Maple Coconut Prune Granola

Disclaimer: This post was developed in sponsorship with California Dried Plum Board, however all opinions are my own.

In case you didn’t know – March is Nutrition Month. And this year it’s all about Unlocking the Potential of Food.

So, I though’t I’d start with prunes. You know, those digestive power-houses that help keep you regular. Did you also know that eating just one daily serving of 5-6 prunes supports bone health? That’s right. Because of some new research they’re now being considered that “whole package” when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Prunes are also a source of dietary fiber, and each serving of 5-6 prunes (40g) contains only 100 calories.

And they’re also incredibly versatile. You can add them to your smoothies, salads, and in this case – even crunchy delicious granola.

If you’ve never made your own granola before. You’re truly missing out. It tastes sooooo much better than any store bought versions. And it’s usually a lot lighter, as you can control how much fat goes in. Along with any un-needed extra ingredients. And as an added bonus, you can customize it to add whatever items you like.

Here I made sure to incorporate California Prunes so you get those heart, bones, and intestinal benefits. Because hey – those are all pretty darn important.

To make this tasty Maple Coconut Prune Granola, firstly preheat an oven to 300°F. Then in a large bowl, combine the oats, millet, walnuts and chia seeds. Stir them all together.

In a separate small bowl, stir together the maple syrup, grapeseed oil and coconut extract. Then add this mixture to the large bowl, stirring well until evenly combined.Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the granola to the pan and spread evenly. Place in preheated oven for 40 minutes.

Make sure you stir the granola every 10 minutes so that it doesn’t clump together. And add the coconut to the pan in the last 20 minutes of baking so that it roasts perfectly (and not too much).

Once the granola is a vibrant golden color, remove the pan from the oven and stir in the chopped California Prunes. Let it cool prior to serving, and enjoy! Your bones will thank you later.

Maple Coconut Prune Granola

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Average: 5/5

1 ratings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Author: Charlene Pors

Yield: 4 cups

Serving Size: 0.5 cup

Ingredients

• 2.5 cup large flake oats
• 3/4 cup millet, un-cooked
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup grapeseed oil
• 1 tsp coconut extract
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes, unsweetened (or 1/3 cup shredded)
• 1/2 cup California Prunes, chopped (about 7-9 prunes)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine oats, millet, walnuts and chia seeds. Stir together.
3. In a separate small bowl, stir together the maple syrup, grapeseed oil and coconut extract. Then add this mixture to the large bowl, stirring well until evenly combined.
4. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the granola to the pan and spread evenly. Place in preheated oven for 40 minutes.
5. Stir every 10 minutes. And add the coconut to the pan in the last 20 minutes of baking.
6. Once granola is golden in color, remove from the oven and mix in the California Prunes. Let cool prior to serving.

4.5.2.16

http://www.euphorianutrition.ca/maple-coconut-prune-granola/

Euphoria Nutrition

Charlene is a Registered Dietitian, Sports Nutritionist, and self proclaimed Foodie. Charlene loves to travel and is passionate about all things involving health, fitness and nutrition.