Gluten-free granola is a sweet gift for allergy sufferers

Bethany Thayer
| Henry Ford Health

Homemade desserts can be a great Christmas gift, but for people trying to maintain their weight and eat healthy foods, these gifts may not be a blessing. Worse yet, if your delicious treats contain gluten, nuts or other allergens, they could be a curse. So what can a gift giver do? Adapt. We will help you.

For those with allergies on your gift list, consider using our gluten-free gingerbread granola recipe. It is made with traditional and festive spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger as well as vanilla and molasses. Your house will smell wonderfully holiday while the gingerbread granola bakes.

Oats can be a versatile base for many baked goods and contain many nutrients. This gluten-free cereal offers healthy proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to support good health and give you long-lasting energy. Additionally, oats contain a variety of essential minerals and B vitamins. Additionally, certain antioxidants called polyphenols may help lower blood pressure and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Beta-glucans are the soluble fiber found in oats that help improve blood sugar, keep you full, and boost the good bacteria in your gut. They may also reduce the risk of heart disease.

Oats are gluten-free but are often processed with other gluten-containing grains. So be sure to look for gluten-free oatmeal if you’re making it for someone who can’t consume gluten.

For a protein-rich breakfast, our gingerbread granola is perfect when you put it on top of Greek yogurt. Use this delicious granola on a baked fruit dish garnished with crumbs or as a finishing touch on a baked apple.

To prepare the gift giving, pour the cooked and cooled granola into 1-cup mason jars and tie a festive ribbon around the top. In the spirit of holiday kindness, include a small card listing the ingredients so the recipient or others can be aware of any potential allergens. People will appreciate your thoughtfulness and your holiday food gifts.

Bethany Thayer is a registered dietitian nutritionist at Henry Ford Health. For more recipes and health information, visit henryford.com/blog. For questions about today’s recipe, email [email protected].

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Granola

Given : 10 servings (½ cup each) / Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total duration: 30 minutes3 ¼ cups gluten-free oatmeal

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

⅛ teaspoon allspice

⅛ teaspoon nutmeg

⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ cup dark brown sugar, packed

¼ cup canola oil

2 tablespoons of molasses

½ tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves.

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In a microwave-safe bowl, combine brown sugar, canola oil and molasses. Microwave brown sugar, canola oil, and molasses on high until bubbling, about 45 seconds.

Add the vanilla to the liquid mixture and stir. Pour the liquid over the oat mixture and mix. Spread the oatmeal in a thin layer on one or more baking sheets.

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir, spread again in a thin layer and cook for another 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before transferring to an airtight storage container.

By Henry Ford LiveWell.

178 calories (38% of fat), 8 grams fat (1 gram sat. fat), 26 grams carbohydrates3 grams protein4 mg sodium0mg cholesterol37 mg calcium2.5 grams fiber. Food exchanges: 2 starchy foods, 2 fats.