I’m not a boxed dry cereal with milk for breakfast kind of gal.
I used to be. When I was a child I loved my Alphabits, Froot Loops and Cornflakes (sprinkled liberally with sugar – ah the things we did in the 80s!), but as an adult… I’m not. I’m not sure when that transition from eating boxed cereal to other breakfasts happened, but it did, and I enjoy quite a variety of different breakfasts each morning.
Some of my favourite breakfasts include…
- plain natural yogurt with fresh fruit sprinkled with an assortment of nuts and seeds – raw almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, goji berries and, if I’m feeling particularly indulgent, some raw cacao nibs
- banana and egg pancakes with maple syrup (1 mashed banana + 2 whole eggs + 1 very non-stick pan)
- porridge made with water, a touch of cinnamon and sultanas with a mashed banana stirred into it
- two poached eggs and a slice of thick buttery toast made from home made bread (with plenty of sea salt and cracked black pepper!)
- smoothies – seasonal fruit, a spoonful of natural yogurt, soya or almond milk and perhaps a few nuts and seeds
- home made granola on natural yogurt (there’s a natural yogurt theme happening here, isn’t there! I do like my yogurt!)
Shop bought granola is expensive and it’s loaded with sugar. When you make your own you can control exactly what goes into it, tailoring it to your own preferences (ie: you’ll never find dried papaya in any of my granola recipes – blergh!). I did make this recipe a little more sweet than I normally would, just for a treat – but it still only comes in at approximately 147 calories and five grams of sugar per 30 gram serving (according to the My Fitness Pal recipe analyzer).
The secret to getting the granola to clump together is to blitz the main ingredients together (I used my high speed Froothie Optimum 9400 blender) and coat them in whisked egg white mixed with oil. While baking, the egg/oil mixture creates little crunchy golden nuggets of awesome – ideal served over some natural yogurt with fresh fruit, or, like I did this morning – a generous spoonful of home made rhubarb compote made with the last bit of rhubarb from the depths of my freezer.
What’s your favourite breakfast recipe? Are you a full English fry-up kind of person (there is a time and a place for these for sure!), or do you have something a little out of the ordinary to break your fast?
Let me know in the comments!
Coconut & Almond Granola Clusters with Blueberries
Ingredients
- 100 grams jumbo oats
- 50 grams flaked coconut
- 75 grams dark brown soft sugar
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 large egg white
- 100 grams dried blueberries
- 25 grams raw cacao nibs optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 150 C (140 C fan) and line a baking tray with paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Place the oats, coconut, almonds, brown sugar and salt into a high speed blender and blend for 10 seconds until the nuts are coarsely chopped and everything is combined.
- Whisk the egg white until it is light and foamy, and stir in the sunflower oil.
- Add the blended mixture to the whisked egg white/oil and stir throughly to combine.
- Spread the mixture out on a single layer on the baking tray and bake for 20 - 25 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes, until light golden.
- Leave to cool for 20 minutes on the tray before transferring to a bowl and tossing gently with the dried blueberries and raw cacao nibs.
- Store in an airtight container.
Click here to view the nutritional information for this recipe.
SOME OTHER GRANOLA RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Fruit & Nut Granola by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Pecan Maple Cinnamon Granola by Celery & Cupcakes
Cherry, Coconut & Almond Butter Granola by The Baking Queen
Walnut & Honey Granola by Casa Costello
Nutty Chocolate Granola by The Veg Space
Apple Granola by Recipes from a Pantry
Coconut Almond Quinoa Granola from Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen
Sour Cherry & Coconut Granola by Maison Cupcake
OTHER BREAKFAST IDEAS
Fruit Compote (great to top with home made granola!) by Fuss Free Flavours
Posh Brunch Egg on Toast by The Veg Space
Nutella IN Pancakes by Foodie Quine
Duck Egg Sandwich with Gruyere and Wilted Spinach by Supper in the Suburbs
LINKING UP WITH A FEW FOOD BLOGGING CHALLENGES
Recipe of the Week by A Mummy Too
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary uses the Froothie Optimum 9400 blender, and the Froothie Optimum 600 slow juicer in many of her recipes. These are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a blender or juicer through them we will earn a small commission. This is not a paid post and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
This post also contains an Amazon affiliate link, highlighted in orange, which means if you click through and make any purchase at all via Amazon we will get a small commission and you will be helping to support our family. In the interests of disclosure, the Amazon link is for a product I was sent to review some time ago from Oxo Good Grips and it truly is the best non-stick pan I have ever owned!
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Dr Martin Huang says
I love it. This is so good with yogurt or milk.
Adam Warren says
Some really great ideas here! I love adding a bit of variety to my breakfasts too, it used to be one cereal and milk, every single morning!
Kate | The Veg Space says
Ooh what a gorgeous granola Elizabeth! Love your list of breakfast ideas – I’ve got into a bit of a rut so need to stick your list on the fridge for some early morning inspiration! Thanks for linking to my Nutty Chocolate Granola!
