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granola

Healthy Chunky Chocolate Granola (gluten free & vegan)

September 15, 2020 by Dafna Leave a Comment

More often than not, I believe that homemade is best. Fresh out of the oven or hot off the stove, typically, tastes better than store bought. Of course, there are a few exceptions, sushi nights at home, for example, never tastes as good as our favorite restaurant. And while I do love making my own ice cream, I’m pretty sure it will never come close to Jeni’s dairy free scoops of heaven. But granola will never come close to seeing that list. There are endless reasons to make your own granola: it’s incredibly easy to make, super customizable, tastes way better than store bought, usually better for you, reduces plastic consumption, and is so much cheaper. Plus, a huge side benefit, it makes your house smell amazing. Which, I think, is reason enough to stop buying the bagged stuff.

It’s been way too long since I’ve made granola and I suddenly had the urge to create a new recipe for a chocolate flavored version. As with most things related to baking, I have very strong opinions about granola specifications. First, and most importantly, it must be chunky and have large clusters. In my opinion, “granola” that is merely small pieces of several ingredients is just a muesli or a baked trail mix. And while those can still be delicious, I wouldn’t categorize them as granola. Granola must have chunks. And secondly, there should be a good variation of textures and flavors. On this point, I’m less specific, but granola is the perfect palate for fun and interesting flavor combinations. (Like this Blueberry Ginger Granola, an oldie but a goodie.)And this (healthy) Chunky Chocolate Granola hits on both those parameters. It’s got huge chunky clusters, it’s just perfectly sweet, and has a deliciously satisfying crunch that is counterbalanced with the chewy dried fruit. I used dried mulberries in this recipe, which I love deeply on their own and, if I’m being honest, I really created this recipe around them. They are wonderfully chewy, subtly sweet, and are similar in flavor to a fig. I have always wanted to bake with them and am happy to say that they are a great addition to granola. And, like most other berries, they are delicious paired with chocolate. If you can’t find or don’t like mulberries, I give a few good substitutions in the recipe below. Basically any dried fruit, that’s not very dry (like mango or pineapple), can be used here like raisins, cranberries, or currants.

This homemade granola is not only delicious, it’s good for you! I’ve packed this granola with so many nutritional powerhouses. Mulberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, walnuts and flax are rich in Omega-3 which is beneficial to your gut and brain, coconut has good healthy fats, oats for fiber and to keep you full, and cacao is rich in iron and polyphenols. This granola is completely sweetened with maple syrup which is a sweetener with benefits! It has nutrients like zinc and calcium. Just remember these things when you’re debating whether you should have another handful or not. And while this granola is delicious on it’s own, it’s the perfect added crunch to a smoothie, in a bowl with your favorite milk, or atop a yogurt bowl. Hopefully I’ve convinced you to go forth and make some granola! I have a feeling after you make this one, you’ll be hooked.

gluten free, naturally sweetened, vegan

If you make this recipe, please feel free to leave a review or rating down below. And I’d LOVE to see your creation! Please tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.

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Healthy Chunky Chocolate Granola

A super easy, but incredibly delicious granola that's so much better than store bought and packed with superfoods and nutrient dense ingredients. It's delicious on it's on or as an added crunch to a smoothie, in a bowl with your favorite milk, or atop a yogurt bowl. Anyway you enjoy it, it's a wonderful healthy snack.

gluten-free, naturally sweetened, vegan

Course Breakfast, Snack

Ingredients

  • 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats gluten free
  • 1 cup raw walnuts roughly chopped
  • 3/4 cup shredded coconuts unsweetened
  • 1/2-3/4 cup dried mulberries optional (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup cacao powder
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup flaxmeal
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper.

  2. In a large bowl stir together oats, walnuts, 1/2 cup mulberries (or other dried fruit), shredded coconut, cacao powder, sesame seeds, flax, and sea salt until all is well combined, set aside.

  3. Melt the coconut oil with the maple syrup, either in a microwave (about 30 seconds) or in a small pot (over low heat). Once melted, stir together well. Remove from heat. Add in the vanilla and stir again.

  4. Pour the warm maple mixture over the dry ingredients and stir together until everything is well coated.

  5. Spread granola over baking sheet and arrange into one thin, even layer.

  6. Bake for 10 minutes. Then rotate the pan 180 degrees in the oven to ensure even cooking. Bake for another 12-15 more minutes. Granola is done when it has turned a darker shade of brown and smells amazing.

