Gula Melaka Granola

I've tried many many many granola recipes, almost too many to count. Granola is the one thing that my parents don't mind me baking because its so versatile - it can be eaten as breakfast, for snacks, or as a light lunch or dinner with yogurt and fruit, and it is super good as a topping for ice cream/acai too! 

Some other successful recipes I've tried include chocolate granola and cheese granola but this particular granola has a crispness that stays for WEEKS and the flavour is just nice as a complement to other things! It's also super customizable! You'll never buy super expensive supermarket/artisanal granola ever again!

Ingredients: 

- 50g gula melaka 

- 50g water 

- 2 tbsp oil (coconut/flavourless oil)*

- 2 cups rolled oats

- mix-ins of your choice**

- 2 egg whites

- pinch of salt 

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 160 degrees celcius. 

Melt the gula melaka with the water in a saucepan until a syrup forms

2. Add the 2 tbsp of oil and stir well 

3. Add a pinch of salt 

4. Add the rolled oats and mix-ins. 

Add untoasted nuts now but if they are already toasted add after baking.

Dried fruits should also be added after baking.

5. Whisk the egg whites until foamy and add to the mixture, stirring everything super well to combine. 

6. Spread the mixture over a sheet tray lined with baking paper and bake at 160 degrees celcius for 30 minutes, or until your preferred level of crispness. 

I like my granola super crispy so I let it get more toasty than usual. 

7. Remove, and let cool completely before adding the remaining toasted nuts and dried fruit. Toss to combine well.

Stores well in an airtight container/ziploc bag for a few weeks.

*coconut oil has a coconut taste so if you don't like that use a flavourless neutral oil instead

**I love to use dried coconut strips, cashews, walnuts and dried pineapple. Some other good options (that are rather expensive though!) are dried blueberries, cherries, pecans and almonds. 

ENJOY!!