How to Eat Granola

Enjoying Granola on its Own

Substitute granola for sugary breakfast cereals. Fill a bowl with scrumptious granola, then add just enough milk to soften it up. No further preparation necessary—just grab a spoon and enjoy! To ensure that you're getting a balanced breakfast, use a type of granola that includes a nutritious mixture of ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Many grocery stores sell specially-blended boxed granolas in the cereal aisle.

Make hot cereal using granola. Bring 1 cup (240 mL) of milk to a simmer in a small saucepan and add half a cup (45 g) of your favorite granola blend. Heat the granola until it absorbs the milk and gets nice and thick, stirring occasionally. Serve your granola warm. Top your hot cereal with sliced bananas, blueberries, cinnamon sugar, or other tasty add-ins, or simply savor the sweet whole grain flavor on its own.

Grab a handful of granola as a snack. Granola is perfect for munching on throughout the day. Throw in a few other hearty ingredients like nuts and dried, chopped fruit to make it even more satisfying. Replace the candy dish on your kitchen counter or your desk at work with a container of granola so you'll have something healthy to reach for when you get hungry. Try making your own version of trail mix by combining granola with nuts, raisins, and candy-coated chocolates.

Eating Granola as a Topping

Sprinkle granola onto a bowl of yogurt or ice cream. Fill a small dish with your favorite creamy treat, then top it with a handful of crunchy granola. Finish with fresh fruit, a drizzle of honey, chocolate chips, or your choice of other add-ins. Add blueberries, strawberries, or another fruit for additional fiber and antioxidants. For a lighter alternative, look for non-dairy ice creams made with almond or coconut milk. Whether you're enjoying a healthy breakfast or an after-dinner treat, the crunch of granola can provide a delightful contrast to the cool creaminess of yogurt or ice cream.

Add some granola to a smoothie bowl. Whip up an extra thick smoothie bowl, then layer it with toasted granola and a variety of other good-for-you ingredients. Experiment with different flavor combinations and see how ways you can put your granola to use. For instance, you might have a banana-nut smoothie bowl topped with granola, freshly-ground almond butter, pistachios, and cacao nibs for breakfast one morning, then make a tangy berry bowl with granola, mixed berries, chia seeds, and shredded coconut the next.

Use granola to add a crunch to apple slices. Cut an apple into segments and spread a generous amount of your favorite nut butter onto each. Shake on a little granola and top with honey or a light dusting of cinnamon. The result is a textural extravaganza that goes from crisp to smooth to crunchy in a single bite. Ripe seasonal apples with nut butter and granola can make a yummy and wholesome snack for kids and adults alike.

Sprinkle some granola onto a salad. The sweetness of the granola can make a wonderful addition to colorful summery salads. Use components like grilled chicken, fresh fruits, sliced almonds, and bleu, feta, or extra sharp white cheddar cheese to create harmony between the many flavors and textures. Sweeter salads tend to pair best with tangy vinaigrettes and light, creamy dressings.

Using Granola in Various Recipes

Make homemade granola bars. Combine butter, honey, sugar, vanilla extract, and assorted spices with raw old-fashioned oats. Refrigerate the mixture in a baking dish lined with parchment paper for 2 hours, then cut the sheet into rectangles after it firms up. Voila! Easy homemade granola bars in no time. Granola bars work well as a quick breakfast, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or a late-night snack. Making your own granola bars from scratch is usually healthier than buying them at the store, since you can control everything that goes in them.

Put together some no-bake energy bites. Add granola, peanut butter, honey, and a splash of milk to a large mixing bowl and stir the ingredients together until they thicken. Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls by hand and stick them in the refrigerator overnight. Feel free to add or substitute any other ingredients you want to put your own unique spin on things. Items like chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and flax seed are especially popular. These simple snacks are loaded with protein, fiber, and just enough sugar to give you the energy you need to get through a busy day.

Incorporate granola into your baked goods. The next time you bake a loaf of banana bread or a batch of cookies, fold ½-1 cup (45-90 g) of granola into the dough or batter. Playing with different textures in the same confections can add a whole new dimension to familiar recipes, and you'll never have to choose between crunchy and chewy again! Alternatively, try sprinkling granola clusters directly onto your fresh-baked cookies, muffins, or brownies when they first come out of the oven.

Turn granola into a crispy coating for oven-baked alternatives to fried foods. Lower the calorie count of standard deep-fried offerings by rolling them in a breading made from granola and baking them in the oven. When you get your first taste of the rich golden-brown crust, there's a good chance you won't even be able to tell the difference. You can prepare chicken, fish, and vegetables this way, all to delicious effect. In order for your breading to stick properly, it may help to pulse the granola a few times in a food processor or blender.

Use granola in place of breadcrumbs in stuffing. The whole-grain oats in granola contain more fiber, fewer simple carbohydrates, and just as much flavor as traditional breadcrumbs. They also don't tend to get as mushy when cooked for long periods of time, meaning your stuffed dishes will often come out with a much better consistency. Any dish that ordinarily calls for a breadcrumbs can be made with granola, including stuffed pork chops, fish fillets, peppers, mushrooms, and crab cakes.