  7. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Once cool, break up into chunks and add additional dried fruit if you like. Keep granola in an airtight container either at room temperature in cool place for a few days or freezer for longer storage.

Recipe Notes

I love mulberries in combination with the chocolatey cacao powder, nuts, and seeds in this recipe. They add the perfect chewy texture to the crunchy granola. If you can't find dried mulberries or just prefer not to use them, feel free to omit completely or substitute for another dried fruit! Other good options are dried cranberries, raisins, currants, blueberries, or strawberries. 

The key to a chunky granola is to not stir it while baking and to leave it as is while it cools, this ensures chunky granola clusters form while it cools. 

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Granola, Vegan Tagged With: antioxidants, breakfast, cacao, chocolate, coconut, coconut oil, dairy free, flax, gluten free, granola, healthy fats, mulberries, naturally sweetened, oats, refined sugar free, sesame, snack, superfood, vegan, walnuts

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars (raw, paleo, vegan)

August 1, 2019 by Dafna Leave a Comment

Celebrating this first day of August with a raw & frozen treat! There’s nothing like making an easy and delicious no-bake dessert in the middle of summer. And especially when it’s this millennial pink stunner. It’s a strawberry cheesecake (that’s raw & vegan) layer over a quick to come together crust. While it does require a few hours of soaking, this recipe really is a snap to make. The cheesecake layer is made of soaked cashews and blended with an ample amount of fresh strawberries that are oh-so-sweet this time of year. The crust is made simply, with a bag of granola blitzed with some coconut oil.

This recipe was inspired by Bob’s Red Mills new Pan Baked Granolas  which I could not wait to try. Although I typically do not eat grains (this granola is made with oats), I love the Bob’s line of products so much that I thought this new granola was well worth a try. And I’m happy to report that the granola was pleasantly sweet and  perfectly crispy. I used the Maple Sea Salt flavor for this recipe and thought it was the perfect base layer for the strawberries and had a similar flavor to the traditional graham cracker crust that typically goes with cheesecake. Of course, feel free to use whatever granola you love most and would play well with the strawberries.

If you make this, I’d LOVE to see your creation! Please tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

raw, dairy free, vegan, paleo-option, gluten free, no refined sugar

This quick and easy frozen treat is such a great dessert for the summer time. No turning on the oven and uses fresh strawberries that are abundant during these warm months. The cheesecake is made of cashews and sits atop a quick to come together crust. The cheesecake is light and fresh but oh-so-satisfying. Kind of like a super luscious strawberry ice cream you could eat with your hands.

freshlydafna.com

Course Dessert

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients

  • 1 bag granola (3 cups) I used Bob's Red Mills new Maple Sea Salt Flavor
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Strawberry Filling

  • 2 cups cashews raw
  • 2 cups strawberries, halved about 10 ounces
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice about 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tbsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Soak cashews in filtered water for at least 3 hours (or if you're short on time, soak in boiled water for 1-1 1/2 hours).

  2. Line 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper.

  3. Blend all crust ingredients together in a blender or food processor until everything is damp and pea sized.

  4. Pour crust ingredients into the baking dish and press down firmly with a rubber spatula into an even layer and place in the freezer.

  5. Drain the cashews and wipe the inside of the blender/food processor.

  6. Make the filling by blending all the filling ingredients together until it is luscious and creamy, about 2 minutes. Taste and add more lemon juice and/or maple syrup to your liking.

  7. Pour the filling over the crust and spread into an even layer and place back in the freezer to set.

  8. Let freeze for an hour and then slice to desired shapes. Place in airtight container until you're ready to enjoy these!

Recipe Notes

Feel free to use any granola you like, grain free if you are Paleo. 

I used fresh strawberries for this recipe but am fairly certain you can use frozen as well, just defrost and rinse before adding to the cashews. 

Disclaimer: I received the Bob’s Red Mills new Pan Baked Granola for free. However all opinions are my own and I was not paid to write this post. Nor would I ever write about a product that I do not try myself, love, and fully endorse. 

