Trifecta. Isn't that a fantastic word?! I'm not enirely sure it is an appropriate term for what I am describing, but as I've said before, I love words. This one gets stuck in my head more than any other word I can think of right now (Weird Fact: It is usually James Franco's voice saying it in the same manner he did in the film "Pineapple Express"), and I hardly ever get a chance to use it. Until now.
There are three super-powered seeds in this granola: Hemp, Flax, and Chia. They are all considered super foods because of their amazing health benefits. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of very easily digestible protein, and they are full of omegas and crucial amino acids that most vegetable proteins lack. Flax seeds are very rich in lignans and omega-3 fatty acids. They have been proven to control cholesterol, regulate bowel movements, and prevent cancer and heart disease. Chia seeds, on top of being chock-full of soluble fibers, omegas, and proteins, they are full of cleansing and hydrating properties. Aztec warriors would cross the dessert for days at a time, keeping chia seeds under their tongues to prevent dehydration. I'm not an Aztec warrior, but I am totally on board with all of these health benefits!
This granola unites all three seeds creating a trifecta (Yay!) of wondrous health benefits. With gluten-free oats and crisp rice cereal, as the base, andusing brown rice syrup as the base, this granola is light and not overly sweet. It is gluten-free, sugar-free, and very low in oil. It is, by far, my favorite granola to date. Usually it is just Chris who eats the granola for breakfast, but I have quit my oatmeal (for now) and have been enjoying this trifecta (Yay!) of goodness every morning.
Ingredients
- 3 cups crisp brown rice cereal (gluten-free)
- 3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
- ½ cup hemp hearts (shelled hemp seeds)
- ½ cup brown flax seeds
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ½ cup brown rice syrup
- 2 tablespoons flax oil (or other oil)
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients.
- Heat the wet ingredients in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes. Alternatively, you can heat the wet ingredients in a saucepan, until it just begins to bubble around the edges.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and thoroughly combine. Divide the mixture between the two baking sheets and spread out evenly.
- Bake the granola for 45 minutes, switching shelves for each sheet (i.e. placing the sheet from the top shelf on the lower shelf and vice versa). Once done, let cool completely before transferring to an air-tight container. Enjoy!
As if this Super Seed Trifecta (I had to say it one last time!) wasn't great enough by itself, I've been using it as an ingredient in another super-powered recipe! Stay tuned for more super goodness!
Photography by Chris Miller
Caitlin
what a beautiful trifecta of seeds in this granola! it's the perfect snack for a hungry, seed-loving vegan..and even better, you can share it with bird friends on a park bench! (but if you're like me, you don't do sharing..)
keepinitkind
Caitlin, this granola wouldn't even make it to the park. I would be shoving fistfuls in my mouth on the way over, so by the time I got there, there would be none for birds. I guess I'm not a good sharer either. But who needs sharing when it comes to this seedy granola- Keep it all for yourself, I say! 🙂
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy
Wow Kristy, that really is a trifecta of amazingness! It sounds so delicious! I love granola, but it is so hard to find prepackaged ones that are wholesome and GF! this looks divine! thanks for sharing! have a great day!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Caralyn! That is the whole reason I started making my own granola- I don't care for the idea of spending a fortune on an over processed product. I can't get enough of this granola, though! It's my new fave! I hope you're having an awesome day too!
Heather
Mmmm this super granola is calling out to be in a breakfast parfait!
keepinitkind
Definitely! Especially one of your parfaits!
Annie
As soon as I saw the word TRIFECTA I had to come right over. I mean, that is serious talk! I'm SO into the hemp seeds and chias right now - I'm kinda goofy about it. Yummy granola!
keepinitkind
Goofy would be the perfect word to describe how I am about hemp seeds right now- and you're the one who convinced me to try them. Totally goofy! Thank you, Annie!
Cadry
I can just imagine you in your kitchen making this and singing, "Ch-ch-ch-chia!" And then with your best James Franco impersonation, "Trifecta." This looks substantive and so healthy!
keepinitkind
Have you been watching me? Did you see my practicing my James Franco in front of the mirror? You know me oh so well. 😉
Natalie
I have a jar of chia-hemp-coconut shreds and a jar of flax-wheat germ, to sprinkle over breakfast, smoothies, and dessert!
keepinitkind
A girl after my own heart! I have been a hemp-sprinklin' machine lately! 🙂
Michelle
So I made this last night... who knew making granola would be so easy... ok so I had puffed brown rice cereal but who cares.... My hubby loved it..
