One of my favorite things about traveling in California was all the inspo! Main culprit: Café Gratitude. One bite into their Acai Bowl and I KNEW I had to recreate it. Step 1: Perfect the granola topping. And yall I think Ive done it!
Its sweet, crunchy, citrusy, and yet bursting with a caramel flavor ( thank you maca powder.)
These clusters were made to be munched on.
And did I mention it is oil-free?
Ive been snacking on this stuff all week and I feel like I need to let yall know— hide it from your loved ones.
Enjoy!
I n g r e d i e n t s
½ cup uncooked white quinoa – toasted for 6-8 minutes over medium heat
½ cup raw sunflower seeds or pistachios
1 cup raw cashews
½ cup hemp seeds
3 tbsp coconut nectar (honey should work fine! Coconut nectar is a little thicker)
1 tsp orange zest (by zesting the skin of a fresh orange until fill 1 tsp)
1 tsp Maca powder
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp sea salt
D i r e c t i o n s
Preheat oven to 225F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Warm a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add your quinoa. “Toast” your quinoa for about 7-8 minutes in the sauce pan, stirring frequently. Turn off burner, move sauce pan off heat, and allow your quinoa to cool.
Add your sunflower seeds, cashews, and hemp seeds into a food processor and pulse a few times (about5-6 times) and pour into a mixing bowl. OR rough chop your cashews and sunflower seeds , add to a mixing bowl, and then add your hemp seeds.
Once your quinoa has cooled add it to the bowl with your nuts and seeds. Add in your orange zest, maca powder, vanilla , and sea salt. Mix well!
Add in your coconut nectar and begin by folding it into the mixture. Stir until the nut mix is coated thoroughly.
Now add your granola to the baking sheet. Flatten out and keep granola in tact like you would a brittle – this will help you get clusters!
After about 20 minutes of cooking, “flip” your granola like you would a pancake in large chunks (lightly stirring is fine too ) and then rotate your pan in the oven (to ensure even cooking)
Cook about 20-25 minutes more or until the granola is golden brown. ALLOW TO COOL COMPLETELY before eating! This will help ensure you get the clusters you are looking for!
