Maple Quinoa Granola

• old-fashioned oats↗2.333333 cup
• uncooked quinoa↗0.5 cup
• raw nuts (a mix of whole almonds and pecan halves is my favorite)1 cup
• unsweetened shredded coconut↗0.5 cup
• chia seeds↗0.25 cup
• ground cinnamon↗2 teaspoon
• kosher salt↗0.5 teaspoon
• pure maple syrup↗0.333333 cup
• melted coconut oil or canola oil3 tablespoon
• unsulphured molasses (not blackstrap)↗3 tablespoon
• pure vanilla extract↗2 teaspoon
• large egg white1
• mix-ins of choice: chocolate chips, dried fruit, chopped if larger than a nickel0.75 cup

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, stir together the oats, quinoa, nuts, coconut, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt with a rubber spatula until combined. Pour in the maple syrup, oil, molasses, and vanilla. Stir to coat, until the dry ingredients are evenly moistened.

3. 3

   In a small bowl, briskly whisk the egg white with a fork or small whisk until it is foamy. Add it to the granola mixture and stir, doing your best to evenly incorporate the egg white throughout.

4. 4

   Carefully pour the granola onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer, pressing it down with the back of the spatula. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the granola from the oven. With a large, flexible spatula, carefully flip large sections of the granola over, doing your best to keep them intact. With the back of the spatula, press the granola back into a single layer. Rotate the pan 180 degrees, return it to the oven, then bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, until the granola is golden brown, feels almost dry to the touch, and smells irresistible. It will continue to crisp as it cools.

5. 5

   Place the baking sheet on a cooling rack. Let the granola cool completely on the sheet (no cheating!), then carefully stir in the mix- ins, breaking up the granola as you do. Enjoy with milk, yogurt, overnight oats, over ice cream or frozen yogurt, or on its own by the handful.