Buzz
There's a wide array of homemade cereal options available for you to explore. Two of the simplest types to prepare are granola and muesli. Both consist of a blend of ingredients such as rolled oats, nuts, dried fruit, and other flavorful additions. Once you experiment with crafting your own breakfast concoction, you might find yourself forgoing store-bought cereal altogether!
Ingredients
Crafting Granola
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped or slivered almonds
- 1 cup cashews or walnuts
- ¾ cup shredded coconut
- ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup vegetable oil (not olive oil)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup raisins or other dried fruit (cherries, cranberries, etc.)
Crafting Muesli
- 4 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup toasted wheat germ
- ½ cup wheat bran
- ½ cup oat bran
- 1 cup raisins
- ½ cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or cashews)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
Steps
Crafting Granola
Granola represents a baked cereal requiring more time to prepare compared to muesli, yet yielding a crispy, adaptable delight ideal for pairing with milk or as a topping for yogurt or ice cream.
Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C).
Combine the nuts, oats, coconut, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Stir thoroughly to eliminate any clumps of the same ingredient.
In another bowl, blend the maple syrup (or honey), oil, and salt.
Blend the syrup mixture into the oats mixture. Mix well.
Evenly spread the mixture onto two shallow pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Give the mixture a stir every 15 minutes. This will help it to brown evenly.
Remove the granola from the oven. Transfer it to a large bowl and let it cool. Add raisins (or your preferred dried fruit) and mix until the fruit is evenly distributed throughout the granola.
Store in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for 2-3 weeks.
Making Muesli
Muesli is a chewy type of cereal that pairs well with cold milk or yogurt.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, wheat germ, wheat bran, oat bran, raisins (or dried fruit), nuts, sugar, and seeds.
Combine all the ingredients thoroughly and store them in an airtight container. This mixture will stay fresh for 4-6 weeks when stored properly.
Done.
Tips
-
Both cereals pair nicely with fresh, seasonal fruit as a topping.
-
For a richer, nuttier flavor, lightly roast the nuts before adding them to the muesli.
-
For a tropical twist, substitute coconut oil in the granola recipe and include dried pineapple or banana.
Warnings
- Ensure not to overcook the granola - aim for an even, golden brown hue.
Things You'll Need
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Oven
- Airtight Container
