This Salted Caramel Almond Granola makes the perfect breakfast, snack, or sprinkled-on-yogurt treat! Toasted oats, flax seeds and almonds tossed in homemade caramel and sprinkled with sea salt.
Salted Caramel Almond Granola
Today starts the first day of a week of guest posts here at Joyful Healthy Eats. I will be in sunny Miami starting tomorrow for the BlogHer Food conference. I seriously can’t wait. It is the first real conference that I have been to since starting this blog last year and am excited, scared, freaking out, and clueless of what to expect all at the same time.
On the other hand I can’t wait for you to meet a couple of my blogging buddies and see some of their tasty treats over the next couple of days. Today we are starting out with Heather over at Sugar Dish Me. Heather is absolutely hilarious. I have only known her for a short time but she is seriously the sweetest {no pun intended} person you will ever meet. She is always willing to help out when I have a question and is so encouraging! So without further adieu here is Heather!
Today I’m going to share with you my love love love for real food.
I’m guessing that probably you dig healthy fare that fits into your life easily, because you are HERE reading Krista’s beautiful blog, Joyful Healthy Eats.
But let’s back up for a second– before you think that Krista got all weird and started referring to herself in the third person.
I’m Heather and I write over at Sugar Dish Me! My blog is full of recipes that are easy to weave into life daily. I love sweets, breakfast, and sandwiches, and I really really believe that if you can read, you can cook. And sprinkles belong on pretty much everything.
Disclaimer — I am in a mostly delirious state while writing this post for my pal Krista because we have been moving for the last two days and I am running on an itsy bitsy amount of sleep.
For once, Procrastinator-Me nailed down a schedule and was way ahead on everything (I normally fly by the seat of my pants and avoid planning, contrary to most of my peers), until Murphy’s Law went into full effect and I’m pretty sure the powers that be were laughing at me. ‘Best Laid Plans’ and all of that.
This granola basically saved me.
I definitely survived on granola, fruit, and yogurt for at least 2 days. Bonus points that this one here is a little salty and a little sweet.
Do you ever buy Kind bars? I love those things. They have one – a Salted Caramel Almond Bar – and ohhhhh man is it good. It served as my inspiration here, a flavor combination that is simple and happy. I made an easy homemade caramel, tossed it with toasted oats, flax seeds, and almonds, some honey, a dab of oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt. THEN I put it on everything.
I really cannot tell you enough delicious things about how this turned out. It’s my new favorite treat!!!
Homemade caramel is simple and amazing. And once you know how to do it, you can put it to good use on so many things!
Thanks a million for bearing with my rambles today. It’s great to visit and I’d love to hear from you! (I promise by then I will have had sleep. And coffee.)
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Salted Caramel Almond Granola
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Salted Caramel Almond Granola makes the perfect breakfast, snack, or sprinkled-on-yogurt treat! Toasted oats, flax seeds and almonds tossed in homemade caramel and sprinkled with sea salt.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned oats, toasted **see note**
- 1/2 cup flax seeds
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk or cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil (or vegetable oil. olive oil, or melted coconut oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- In a large bowl, toss together the toasted oats, flax seeds, and almonds. Set aside.
- Add the water to a small saucepan. Pour the sugar into the center of the pan (in a pile so it doesn’t touch the sides). Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat just a little to medium high. Let the mixture cook. It will need to simmer for about 10 minutes until it turns a pretty amber caramel color. WATCH IT CLOSELY!!! It goes from perfect to burn pretty quickly.
- When the color looks right, place the pan in the sink. Add the milk or cream. The mixture will sizzle and bubble up. Stir quickly until it’s smooth, then stir in the vanilla. Pour the caramel over the oats and almonds and toss to coat.
- Add the honey and oil to the same saucepan. Heat over medium until they blend. Scrape into the bowl.
- Use a spatula to turn the mixture over a few times. Scrape onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Sprinkle with the sea salt
- Bake for about 30 minutes. Let it cool completely. The granola will scrape off the parchment in oat clusters.
