This low sugar apple granola was inspired by my mother in law who asked me to create a yummy granola with less sugar. I wanted to make her a tasty granola but cut down on the sugar so she can enjoy it for breakfast. I substituted my usual maple syrup with maple agave syrup. I also substituted my usual applesauce with natural applesauce and added an apple for some extra apple flavor.Instead of apple cider, I used reduced sugar apple juice. It was crunchy, sweet and yummy. I added in all natural dried apple rings and raisins for my mix in’s but feel free to add any other mix ins you would like. The granola is great for kids too! If you don’t want to use agave, substitute maple syrup. Each oven will vary on baking time so check every 10-15 minutes to turn the granola and check for doneness. The key to the granola is getting that nice crunchy taste without overbaking it.
Carryover Picture Books: Apples For Everyone, Apple Pie Tree, Annie The Apple Pie Fairy, Apples Apples Apples, Granola Farm
Language Tips: Focus on new vocabulary and actions (pulse, mix, bake, etc). When making the granola ask your child to help you recall the steps which facilitates recalling information and sequencing. Ask your child to describe the taste to you. Sweet? Crunchy? Let your child put their own spin on the granola by adding their own spices. Eat the granola with yogurt, oatmeal or with milk and fruit.
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3/4 cup natural applesauce
1 apple peeled, cut and pulsed in the food processor
1/3 cup low sugar apple juice (such as Mott’s for Tot’s)
1/4 canola oil or coconut oil
1/4 cup maple agave syrup or regular agave syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or apple pie blend
1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of maple extract
3-3.5 cups of old fashioned oats
Mix-ins:
1/2 cup of dried apples
1/2 cup of yogurt raisins
Add your own!
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1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a food processor pulse apple through maple extract.
2. In a bowl, combine liquid mixture with oats. Mixture should be moist (like cookie dough)
3. Spread granola with a spatula onto a greased cookie sheet or stoneware (i love using stoneware for granola!). You don’t want to crowd the pan so you may need two pans. Bake at 300 degrees for about 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown. Throughout the baking process, use a spatula to break the pieces down and turn the granola over so it’s nice and toasty on each side.
4. Lower the temperature till 200 degrees and let bake until crunchy.
5. Take out of oven and cool.
6. Add mix-in’s.
8. Store in airtight container. Keeps for a good 5 days or so. It will keep longer if you store it in the fridge.
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