Filed Under: Dessert, Fruity Treats, Raw/No-Bake, Vegan Tagged With: cashew, cheesecake, chocolate free, dairy free, dessert, freezer friendly, frozen, gluten free, grain free, granola, healthy fats, no bake, paleo, raw, strawberry, summer, vegan

Superfood Spiked Paleo Blueberry Ginger Granola (vegan)

January 29, 2018 by Dafna Leave a Comment

There are endless benefits to making your own snacks. And granola is definitely one that’s worth putting in some extra time in the kitchen to make. Granolas tend to be packed with some less than ideal ingredients like processed sugars, gluten, and sometimes preservatives. Additionally, granolas that are paleo or low-carb can often be very expensive. Making your own at home can save money and provide the freedom to use ingredients that are right for you and skip others that you prefer not to use. Plus it seriously does make your house smell wonderful.

This is so far the best loved granola flavor that’s come out of my kitchen. While ginger itself has TONS of health benefits, I decided to add in another superfood into the mix. Lucuma powder is a naturally sweetener and also packs in a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants. If you don’t want to though, feel free to leave it out! 

gluten free, grain free, paleo, low carb, high fat, vegan, dairy free, soy free, naturally sweetened

Print

Paleo Blueberry Ginger Granola

Paleo friendly, gluten free, grain free, and vegan granola is the perfect snack or addition to smoothies, yogurt bowls or straight out of the container. There's also an extra superfood powder hiding in there to up the health benefits of this tasty treat. PLUS it's lower in sugar, naturally sweetened, and has no weird ingredients. Wins all around!

gluten free, grain free, paleo, low carb, vegan, dairy free, naturally sweetened

freshlydafna.com

Ingredients

  • 2 cups walnuts raw, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup almonds raw, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup coconut shreds
  • 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
  • 1/2 cup lucuma powder optional, but encouraged
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 5 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 1 tsp freshly grated ginger (or 2 tsp powdered)
  • 1/2 tsp pink sea salt
  • 3/4 cup dried blueberries

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 325 F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or baking mat.

  2. In a large bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil and maple syrup

  3. Then add the chopped nuts, coconut shreds, ginger, and sea salt to the large bowl. Mix dry with wet ingredients until all is well combined. 

  4. Once well combined, fold in the blueberries until evenly distributed.

  5. Pour granola mixture onto baking sheet and press down with a plastic spatula to ensure that it is tight and spread evenly. 

  6. Bake for 20 minutes, the turn the baking sheet in the oven. Bake for another 15-20 minutes or until just golden brown. Remove from the oven. 

  7. Let cool completely on baking sheet. No touching. 

  8. Once it has rested break up the granola into chunks. 

  9. Enjoy on top of smoothies, yogurt, in milk, or straight up!  Store in airtight container. 

Recipe Notes

by: sunnyside-greens.com

If you make this recipe I'd love to see your creation! Please either post a comment or picture on this page or if you're posting on Instagram please tag @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna

Filed Under: Breakfast, Fruity Treats, Granola, Vegan Tagged With: antioxidants, blueberry, chocolate free, dairy free, fruit, ginger, gluten free, grain free, granola, healthy fats, low carb, low sugar, lucuma, paleo, refined sugar free, snack, superfood, vegan

Paleo Cacao Sea Salt Granola (vegan, naturally sweetened)

November 27, 2017 by Dafna Leave a Comment

No ramblings about life, ingredients, cooking methods or dietary restrictions, just a straight up post with a recipe. An awesome recipe! It’s Cacao Sea Salt Granola, and yes, you should make this immediately. This clustery goodness is chocolate and sea salt heaven. Yep it’s so good your stomach, family, friends, and kitchen will all thank you.

paleo, vegan, gluten free, grain free, low carb, low sugar, refined sugar free, dairy free

Print

Cacao Sea Salt Granola

adapted from my Paleo Granola Recipe

paleo, vegan, gluten free, grain free, low carb, low sugar, refined sugar free, dairy free

This granola is even better than store bought, with a scrumptious chocolate sea salt flavor. It's low in sugar, naturally sweetened with coconut sugar, gluten free, dairy free, grain free, and vegan! It's great to eat as a snack on it's own, on top of yogurt, or in a smoothie!

sunnyside-greens.com

Ingredients

  • 2 cups raw walnuts
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup raw pepitas
  • 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 1/4 cup coconut syrup
  • 1 cup coconut shreds
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 300 F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or baking mat.
  2. In a food processor pulse walnuts, cashews, and pepitas, sunflower seeds in short bursts until coarsely chopped.

