dried cranberries.
- Serve with your favorite yogurt and berries! You can store this granola in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks in the pantry.
Notes
- You can mix up the flavor combinations with ingredients you have at home. Some other options we love include chocolate orange, cinnamon raisin, or lemon blueberry!
Nutrition
♻️ Similar recipes
For more tasty dish ideas, check out our:
- Baked berry oatmeal for a delicious breakfast idea that can be made ahead of time.
- Homemade coconut yogurt if you want to mix it with your granola.
- Blueberry pie oatmeal when you're feeling like the health benefits of oatmeal but want the taste of a dessert.
- Chocolate chip banana oat waffles for a hearty breakfast that doesn't skimp on flavor.
💬 FAQ
In short, yes they are. But if you need to be 100% sure, then make sure to check for certified gluten-free brands, like Bob's Red Mill.
No they don't, but it will be harder to achieve a smooth consistency of the blended ingredients.
We haven't made it with quick oats, but they should be just fine if that's all you have. The cook time might have to be adjusted, so keep a close eye while baking.
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