Brain Works Granola That’s Good For Your Brain
Is granola good for the brain? Well, it depends on the granola. You probably already know that most supermarket granola is packaged to make it seem healthy. But if you check out the label you’ll see all sorts of ingredients that are not conducive to brain health. Granola tends to be loaded with refined sugar, oils high in saturated fat, and high calorie mix-ins.
Let’s ditch the sugary, processed granola products. It’s easy to make granola at home with brain healthy ingredients that bring out the inherent deliciousness of toasted oats and almonds.
Making granola brain healthy and delicious
Granola is all about whole grains, crispy clusters of nuts and oats, and a satisfying crunch that makes it perfect for eating out of hand. The brain loves monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. That’s why my Brain Works Granola is made with extra virgin olive oil. But I also love the savory note of olive oil. (Try it on your morning oatmeal!)
Brain Works Granola is sweetened with maple syrup — not enough to make it sweet, but just enough to keep the clusters together and balance the savory olive oil. Pure maple syrup is also rich in minerals like zinc and manganese, which are good for the brain when delivered in their whole food form. We’ll be using maple syrup a lot in the Brain Works Kitchen when we want to add a touch of sweet; a little goes a long way.
All granola tends to be high in calories, and this Brain Works granola is no exception. I don’t worry about counting calories, but I am conscious of portion sizes. A quarter cup is usually plenty, when served with yogurt and berries, to fill me up for hours. I’ll use just a few spoonfuls to add flavor and crunch to other breakfast grain bowls, like my Warm Farro Breakfast Bowl with Huckleberries, Honey and Hazelnuts. (Recipe coming soon.)
Prep Time | 5 minutes |
Cook Time | 40 minutes |
Servings |
cups
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- 5 cups oats old-fashioned, rolled
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup pure maple syrup amber and full-flavored
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 350ºF and place the rack in the center of the oven. Line a rimmed (18 x 13-inch) baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, sliced almonds and kosher salt.
- In a large (4-cup) measuring cup, combine maple syrup, olive oil, almond and vanilla extracts using a fork or a whisk.
- Pour olive oil mixture over the oats mixture and stir to combine. Using a rubber spatula, spread evenly over baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate baking sheet front to back. Bake another 20 minutes. Pull the pan from the oven and carefully inspect the granola. If it is golden brown throughout and darker brown on the edges, it is done. If not, return to the oven and keep a close eye on it while you bake another 3-5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool granola in the pan. Transfer to an airtight jar or other container using a spatula. Or gather up the edges of the parchment paper or silicon mat and use it as a scoop to transfer the granola.
Customize your granola by adding brain healthy ingredients on top or mixed in.
Option 1: Granola for breakfast. Top with unsweetened yogurt, almond or cashew milk, and fresh or frozen berries.
Option 2: Granola for chocoholics. Add 1 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate for Chocolate Granola.
Option 3: Granola as trail mix. Add 1 cup dark chocolate chips, 1 cup dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, cherries) and 1 cup salted pistachios for Brain Works Trail Mix.
Option 4: Granola for dessert. Spoon granola over warmed or roasted fruit. Top with Vanilla Cashew Cream.
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