Vanilla + Almond Milk: Crumbly Vanilla Granola

I became a vegetarian this past April, after having given meat up for Lent. This was unintentional, as I loved meat to the extent that during the first weeks of Lent, the recurring thought in my mind was bacon. Forty meatless days were set to culminate with the meat fest to end all meat fests . I asked my mother to prepare lamb specifically, and it was the promise of this that kept me through Lent. Come Easter Sunday, my family sat around our bountifully adorned dining table. I heaped the roasted lamb onto my plate, and as I took my first bite, I felt a foreignness instead of the familiar savoriness usually accompanied with meat. Meat just wasn’t the same anymore.

After becoming vegetarian, I began exploring vegan baking with thoughts of my mother, who has a deathly allergy to dairy. Now I know what you’re thinking–vegan baking? Baking is not baking without milk and butter!–but I assure you the contrary is true. Baking without use of dairy or any other animal product can yield decadent, rich results.

Vanilla + Almond Milk is my exploration of these results.

This week, I want to begin with a recipe that I use weekly, because it’s that addicting: vanilla granola. You can cut it into bars, crumble into cereal, or add nuts and dried fruit for a trail mix. Versatile and delicious–see what I did there?

Here’s what you’ll need:

1/2 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 grapeseed oil (sunflower oil will work as well)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp sweetened almond milk (soy will work as well)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp agave nectar (if you’re not vegan, honey works as well)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2) Mix all of the ingredients in a medium/large bowl
3) Flour parchment paper and place on a cookie sheet
4) Evenly spread out the mixture on the parchment paper
5) Bake for 30-40 minutes

*If you’re making granola bars, perforate the bars immediately after taking the granola out of the oven, as it will harden as it cools.

*If you want crumbly granola, let it cool off the parchment paper as it will make your life incredibly easier (and you won’t be eating parchment paper).

Est voila! There you have it: delicious granola.

Now I know this isn’t a decadent, coma-inducing dessert, but we’ve got time for that. And I certainly have the appetite.

Happy eating.

–Maegan Cadet