Easy Sugar-Free Hack & Your New Favorite, No Fuss Granola Recipe!

I’ve said this before, but my motivations for eating the way I do are primarily for health reasons. Over the last few years I’ve really settled in and started listening to what my body was telling me. I know that I feel the absolute best when not eating animal products. That means I’ve got more energy, my digestive system works the way that it should, and I am a happier and more present mother/wife/friend/daughter/etc. However I have still struggled with some skin issues and bloating. The bloating and discomfort has mostly been handled by eliminating gluten from my diet but I have also taken steps to eliminate added sugar to see if it would help clear up my skin. So far I’ve been very pleased!

As we know, sugar is in EVERYTHING. So I’m very slowly taking steps to get rid of it all together. Thankfully I’ve found some ways to suffice my sugar cravings with natural sweeteners like DATES! Dates are perfect little fiber-filled sweet fruits that look a little gross but taste delicious. They can be used in so much to replace sugar. I throw them in smoothies, top them with some nut butter and seat salt for an after dinner treat, and make them into a “paste” to replace in recipes that call for pure maple syrup.

Recently, I tinkered with my favorite granola recipe, by using date paste and I was really happy with the result. My little boys were a big fan as well! Date paste takes 5 minutes to make and it keeps well in the fridge so you can use it all week long! A dollop on your oatmeal would be perfect or just a spoonful right to the mouth is always an option! I’ve also used date paste when making edible cookie dough and when making these yummy muffins!

Your New Favorite Granola Recipe!

Easy, Crunchy, and Perfectly Sweet & Crunchy!

Makes: Serves 8-10

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 Cups Gluten Free Oats
• ½ Heaping Cup of Date Paste (Or Sub 1/2 C of Pure Maple Syrup)
• ½ Cup Peanut Butter (Make sure you are using natural peanut butter...the kind you have to stir! Ingredients should just be peanuts and salt. This is so it will be wet enough...non-natural peanut butters will not work)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 320 degrees
2. To make your date paste, combine 6-7 pitted dates with about a ½ cup of water. Blend until a paste forms *NOTE: If you'd like to skip the date paste and use another unrefined sweetener, you can simply use Pure Maple Syrup (NOT pancake syrup). Follow the directions exactly the same if using either ingredient.
3. Combine date paste, peanut butter, and vanilla and whisk until combined
4. Whisk together your oats, salt, and cinnamon
5. Combine oats and peanut butter mixture and pour granola onto a parchment lined baking sheet
6. Bake for 10 minutes. Stir/turn granola and bake for 10 more minutes. Repeat one last time, to make sure the granola is nice and crunchy. If you're using Pure Maple Syrup you may only need to cook for 20 minutes. You can test to see if your granola is ready by letting a piece sit out for a couple minutes. If it hardens/becomes crispy then it's done. If it still feels a little moist, pop it back in the oven for another 10 minutes or so!