My teen says mom you know how to follow recipes so its not like your a chef..lol being Vegan only 18 months I had to now follow recipes and change everything so its a work in process, hence the finding new blogs with great recipes to try.... hmmm maybe I should start a blog about that... instead of finding vegan... it could be trying vegan.. (recipes that is) HAHA
thanks again...
keepinitkind
That's exactly what I said the first time I made granola- Who knew it could be so easy? And so much healthier and cheaper...
It's amazing how changing one's eating habits can be so inspiring in the kitchen. I've always liked cooking, but it wasn't until I started preparing vegan food that I really fell in love with it. I think your blog idea is so great- I think the more that's out there that shows the world how easy and fun and tasty it can be to make vegan food, the better. Go for it! 🙂
Michelle
I ran out of brown rice syrup, think it'd work with agave or molasses?
keepinitkind
I would do a combination of both. Some PB might be a nice twist too. 🙂
Somer
Dude, you even have the perfect trifecta bowl! How cute is that!?! I love a supercharged breakfast!!!
keepinitkind
Thanks! It's actually a dip trio bowl, but shhhh! Don't tell anyone! 🙂
Kat
My batch is in the oven right now and it smells heavenly. I used raw coconut oil instead of flax oil and it is so fragrant. I'm excited to try it, it is much more healthful than other granolas, aside from all the super powers from the seeds, for 1/4c this is only 92 calories (compared to 120-200 in other kinds)!
keepinitkind
I'm so glad that you like it! Good to know the calorie count- I had no idea it was so low! 🙂
seth k
Hi, I made it last night and love that it is super healthy, cheap, and taste great! I also crunched some numbers for anyone who is wondering the nutritional facts per serving of this granola. I used a 15x10 cookie sheet instead of 2 seperate sheets to add some thichness to each piece. I also cut the pieces into 2"x3" sqaures to portion properly. I ended up with 25 pieces per pan. Through crunching some numbers this is what I discovered, it cost me roughly 45 cents per piece compared to your usual $1.79 or more packages granola bar. great savings there! and the nutritional facts per bar are: calories-136, fat-5.5g, sodium-21mg, potasium-108mg, calcium-9mg, carbs-18.6g, fiber-3.5g, sugar-5g, and protien-4g. making this a perfect cheap little snack during the day or before a run. One thing I would like to figure out is how to make the granola stick together better kinda like a solid bar. I found that it definetly crumbles easily. I was thinking of adding a layer of dark chocolate underneath and letting it harden up in the fridge instead of baking to help it stick together better. Any recomendations?
keepinitkind
I am so happy that you like the recipe. It is, however, a granola recipe and not a granola bar recipe so that is why it didn't hold together. I would consider using peanut butter to make the mixture thicker and spread it out in a smaller pan (maybe a 9x13 casserole dish). I've never tested this, but it may be worth trying. Thank you for sharing the calorie count- I'm sure it will be very helpful. 🙂
Julie Sediq
Just realized I have ground flaxseed meal. Will this work too? Suggestions? I plan to sub honey for the rice syrup & a little maple syrup for the molasses, unless you think that will mess up the recipe.
keepinitkind
I think all of that would be fine. Good luck!
EmmaLou
dumb question - what is brown rice cereal? Is is Rice Chex (GF)? I just had some hemp seed granola at a spa and I added hemp seeds, chia seeds, and flax seeds to it. Also had raspberries and blueberries on it. Now that I'm home, I want to make some of the granola myself.
Also brown rice syrup? Don't know what that is.
THANKS.
keepinitkind
Brown rice cereal is basically a cereal similar to Rice Krispies. Brown rice syrup is a liquid sweetener, similar to maple or agave syrup.
Amy
Is it 45 min total baking time or do you switch them and do another 45 min? Thanks.
keepinitkind
Total baking time. 🙂
Angie
How long would this keep in air tight container?
keepinitkind
3-4 weeks.