Vegan Granola

Ingredients

• 300 g (3 cups) rolled oats (jumbo is best; you ideally don't want to use quick cook oats)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 120 ml (1/2 cup) maple syrup
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) melted refined coconut oil (or another neutral oil)
• 1 1/2 tsp mixed spice (pumpkin spice)
• 150 g (1 cup) mixed seeds (I used pumpkin, sunflower and flax)
• 150 g (1 cup) roughly chopped nuts
• a couple of handfuls of coconut flakes
• 35 g (1/4 cup) cacao nibs
• 150 g (1 cup) dried fruit, chopped if large
• 100 g (2/3 cup) chocolate chips

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°fan/320F/gas mark 3. Line a large roasting tin with baking parchment.

2. 2

   Place the oats in a large bowl and add the salt. If you are adding spices, nuts and/or seeds add them now. Mix everything together well.

3. 3

   Add the maple syrup and melted coconut oil and give it a good stir so that everything is well coated.

4. 4

   Spread the mixture out on the prepared tray. If you like larger clusters of granola then you can pack it down firmly with a spatula.

5. 5

   Bake the granola for 20 minutes then remove from the oven and give it a stir. If you want large clumps then skip this step.

6. 6

   Return to the oven for 20 minutes. Keep an eye on it and give it a stir if it starts to darken around the edges. If you want large clusters be very gentle and try not to break the granola up too much.

7. 7

   After the 20 minutes is up, if you are adding coconut flakes or cacao nibs, stir them through now then return the granola to the oven for 5-10 minutes until it is golden and the coconut is lightly toasted. The granola won't feel crisp yet, it will firm up as it cools.

8. 8

   Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the tray. If you are adding dried fruit or chocolate chips stir them through once the granola has cooled completely then transfer it to an airtight container.