Go Back
Nutritious Butternut Squash Cinnamon Granola; May Simpkin Nutrition

Butternut Squash Cinnamon Granola

May Simpkin
This nutritious Butternut Squash Cinnamon Granola uses butternut squash to provide sweetness whilst boosting the nutrient content and can be used as a topping with yoghurt, but as it’s so delicious, do watch the portion sizes! Makes an ideal portable snack.
Course Breakfast, Snack

Ingredients
  

This Butternut Squash Cinnamon Granola is packed with….

  • 150 g ground almonds
  • 150 g flaked almonds
  • 100 g unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 150 g pumpkin seeds or mixed sunflower sesame & pumpkin
  • 2 tbsp flaxseed – ground
  • 50 g chia seeds
  • 200 g pecans chopped
  • 150 g oats
  • 125 g coconut oil melted
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 400 g butternut squash baked and then pureed or pumpkin (Alternative: use a tinned pumpkin)
  • 2 tbsp cinnamon
  • Pinch sea salt

[Using organic ingredients, where possible, will reduce the nasties and will enhance the taste of the granola]

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 180oC and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
    • In a large bowl, combine coconut flakes, almonds, pumpkin seeds and pecans, ground almonds, flaxseed, chia seeds, oats
    • In a blender, combine the pumpkin/butternut squash, coconut oil, maple syrup and cinnamon, vanilla extract
    • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until thoroughly coated.
      [ Thermomix Instructions: peel & chop butternut squash into cubes, put into TH bowl. Blend 5 secs, Speed 4.5. Scrape down the sides and Blend for 1 sec, Speed 5. Cook for 10mins | 100 degrees | Speed 1 and then blend for 20secs | speed 10 ]
    • Spread the granola in a thin layer on a baking sheet, using 2 if necessary.
    • Cook for 30-45 mins turning regularly to prevent burning. I tend to set a timer to check every 8-10mins to make sure the edges don’t overcook.

    Variation:

    • Replace some of the oats with quinoa, buckwheat, rice flakes. 
    • Add a spoonful of cocoa powder for a chocolate version  

    Notes

    If you prefer not to bake the pumpkin, you can puree it after cooking/steaming in a saucepan. Simply peel and chop it into cubes, blend it in a food processor to small pieces. Then transfer to a saucepan or steaming tray over a saucepan and cook for 20mins over a low heat to soften. When it is cooked, it can be blended to a smooth puree, either in a food processor or using a hand blender.
    Keyword Breakfast, Granola, Healthy Snack