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Do you wish there was breakfast cereal you could feed your kids on busy mornings? Something that not only didn’t have junk like artificial colors and flavors or tons of sugar (“Foodless Foods”), but also one that did have some nutrients?!
Or maybe you wish there was a quick healthy after-school snack that the kids could reach for before scooting them off to practice or whatever your family runs off to after school.
I’ve got the perfect recipe for you!
At the Wise Traditions conference in November, I tried some delicious homemade soaked granola in a bowl with milk for a nutritious cold breakfast cereal. I hadn’t had breakfast cereal in so long, it was goooood! (A perfect alternative to store-bought boxed breakfast cereals.) This got me in the mood to try making it again, after an honest friend let me know a while back that my recipe reminded her of Astroturf. (Although I really think part of the problem with that batch was a little issue of over-baking.) So as I’m ooh-ing and ah-ing over my cereal, Ann Marie said she had a recipe that tasted very similar on her site: Homemade Granola with Soaked Oats and Sprouted Flour.
WHY go to this trouble?
At her granola post, Ann Marie answers this question: Why go to the trouble of making homemade granola? Also there you’ll find more details about the recipe, including how to use your dehydrator instead of the oven like I use.
But…I have a knack for burning things lately
On my first go I got to the very last step before bombing out, as you can tell by this black-bottomed pan. If you think you might want to increase the temp a bit to crisp it up faster, I suggest you re-think that idea. Apparently the maple syrup in this can cause it to burn quickly. This was only in the oven for 15 minutes at 350* and just like that, all sorts of expensive ingredients were gone. Learn from my stupidity. The pieces on top tasted good anyway.
Once I made more crispy nuts, I was ready to try again. This time it was so delicious, I can’t stay out of it. Each bite is a little different. If you get a dried cranberry there’s a burst of sweet. If you get some oats you get a hearty crunch. If you get a pecan, you get a light crunch of buttery melt-in-your-mouth heaven.
My Version of Ann Marie’s Homemade Breakfast Cereal/Homemade Granola:
- 6 c. organic oatmeal
- 6 c. warm filtered water
- 3/4 c. yogurt, whey, or buttermilk (I used a combination because I was almost out of homemade yogurt and homemade buttermilk.)
Mix well and cover. Let set for 24 hours.
If it’s very wet you can strain it a bit if needed, then spread onto two greased (or parchment paper-lined) cookie sheets. Place in 170* oven (or lower if your oven goes lower) and leave it for a couple hours, turning over once. At this point it was bedtime, so I turned the oven off and left it there overnight with the oven light on, not wanting to ruin another batch.
In the morning melt these items together in a medium saucepan:
- 1 c. organic coconut oil
- 1/2 c. palm sugar
- 1/2 c. real maple syrup
- 2 t. sea salt
In the meantime, break up the pieces of oats into a big bowl. Add the following:
- 1 1/2 c. dried cranberries
- 2 c. crispy nuts (I used crispy pecans but almonds would be good, too.)
- 1 c. sprouted spelt flour (see my resources page for where to buy, or see this post for how to sprout grains yourself.)
- The melted mixture from above
Stir well. Spread it out onto the two cookie sheets and place them back into a 170* oven. I left it for about 6 more hours. Keep checking it until it gets to the desired crispiness. Enjoy!
If you make this, please tell us how your recipe is different, I love comparing recipes.
- More healthy breakfast ideas (My most popular post by far.)
- Baked Oatmeal Bar Recipe (A great make-ahead breakfast that even people who don’t like oatmeal love, including me!)
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Annmarie’s recipe caught my eye too. I’ve made something just like it in the past, but somehow I haven’t gotten around to it again. I need too. My family will love it!
Do say if you will be at the Wise Traditions event, as I very much hope to be. Would be great to say hi!
Here’s a recipe I hope to try out later this week, if my boys don’t eat all my oatmeal first!
http://www.oldpathsfamilyfarm.net/blog/2008/01/18/leftover-oatmeal-transformed/
Hi Kelly,
I didn’t realise there was more than one, I meant the one in England posted on your website, March 21st? I did think it would be an amazing event if you were coming from US/Australia?