Notes
To toast the oats, preheat the oven to 350°F. Scatter the oats evenly across the bottom of a 9 X 13 pan, and let them toast in the oven, stirring at least once, for about 15 minutes.
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Heather @ Sugar Dish Me
25 comments on “Salted Caramel Almond Granola”
I can’t figure out why my water and sugar never turns golden amber? then When I think it is close, and I go to put the milk in, it never sizzles. Can u Please help?
I had the same problem! Any tips?
Hey Emily!! Feel free to email me with any other questions (sugardishme@gmail.com) but I’ll try to answer this here so others can reference. It sounds like the water isn’t hot enough. It should bubble and simmer to cook the sugar, but it shouldn’t get too hot or it will burn. Every stove is different so I like to start at medium to simmer and then adjust the temperature up or down from there. Watch the color closely – it will be slightly yellow and then that will deepren to amber. Just before its the color you think caramel should be, take it off the stove. With the previous readers question, if things didn’t sizzle and pop when cold milk or cream was added to hot water or sugar then it definitely wasn’t hot enough.
I hope this helps!!! Let me know how it works for you 🙂
Heather, this is so delicious looking … and so pretty! Try to get some snoozes in between the big move, my friend! And Krista, have so much fun in sunny Miami! Pinning this caramely recipe. 🙂
Loved this recipe too Gloria, thanks so much for stopping in and showing Heather some love on this amazing granola! 🙂
I think I need to make this for breakfast tomorrow Heather!! So, so yummy!! My whole family would enjoy it!
haha.. I know! Me too Diane!
Oh wow, that looks amazing Heather!! Ever since Kashi ruined their granola bars (bought out by corporate giant) I have been looking for something new for breakfast. I think I just found it!!
Have fun at the conference Krista. 🙂
What! I didn’t know that about Kashi, thats stinks!
I’m with ya, can’t wait to try this recipe by Heather! 🙂 I had a blast at the conference and so grateful to Heather for helping out with guest posting!
That sounds so good! Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Jaren, I give Heather all the credit!
I love the idea of adding salted caramel to granola! Still healthy while maintaining the old sweet tooth. 🙂 Have a wonderful time in Miami, Krista! I couldn’t make it this year, but I hope to next time.
Yup, heather is basically a culinary genius! Loved this recipe too! 🙂
I just got back from Miami Marcie and had a blast. 🙂
Oh my lawd!!! This is amazing. Salty and sweet? Genius!!
Very genius right? Go Heather!
Nice to see you over here Heather – thanks for having her Krista… Love this recipe and can see what it is your new favorite treat!! Pinning! Have fun at the conference Krista!
Thanks for the pin Deb and the sweet comments! I had a blast at the conference, it was so nice to finally meet some of the people I have been following for a while. 🙂
I LOVE sweet and salty combinations, especially salted caramel. Thanks so much for sharing over here at Krista’s place, Heather. Pinned!
I know right! Just awesomeness right there… could totally eat that with some yogurt right now!
Heather I am a total granola addict, I think I will be making this for my weekly batch, great post! Have fun this weekend Krista 🙂
I am too Emily, and seriously can’t wait to try this one. Especially with a little yogurt… mmmmm!
This looks amazing, Heather & Krista! I adore making my own homemade granola, so this is on my must make list next. 🙂
Have fun at Blogher Food, Krista!
Pinned & shared.
Homemade granola is the best isn’t it? Love it, and can’t wait to try this version!
Had a blast at blogher, can’t wait till the next conference. 🙂
Aw Krista! You are so sweet. Thanks so much for the awesome introduction, sugary pun, and for letting me share with your readers today! Hope you are having the best time ever in Miami. Say hello to everyone for me!
ABSOLUTELY…. soooo grateful for you helping me out and posting while I was gone. Plus with such an awesome recipe. You rock!