Vanilla chia granola is the perfect winter snack, ideal as a hearty breakfast option or a quick grab n’go snack, or as a healthy, crunchy topping for yogurt, ice cream, and more.

Granola is a constant in my pantry during the winter months, and for good reason – it’s healthy, easy to prepare, and everyone in the family loves it. I sprinkle it on the kid’s breakfast cereal, or prepare fun to eat parfaits for snacks. As for me, I usually just eat it by the spoonful however, I do often add it to breakfast cereals, combining it with fresh nuts, coconut flakes, and dried fruit for a quick morning or afternoon snack. Granola is delicious, but what makes this particular granola even more delicious is the vanilla. I heart vanilla. It’s one of my culinary love affairs. I’m talking pure vanilla bean, not the chemical-laden fake stuff. That just won’t do in this recipe – or any recipe in my opinion. Recently I discovered pure vanilla bean powder. Albeit it’s somewhat pricey, a little goes a long way, and the sweet, aromatic flavour is just heavenly. If you can’t find vanilla bean powder I suggest you bite the bullet and purchase vanilla bean, which has the same intense flavour. Both add an intense aromatic flavour to this granola, without making it too sweet or overpowering – which vanilla extract tends to do. Although there are very simple ingredients in this homemade granola recipe, they pack a powerful punch of flavour – not to mention a healthy dose of superfood chia seeds.

Let’s move on to granola. Some like it drier, some like it clumpier. It’s all about personal preference. Be mindful that different techniques and the variety of oats you use in the recipe are the two main factors in determining the overall texture of the oats. Quick oats tend to favour a looser and drier texture, while rolled oats clump together more easily. In this recipe I’ve combined quick and rolled oats, making this vanilla chia granola’s texture the perfect combination of crunchy and clustery. If you’re a true fan of granola my suggestion is to experiment with different oat combinations until you find the one that suits your personal preference.