I know it is probably washing away all sorts of good stuff, but I have to rinse my oats after they soak, otherwise my granola it too sour for us. I have posted my recipe here http://goodlookingcook.blogspot.com/2009/09/feel-good-granola.html
Liz, I sure WISH I could come to England for that!!
Here’s more info in case someone wonders what we’re talking about:
http://www.meetup.com/westonaprice-london/calendar/11857682/
Kelly
Hi Kelly – I recently made my own granola with my new Excalibur dehydrator, and it turned out great…although next time I think I’ll leave it in for a lesser amount of time just so it’s not quite so crispy. I was shocked it turned out so well given that I had never made it before and I’m not a natural in the kitchen – I just started really learning to cook about three years ago. Here’s how my recipe turned out: http://www.agriculturesociety.com/?p=2791
It’s great to hear about other people’s experiences making granola. I blended my recipe together from various recipes I found in cookbooks and the Internet. I will have to check out Ann Marie’s recipe too! Thanks Kelly!
Soaked granola recipes! Always lookin’ for ‘em!
Tried Cheeseslave’s with the sprouted flour, but unfortunately, my kids weren’t that geeked. Sigh. Maybe it was the addition of the flour? Do your kids like this, too? Thanks in advance to anyone who adds his/her version of soaked granola here, too! It’s appreciated! 
~Julie L.
Hi Julie!!!
Yes, my kids like it, although they’re a little sick of anything with crispy nuts right now. My favorite “go-to” snack!
Here is my recipe for cold breakfast cereal:
Cold Cereal
*denotes organic
1 cup Lydia’s Organics Grainless Apple Cereal (sprouted & gluten-free!)
1/2 banana*, sliced
1 tbsp raw nut butter* (I prefer peanut)
1 tbsp shredded coconut*
1 tbsp raw cacao nibs*
1 tsp cinnamon powder*
1 tsp raw honey (with all the honeycomb and bee pollen!)
1/2 cup frozen black cherries*
No heating or cooking required! This is also dairy free since I’m allergic to casein.
You can also tweak this a bit and make it into granola bars. I have a recipe that’s very similar at http://commonsensehomesteading.blogspot.com/2009/12/breakfast-cookies-aka-soaked-granola.html
I finish it in the dehydrator instead of the oven. No black pans.
LOL, I burned my last batch of granola too!!! I have a recipe on my blog for another cereal if you want an alternate (Homemade Grape Nuts). http://encouragingnourishment.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/i-am-a-cereal-freak-homemade-grape-nuts-cereal/
I wonder if I could just soak in water/lemon juice since we are milk free. I also wonder if I could use less flour and use some coconut flour or something instead as we are also wheat-free. This sounds so good and I have all the ingredients. Bet I could just dehydrate it in my dehydrator too (probably will need the plastic sheets to keep it from dripping, etc.
Lisa, yes, I think both those variations would work! If you try it let us know.
Kelly
Another way to have “cereal” is to chop crispy nuts, add cream/kefir/milk, then a little natural sweetening if desired—voila—”cereal” for breakfast.
If you prefer to make the cereal non-dairy a great alternative to whey or kefir ( I use homemade whey) is to use the Organic Raw Coconut Vinegar from Wilderness Family Naturals. It provides the same benefits (mostly) as the whey and the taste is NOT vinegar-ee at all!
Kelly, I’m not sure if you were enjoying our cereal at the conference…little brown bag…five delicious flavors??? I started making it for our family and now I make if for other Moms too.
Michaeleen,
YES! It WAS your cereal I was loving!!! Thanks for the great snack:)
Kelly
Do you happen to have any cereal recipes using soaked brown rice? I’d love to try something with that.
His,
Mrs. U
Hmmm, sorry, but no. Have you tried Googling?
Kelly
Hi there! I’m making this now and am in the middle of drying out the oats in my oven. How do I know when they are done? What consistency am I looking for? Mine are still looking soggy after 2.5 hours in the oven. Please help! thanks
Hi Kelly, just wondering – I usually use steel cut oats – can those be substituted? Also wondering if there is an easy way to print your recipes – just did a print preview and got 21 pages! Thanks.