Ingredients
15 ml (1 tablespoon) canola oil
45 ml (3 tablespoons) maple sugar
60 ml (1/4 cup) maple syrup
60 ml (1/4 cup) apple juice
3 ml (1/2 teaspoon) cinnamon
3 ml (1/2 teaspoon) vanilla
750 ml (3 cups) rolled oats
375 ml (1 1/2 cups) barley flakes
125 ml (1/2 cup) nuts (pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, etc.)
750 ml (3 cups) dried apples or dried fruit (apricots, dates, raisins, cranberries, cherries, etc.)
Preparation time 15 minutes
Cooking time 30 minutes
Method
Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). In a small saucepan, combine the oil, maple sugar, maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon and vanilla. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat. In a large bowl, combine all the other ingredients except the apples or dried fruit. Add the sugar mixture and mix well to coat all the ingredients. Spread the mixture over two large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Be careful not to spread the mixture out too thinly because the granola could burn. Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally (about every 10 minutes), until the granola turns golden. Once out of the oven, add the apples or dried fruit and mix together. Allow to cool completely. The granola will crisp up when cooled. Serve with fat-free Greek yogurt.
Calories per serving
160
Additional information:
Granola, with either yogurt or milk, for breakfast or as a snack is an excellent energizer. However, the granola found in stores often contains a lot of fat. A meal that’s high in fat slows down absorption of carbohydrates, which won’t help with your workout at all. Our recipe for maple granola has the advantage of being both low in fat and high in carbohydrates, so it will provide all the fuel you need. You’ll also love its delicious maple taste, not to mention the apple and dried fruit. This granola has a significant amount of fibre so make sure to eat it at least one hour before physical activity so it has time to properly digest.
By 160 ml serving (2/3 cup): 252 calories; 6 g protein; 6 g fat;
47 g carbohydrates; 6 g fibre.