Maple Pecan Granola ... It's so tasty you won't even know it's healthy

Granola is the perfect addition to a healthy snack... It's great for adding crunch factor on a bowl of yogurt, some oats, or a colourful smoothie bowl. Honestly, most of the time I end up just eating it straight out of the jar!

Although granola can be part of a healthy and balanced meal, most store-bought "healthy" granolas usually contain about 4 different types of sugar and other additives like tocopherols to maintain freshness. If you're reading the label on your favourite granola right now, here are 61 Names for Sugar, and some other fun facts about the sweet stuff we all love and hate.

So in an effort to make my favourite snack a little healthier, I've been playing around with making my own granola at home. After multiple rounds of trial and error and choking down everything from soggy to just straight up burnt granola (and pretending to be proud of it), I think I've cracked the code for the perfect granola. It's super simple takes only about 5 minutes to put together and 60 minutes in the oven. It's sweetened only with maple syrup, and it's made with coconut oil, nut butter and collagen peptides for a nutritious and satisfying snack full of healthy fats and protein. It keeps fresh for about two weeks, so get on it, and get snacking!

Here's What You'll Need:

• 1 cup of rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons of almond butter
• 1 tablespoons of coconut oil (solid)
• 2-4 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 2 scoops of collagen peptides (extra protein boost) or 2 scoops of your favourite vanilla protein
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional, but highly recommended)

How to do it:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees (Fahrenheit).
2. In a mixing bowl, add the rolled oats, almond butter, coconut oil (solid), maple syrup, protein, cinnamon, and salt. Mix together using your hands until the mixture comes together in clumps.
3. On a parchment paper lined baking sheet, spread the granola evenly. If you prefer chunkier pieces, be sure to press some pieces together to form clumps.
4. Bake for 20 minutes at 250, flipping and adjusting the granola half way through. To adjust the granola, use a flipper to move the pieces around. Repeat this step after another 20 minutes. At this point, I like to add a little extra maple syrup to coat the outside to add an extra crispy sweetness.
5. After an additional 20 minutes, set the oven to broil, and brown the granola for 3-5 minutes more.
6. Let cool, and add the pecans and chocolate chips. Store in an airtight container and enjoy for up to 2 weeks.