Eb Gargano says
Loved reading your breakfast list…looks so yum! I wish I had time in the mornings to make those kind of things 🙁 I am a boxed cereal girl out of necessity these days…I have precious little time to make eat and wash up breakfast…even at the weekend, sadly. That said I love the idea of making my own granola, which could be done at a point in the day when I have more time, and then just eating granola with yogurt and fresh fruit, which would take no time in the morning. Love your granola recipe – but I don’t have a blender…do you reckon it would still work if I chopped everything up small and mixed it sogether by hand? Eb x
Eb Gargano recently posted…Soy, Chilli and Ginger Salmon
Helen at CAsa Costello says
Looks fantastic and so perfect for January breakfasts. I’m loving that my girls are coming out of the sugary boxed cereal phase, starting to appreciate good wholesome breakfasts instead. Thanks so much for featuring my granola too. x
Helen at CAsa Costello recently posted…Best Reads of 2015 & Reading Goals for 2016
Mimi says
I still liberally sprinkle my cornflakes with sugar… hah looks like I’ll be trying some of your clusters! X
Louise says
This looks so yummy! I’ve recently gone vegan and think I can easily make a vegan alternative for this, swapping the egg white for something else!
tracey bowden says
I am totally a cereal girl, I love granola but stopped eating due to the sugar and my small addiction to one I found with generous helpings of chocolate in! Yours looks so easy to make and delicious too thanks!
tracey bowden recently posted…My Kitchen Wishlist
Working mum Blog says
I have never tried to make granola myself before. It is not a recipe I have ever looked up before and one of the first things I wondered when I read this post was how the little granola bits stick together. I had no idea it was so easy! I will have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing
Working mum Blog recently posted…How to get involved in today’s superhero craze
Zoe L says
They look so tasty! I don’t really eat breakfast but this could just convert me!
Sarah Bailey says
This to me sounds like the perfect morning pick me up! I have to admit I adore Granola. x
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
I love good granola, but cereal is a relatively new thing for me as I thought I disliked it, but then realised that it was actually the cows milk part of cereal that I did not like. with coconut milk drink it is awesome!
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours recently posted…Review: GLORIOUS! Soups
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I am not a fan of boxed cereal much either preferring to make my own granola although I have never made clusters before.
Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! says
I love Jordans granola but I have been thinking about the sugar content and have swapped to weetabix with banana, so it would be a great idea for me to try making my own granola. Yours looks fab #recipeoftheweek
Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! recently posted…Chicken and Lemon Traybake
Life as Mum says
This looks so tasty. Something I will have to try. x
Life as Mum recently posted…My Saturday Snapshot / My Sunday Photo
StressedMum says
I am not a granola person I just dont like it, but my husband loves it and would love this so am going to have a go and making this for him, and turn me into a wonderful wife x
Rachel says
Oh my these look and sound just divine and you make them sound so easy to do and make x
Katie Bryson says
Love the egg white tip Elizabeth! I love making granola, but haven’t for ages! I love eggs for breakfast and pancakes are also a top weekend fave.
mellissa williams says
I really adore granola and this recipe looks delish! I may have to make it. Thank you so much, I have bookmarked this!
mellissa williams recently posted…What To Buy For Your First Baby – Prams And Cots
My Make Up Life says
It never occurred to me that you can make your own granola. Well-being trying this out. Saved for later 🙂
My Make Up Life recently posted…Bella Broomstick by Lou Kuenzler
Rachel In Real Life says
I haven’t had granola before. My breakfast consists of coffee and more coffee. Sometimes I have plain yoghurt and fruit or a smoothie. I might have to make some granola one day though for additional variation.
Heidi Roberts says
Anything with blueberries has to be heavenly!!
Monika @ MY FOOD AND HAPPINESS says
Oh this sounds like a super delicious breakfast! I love the combination of almonds and coconut 🙂
Monika @ MY FOOD AND HAPPINESS recently posted…Gluten-free vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna
Choclette says
Gosh this looks so good Elizabeth. I want to dive in and have a bowl of granola right now for supper, never mind breakfast. Intrigued by your use of egg white.
Choclette recently posted…Vegan Rice Bowl with Maple Tofu and Smoked Tomato Sauce
Emma White says
aw this looks amazing and I have to admit that I always miss breakfast but I have to say I would be rather tempted to try this
Ana De- Jesus says
I love granola it is delicious and so good for you too. I like mine with strawberries and bananas but blueberries are good too.
Ana De- Jesus recently posted…Friday’s Lookbook
Camilla says
Your Granola looks so delicious Elizabeth, I have never made any and really should take the plunge!
Cathy @ Planet Veggie says
I love granola but don’t eat it often enough because I’m not really one for eating when I first get up so I usually have a smoothie. Your granola looks fab though.
Cathy @ Planet Veggie recently posted…Vegan Tofush & Chips Recipe – Veganuary Day 8
Elizabeth says
I don’t normally eat when I first get up either. I start my day with coffee… then more coffee… then I work out… then I break my fast. 🙂
Elizabeth recently posted…Middle Eastern Spiced Roast Lamb with Freekeh and Baharat Spiked Yogurt
Hollie B says
looks so yummy! I’m more of a savoury person when it comes to breakfast but this does look good!
Elizabeth says
Savoury breakfasts totally rocks too. 🙂
Elizabeth recently posted…11 Ways to Sneak Extra Veg into Your Diet
Emma says
Oh wow, this looks delicious! Definitely has my stomach rumbling.
Elizabeth says
Aw thanks Emma 🙂 It is rather yummy!
Elizabeth recently posted…Quinoa Protein Energy Bars
Nadia's Healthy Kitchen says
I’m not a cereal kind of girl either, but more than anything its because they completely lack nutrition or anything good! The other breakfast options you listed above are all so much better, and they’re also easy and tastier! This granola looks delicious 😀 Never tried dried blueberries before, need to get hold of some so I can add them to my granola next time I make some 🙂
Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen recently posted…Best Healthy Places to Eat in Manchester
Elizabeth says
This is true – any goodness is artificially added. Dried blueberries are not always on my shopping list – I managed to pick up a packet on special offer recently as they were nearing their best before date.
Elizabeth recently posted…Raw Chocolate and Clementine Mini Cheesecakes