Granola is a delicious, crunchy and healthy add to yogurt or cereal, and a terrific energy boosting snack. Here’s my riff on Chef Eric Greenspan’s Crunch Steel-Cut Oat Granola, seen on “Guy’s Ranch Kitchen” on The Food Network. It’s simply delicious!
Steel-Cut – Who Knew?
I’ve made granola for years. I love it on yogurt, mixed into other breakfast cereals, and it makes a great snack. I’ve always made it with old-fashioned oats of some sort, ideally organic. Depending on what recipe I’ve followed, I usually don’t, I might mix in other goodies like dried berries, nuts and seeds, and the like, to give added crunch and nutrition. And, granola usually calls for some sort of spice combination. Easy, right? YES…it’s super easy and I don’t know why more people don’t make their own. It’s so stupid expensive in grocery stores!
Learning in the Ranch Kitchen
I’m a huge fan of “Guy’s Ranch Kitchen”. I’ve been a fan of Guy Fieri since he won Next Food Network Star, and watch all his shows. But this one stands out because he has a super cool, always rotating lineup of chefs on the show. The best part….they explain what they’re making and how to do it! I love it and get so many great ideas, and learn so much. I’d die to be in that kitchen working with them!
One particular show stood out because it was a healthy breakfast theme, and breakfast is my favorite meal. Chef Eric Greenspan made a granola with STEEL CUT OATS! WHAAAT?! I never dreamed those would make a fantastic, crunchy granola. In fact, I’ve been cooking the hell out of them in my slow cooker for a couple years now. Shooooot….all this time a-wasted!
Too Crunchy Steel Cut Oat Granola!
Thankfully, I’d recorded the episode and frankly, if it had been on a VCR, I’d have broken the tape…I rewound it a million times to see how he did it. (Yeah, I know…just dated myself) Ready…Player One! Off to the kitchen I went, pulling this and that from my pantry. I thought I’d take his recipe one step further and add in some chopped dates, golden raisins, and dried cranberries. Like a dope, I heated my oven WAY to hot and baked it for WAY too long…yup, just a little black smoke but not enough to make the smoke detectors applaud. For as much Chex Mix and other granolas I make, you’d think I’d know to keep it low and slow…bummer.
The Do Over
I am never one to be bested by a dumb old recipe and am the first to cry “DO OVER!” This time, I left all the fruits out and cooled the oven to 200°. When I took the granola out of the oven, then I added in the fruits and mixed it well. The heat of the baking sheet and granola was just enough to plump up my berries and raisins a bit. Oh man…I outdid myself on this one..damn near dislocated my shoulder patting myself on the back.
So, here’s my version of Chef Eric Greenspan’s granola…my Crunchy Steel-Cut Oat Granola. Brilliant sir, you are simply brilliant!
Crunchy Steel-Cut Oat Granola
Ingredients
- 2 C steel-cut oats
- 1/4 C roasted sunflower seeds
- 1/8 C flax seeds
- 1 tsp canola oil
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1/2 C demerara sugar can use brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/3 C golden raisins
- 1/3 C dried cranberries
- 6 dried dates, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°. In a large bowl, toss first 8 ingredients ensuring well incorporated and well-coated with oil, syrup and spices. Spread out on a sprayed cooking sheet, and bake 1 hour. Stir gently at the 30-minute mark.
- When done, remove from oven and stir in fruits and berries. Mix well, and let cool. Store in an airtight container. Do not refrigerate!
Notes
- Use old-fashioned oats
- Use brown sugar (light or dark) instead of demerara
- Peppitas
- Chopped apricots
- Dried blueberries
- Add 1/4 tsp of cardamom or cloves or ginger
Fantastic Idea! I love granola like you say it can be expensive and what’s better than being able to choose exactly what you want in it!!
Sky’s the limit with this one. It’s a great way to use up pantry bits and pieces, too! Enjoy…
This looks SO GOOD! I’m on the lookout for healthier, more portable snacks, and I feel like this would be an amazing option for that. Thanks!
It’s awesome…give it a try!
This granola recipe sounds yummy. My family loves granola, and we make it all the time. I will have to give it a try. Tanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome. I love granola too, but have never thought of using steel-cut oats to make it. It’s crunchy wonderful!