Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Apple Pecan Granola (Gluten-Free)

In the last couple of years, several of my cousins have decided to adopt a gluten-free diet.  One has Celiac’s Disease, the others a sensitivity to gluten.  All three have had great health benefits from removing gluten from their meals and are thrilled with the results from living gluten-free save for one fact:  eating gluten-free can be pricey.

Gluten-free products often use a combination of different alternative flours to replace traditional all-purpose flour, which is high in gluten.  Since replacing wheat in many traditional recipes is an art, it is understandable that they might be more expensive.  But here’s a way to avoid the high price tags of gluten-free cereal: make our own at home!

This granola is not only gluten-free, it is very high in protein, stemming from its use of quinoa (along with soy, the only plant-based whole, complete protein), pecans and flax.  And don’t forget this awesome tip for baking granola in the oven! 

Apple Pecan Granola (Gluten Free)

2 1/2 cup gluten-free whole oats (oats are gluten-free, but most commercially produced oats are ground on equipment shared with wheat and have residual gluten)
1/2 cup ground flax seeds or flax meal
1/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 cup pecans
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon maple syrup (or just use more honey)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of salt
1 cup dried apples, diced*

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a large stainless steel bowl, combine the oats, flax, quinoa, pecans, oil, honey, maple syrup, vanilla and salt.  Stir well.

Place bowl in oven and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and stir.

Bake an additional 30 minutes, stir, and repeat one more time for a total cooking time of 90 minutes or until the granola is golden.

Add the diced apple, stir well.  Let cool.




Store in a bag for up to one week.

Makes about 4 3/4 cups granola.

Life is sweet,
SPC

*for the dried apples, we used these:


3 comments:

Vicki said...

I'm going to make this once school starts again. Would be so good with almond milk for a snack.

Erin said...

Is the quinoa cooked? This recipe looks yummy!

Sweet Pea Chef said...

Erin, it is so funny, I thought first thing this morning..."I forgot to specify 'uncooked!'" Yes, uncooked, will change now. :)