  3. In a large bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil and coconut syrup

  4. Then add the chopped nuts/seeds, coconut shreds, vanilla, sea salt and cacao powder to the large bowl. Mix dry with wet ingredients until all is well combined. If everything is not well coated add another tbsp of coconut oil.

  5. Pour granola mixture onto baking sheet ensuring that it is spread evenly.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes, then stir the granola. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
  7. Let cool on baking sheet. No touching.
  8. Once it has rested break up the granola into chunks.
  9. Let cool completely. Enjoy on top of smoothies, yogurt, in milk, or straight up! Store in airtight container.

If you make this recipe I’d love to see your creation! Please either post a comment or picture on this page or if you’re posting on Instagram please tag @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Granola, Vegan Tagged With: cacao, chocolate, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, granola, healthy fats, low carb, low sugar, naturally sweetened, refined sugar free, vegan

Homemade Paleo Granola (paleo, low carb, vegan, naturally sweetened)

May 11, 2017 by Dafna Leave a Comment

Every morning I make my guy his lunch. It’s usually more or less the same thing with some variety mixed in here and there. Whatever is seasonal for his fruit cup, a sandwich, a snack, an energy bar, and whatever else I’ve baked up over the weekend. Although he says it’s unnecessary, I get immense joy from it because I know he’s eating good healthy food to fuel is demanding job and it’s the perfect excuse to make homemade goodies!

One of the more recent additions to the snack rotation is a yogurt cup. Either yogurt (only with dairy from grass fed cows) or coconut yogurt with granola, fruit, and maybe some hemp hearts as toppings.
So I’ve come up with this Paleo Granola to adorn his creamy delicious mid-morning snack. Although he is by no means Paleo and consumes his fair share of carbs and gluten, he was never really a fan of oatmeal. So this granola is right up his alley. And in my effort to reduce his gluten consumption I made this recipe gluten free, naturally sweetened with coconut sugar to avoid blood sugar spikes, high in healthy fats from the nuts and seeds and coconut oil for stable energy.

 

 

And seriously when you bake this up your whole freakin house will smell amazing. Wins all around for this awesome granola.

 

Print

Paleo Blueberry Ginger Granola

Paleo friendly, gluten free, grain free, and vegan granola is the perfect snack or addition to smoothies, yogurt bowls or straight out of the container. There's also an extra superfood powder hiding in there to up the health benefits of this tasty treat. PLUS it's lower in sugar, naturally sweetened, and has no weird ingredients. Wins all around!

gluten free, grain free, paleo, low carb, vegan, dairy free, naturally sweetened

freshlydafna.com

Ingredients

  • 2 cups walnuts raw, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup almonds raw, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup coconut shreds
  • 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
  • 1/2 cup lucuma powder optional, but encouraged
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 5 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 1 tsp freshly grated ginger (or 2 tsp powdered)
  • 1/2 tsp pink sea salt
  • 3/4 cup dried blueberries

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 325 F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or baking mat.

  2. In a large bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil and maple syrup

  3. Then add the chopped nuts, coconut shreds, ginger, and sea salt to the large bowl. Mix dry with wet ingredients until all is well combined. 

  4. Once well combined, fold in the blueberries until evenly distributed.

  5. Pour granola mixture onto baking sheet and press down with a plastic spatula to ensure that it is tight and spread evenly. 

  6. Bake for 20 minutes, the turn the baking sheet in the oven. Bake for another 15-20 minutes or until just golden brown. Remove from the oven. 

  7. Let cool completely on baking sheet. No touching. 

  8. Once it has rested break up the granola into chunks. 

  9. Enjoy on top of smoothies, yogurt, in milk, or straight up!  Store in airtight container. 

Recipe Notes

by: sunnyside-greens.com

If you make this recipe I'd love to see your creation! Please either post a comment or picture on this page or if you're posting on Instagram please tag @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna

Filed Under: Breakfast, Granola, Vegan Tagged With: almonds, antioxidants, chocolate free, coconut, dairy free, flax, gluten free, grain free, granola, healthy fats, low carb, low sugar, lucuma, paleo, refined sugar free, snack, sugar free, superfood, vegan, walnuts

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Dafna Ben-Zeev

Dafna Ben-Zeev

Freshly Dafna
Hi there! I'm Dafna! I'm all about piles of veggies, healthified baking, breaking a sweat as often as possible, yoga, the beach, snacks, farmers markets, and dogs. And I'm so excited to share my recipes with you!Read more...

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