February is American Heart Month and it’s such a great time to think about making healthier choices to support your heart. And because I <3 you, I made you this gogi berry and peanut granola.
Oats are a great choices for heart health, because they’re high in the type of fiber that helps lower cholesterol levels. Peanuts have heart healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and add protein and fiber too. Gogi berries are an exotic ingredient and a little pricey, but you only need a small amount for this granola. You can replace them with other dried fruit if you prefer. Gogi berries too are high in fiber and also provide a 50% of your vitamin A needs for the day in just one little ounce. I also added flax seeds to provide alpha-linoleic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, and even more fiber. All together, these ingredients make this granola a tasty way to eat a high fiber breakfast over plain Greek yogurt, a handful as a snack or as a dessert.
Gogi Berry and Peanut Granola
High fiber and nutrient rich ingredients make this granola.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole rolled oats
- 1 Tbs flax seeds
- 1 Tbs coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- dash each cardamom and cinnamon
- 1/2 cup lightly salted peanuts
- 1/4 cup dried gogi berries
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat. Mix together oats and flax seeds in a large bowl. Warm coconut oil and honey in the microwave until pourable and add to the oat mixture. Add vanilla and spices and mix well. Spread the mixture on the baking sheet and bake 10 minutes, toss in peanuts and bake another 5-10 minutes. While it’s still hot, toss in the gogi berries. Allow to cool completely, then store in an airtight container.
