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Last Diwali, I was looking for a homemade treat to add to my gift hampers.
Life was particularly chaotic at the time and, apparently, my response to being overwhelmed is to become wildly overambitious and give myself another project. 🙄
Because obviously what a person with too much to do needs… is more to do. 🙄🙄
I didn’t have the physical or mental capacity to make traditional Diwali sweets, and most store-bought sweets tend to get passed around and regifted anyway.
Besides, almost everyone I knew seemed to be trying to eat a little healthier.
So I thought — granola!
Homemade, easy to package, something people could actually use for breakfast, and considerably less ambitious than making boxes of mithai.
But it was Diwali.
Plain granola wasn’t going to do.
And to me, nothing says celebration quite like saffron.
So into the granola it went.
And there you have it — my Saffron Granola. ❤️
Recipe
The Base
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup mixed nuts — almonds, walnuts, cashews and pistachios
- ½ cup mixed seeds, including sesame seeds
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup coconut flakes
The flavours
- 15–20 saffron strands
- A sprinkle of nutmeg
- A sprinkle of rock salt
The Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
After Baking
- Raisins
- Cranberries
- Chocolate chips — however much your heart tells you ❤️
Method
Preheat the oven to 160°C fan-forced.
Combine the oats, nuts, seeds, chia seeds, saffron, nutmeg and rock salt.
Add the coconut oil and maple syrup and mix well until everything is evenly coated.
Spread the mixture over a lined baking tray and bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring around halfway through( depending on how toasty you like your granola) – I bake for around 40 minutes.
If you’re using untoasted coconut flakes, add them for the final 5 minutes so they don’t burn.
Allow the granola to cool completely before adding the raisins and cranberries.
And only once it is completely cool, add the chocolate chips — however much your heart told you to use.❤️
This one is perfect for gifting — or just for everyday breakfast. ❤️
I love it over yoghurt and fruit, but the slight sweetness of maple syrup and the crunch of baked nuts and oats also make it the perfect 3pm pick-me-up with a cup of coffee.
Bonus: That delicious saffron-and-toasted-nuts aroma floating through your kitchen and home 🤌🏻😍🤤
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