Crunchy Matcha Granola using Quick Oats (Vegan)

💚Why you will love this recipe

• Super versatile and easily customizable - Don't have a particular ingredient on hand? Swap it out with whatever you have then! So long that the ratio of dry to wet ingredients stays the same, you can change up the ingredients freely.
• Easy and quick to make - This vegan matcha granola requires minimal prep work, and is ready in 40 minutes! Plus, this recipe only calls for 6 easily accessible ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
• A great quick breakfast or snack - Serve this quick oats granola like you would with cereal to make a hearty and satisfying breakfast! It is also easily portable too, so you can take it on-the-go with you as a healthy snack.
• Stores well and great for meal prep - It will keep up to a month in a sealed container, and even longer if stored in the fridge or freezer.

🍵What is matcha

Matcha is essentially finely grounded green tea leaves. Unlike drinking steeped teas, you are actually consuming whole tea leaves.

Matcha is an incredibly versatile ingredient that is great to have in your pantry. You can simply whisk it up with some hot water to make a quick beverage, but it also works great in baking as a natural flavoring and coloring agent. You can even add them to smoothies or oatmeal to flavor them up!

It can further be divided into 2 types - ceremonial grade and culinary grade. The former is higher quality and has a more vibrant color when compared to the latter, but they both will work well in this recipe.

Where to buy

Matcha can be found in most well-stocked groceries, usually in the tea and coffee aisle or international food aisle. You can also find them in specialty stores or your local health food stores.

They can also easily be purchased online, and I actually get my Aprika Life Culinary Grade Matcha Powder from Amazon.

🌾What you will need

📃Notes / substitutions

• Quick oats - You can use rolled oats on place, but you might need to bake it for longer as rolled oats are thicker and larger in size. Use certified gluten-free oats to make this recipe gluten-free.
• Pumpkin seeds - Can be substituted with sunflower seeds.
• Nut butter - I am using cashew butter here, as it is mild in flavor. But feel free to use other nut and seed butter like peanut butter, almond butter or tahini.
• Maple syrup - You can use agave syrup, or even honey if not vegan.

🔪How to make

Preheat oven to 150C / 300F.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together all dry ingredients including quick oats, coconut flakes, pumpkin seeds and matcha powder.

In another bowl, mix together cashew butter and maple syrup.

Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until everything is thoroughly incorporated.

Spread mixture evenly onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper or parchment paper. Gently press down mixture using the back of a spoon or spatula.

Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring halfway through. Granola is ready when it is nicely browned and appears to be dry. Let your matcha granola cool down before enjoying!

✔Helpful tips

• To encourage the formation of granola clusters, make sure to press mixture down using the back of a spoon or spatula before baking. Stir matcha granola gently and minimally so that they stay clumpy and chunky!
• Keep a close eye on your quick oats granola during the last few minutes of baking so that they don't overcooked and get burnt.
• Granola will continue to crisp up while it cools, so do not worry if it seems undercooked when you first pull it out of the oven! If you find that they are still chewy after cooling, you can put them back in the oven and bake for another 5-10 minutes.
• To keep vegan matcha granola fresh and crispy, store them in the fridge for freezer. You can easily store them for a good few months without worrying them from going stale.

🍫Variations and add-ins

• Not a fan of matcha? Omit and double the amount of vanilla extract. You will have a vanilla flavored one instead!
• For some chocolaty goodness, toss in some chocolate chips or cacao nibs after quick oats granola has fully cooled down.
• Add in a few tablespoons of flax or chia seeds to bump up the protein and nutrient profile of this matcha granola.
• Throw in a handful of your favorite dried fruit after baking to give your granola some extra sweetness and texture like raisins and dried blueberries.
• You can also add in a pinch of salt to further enhance the flavor of your quick oats granola.

🥛How to serve

Here are some of the many ways that you can serve up your vegan matcha granola -

• To serve it for breakfast, pair it with some chopped fruits and plant based milk of choice.
• Or, you can use quick oats granola to top oatmeal like this overnight oats or smoothie bowls.
• Make your own homemade trail mix by combining it with some roasted nuts and dried fruit.
• You can even use quick oats granola as a healthier topping or ice-creams and sundaes for an extra crunch factor.
• Lastly, simply have it on its own as a quick snack!