Recipe: Gluten Free Cranberry Walnut Granola

I saw a granola recipe in a cookbook that called for delicious ingredients like almonds and apricots, and it was all pretty and served warm and I thought: I can make that. 

Only I didn't have any apricots, or almonds, or sesame seeds, or cardamom.  Then I thought, screw it.  I can use what I've got and make something just as tasty. 

So I did. 

And then the 4 serving recipe of granola was suddenly all I wanted to eat all day.   I saved just enough for my husband to try it, and then vowed to make more.  This is good stuff. 

The recipe is gluten free, but calls for oats, so if you can't tolerate oats then it's not for you.  I use Bob's Red Mill certified gluten free rolled oats.  I would suggest only using a certified GF brand to avoid the potential for cross-contamination.

Warm Cranberry Vanilla Walnut Granola

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup dried  cranberries
1/4 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
2 tablespoons pepitas (or other seed)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey or maple syrup)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1- In a pan over medium low heat, combine coconut oil, agave nectar, and vanilla extract and cook until coconut oil has melted.  While waiting, combine oats, walnuts, cranberries, coconut, pepitas, and cinnamon in a bowl and mix to combine.

2- When coconut oil has melted, add dry ingredients to the pan.  Mix well to combine and heat through until oats are golden and cranberries have softened, approx. 5 min.

Serve warm. Serve plain or topped with yogurt.

Serves 4.

10 Gluten Free Breakfast Ideas

Trying to find something different to feed my son every morning can be difficult, so here's a simple go-to list of breakfast basic that are delicious for the whole family. 

***Updated September 2013



1- Eggs: scrambled, fried, boiled.  Add some bacon or sausage, fruit or GF toast. Need some recipes? Try one of these 5 Egg Breakfast Ideas. 






2- Smoothies: a little water or milk, fresh or frozen fruit and some honey. Try a Strawberry-Banana Breakfast Smoothie, or one of these Three Smoothie Recipes. 









3- Rice Cereal, Quinoa Cereal, or Oatmeal (if you can have oats): I add some raisins, brown sugar and soy milk.  If oats are an option, a gluten free granola can be made in advance and eaten all week. Try my recipe for Gluten Free Cranberry Walnut Granola.
  







4- Gluten Free Pancakes or Waffles: Frozen, from a mix, or from scratch, with some fresh fruit. Pancakes can be made in advance, frozen, and popped in the toaster for a quick morning meal. My recipe for Homemade Pancakes is simple.





5- Fruit salad: with GF granola or a boiled egg


6- GF cereal bar: for those mornings on the run and some fruit or a smoothie


7- GF Cereal: with dairy-free milk. Chex, Rice Krispies, and other popular brands are now available gluten free.

8- Yogurt parfait: Layer yogurt, fruit, nuts, seeds or grains and drizzle with some honey or agave for a touch of sweetness.

9- GF toast: with sun butter, peanut butter, etc., as a side or on its own. My son likes toasted corn tortillas, which are cheaper and have fewer ingredients. Tortillas are easy to make at home, freeze well, and can be popped in the toaster. Try my simple Recipe for Corn Tortillas.




10- Breakfast burrito or Eggs with Beans: Scramble some eggs with whatever veggies you like and wrap it all up in a tortilla. Or, try a typical Latin American breakfast with eggs, beans, avocado, cheese, and thicker, soft corn tortillas.