Recently, Lisa from Vegan Culinary Crusade and Nicole from A Dash of Compassion launched Tiny Treats – an e-cookbook devoted to 25 recipes free of wheat, soy, eggs, dairy, and refined flour/sugar. Needless to say, I was excited to check it out when Lisa offered to send me a copy. The recipes are unique, healthy, and elegant all at the same time, not to mention the photography and page layouts could be straight out of a food magazine. You can really tell how much time and love went into creating this book!
The best part, aside from the wholesome desserts, is that Lisa and Nicole are donating a third of all ebook proceeds to the Elephant Nature Park in Northern Thailand. If you wish, help support their mission by purchasing an ebook here.
Lisa and Nicole generously allowed me to share a teaser recipe from the ebook today – Cinnamon Bun Granola!
I have one word to describe this granola:
CINNABON.
You know, the smell that has tortured people in shopping malls everywhere for years? I sure do. Well, now that smell can be found in your own house! A big, gooey cinnamon bun….in granola form.
Cinnamon Bun Granola from Tiny Treats Ebook
Shared with permission by Lisa Pitman and Nicole Axworthy. Tiny Treats Ebook. Copyright 2012.
From Lisa and Nicole: If we ever open a vegan B&B, this will be on each breakfast-in-bed tray. We would keep the guestrooms full by serving it up differently each day–in a layered parfait glass with sliced apples and almond yogurt, or on top of our favourite banana soft serve, or in special tea cup with a substantial splash of coconut milk. The options are endless.
GRANOLA
2 cups (215g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (95g) raw buckwheat groats
1/2 cup (65g) raw walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup (50g) unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup (40g) raisins
1 tbsp (15mL) ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp (2.5mL) sea salt
1/4 tsp (1.25mL) fresh ground nutmeg
1/2 cup (120mL) pure maple syrup
1/4 cup (50g) Medjool dates, pitted
2 tbsp (30mL) melted coconut oil
2 tbsp (30mL) water
2 tsp (10mL) pure vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, buckwheat, walnuts, shredded coconut, raisins, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
2. Using a blender, blend the maple syrup, dates, coconut oil, water and vanilla extract into a smooth, thick sauce.
3. Pour the sauce into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until all the dry ingredients are well coated.
DEHYDRATOR METHOD
4. Transfer the granola to a Teflex-lined dehydrator tray and spread into a thin (about 1/2 inch thick), even layer. Dehydrate for 8 to 10 hours at 115F.
OVEN METHOD
4. Preheat the oven to 300F. Transfer the mixture to a baking tray lined with parchment paper and spread into a thin, even layer. Bake for 25 minutes, gently stirring every 10 minutes to ensure even browning. Allow to cool completely before gently breaking into clusters. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge or at room temperature.
Makes about 6 cups of granola.
I made this granola in the oven and it turned out lovely. Next time, I will have to try it in my dehydrator…if I can wait that long!
If you’d like to purchase your own copy of Tiny Treats, you can do so here for $9.99. Big thanks to Lisa and Nicole for allowing me to share this amazing recipe with you all today!
I’ve been working on a bunch of treats to share with you this month, so stay tuned for some delicious, spooky fun! If you have a Halloween treat you’d like healthy-ween-ized (just go with it), let me know in the comments below. I’ll try to pick a couple to add to my list.
Just please don’t ask me to make a cat litter cake (Sketchie doesn’t want one either).
This looks so wonderful! I might have to make a trip to the market in the morning so I can make it! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Angela,
I´m from Germany and I love your blog. Been following for a while now. Ther was always something about making granola that intimidate me but made this one today and i must say yummy, yummy, yummy!! And so easy!! And after a 2h walk the flat has still the warm smell of cinabons :-)!!
Can´t wait for your halloween treats!!
Im so happy to hear that! :) Enjoy
Making this now added cashew butter!
What a great cause to donate to. Cookbook looks interesting, yummy.
Home made granola has been on my ‘to make’ list far too long… the shame.
Question about raw buckwheat groats (I’m not familiar) As most grains, seeds and nuts should be soaked or cooked to remove phytates as they act as a barrier preventing absorption of the nutrition in the seed. (In particular, they bind to calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc in the intestinal tract, and block their absorption.)
I’d like to know about orange frosting! What would you color it with? I’m thinking of cupcakes perhaps…
Pumpkin, anything Pumpkin!! Specifically pumpkin whoopie pies…
What about a pumpkin version of the cookie dough blizzard? Maybe the cookie dough could be a pumpkin cookie variety? Or possibly the banana soft-serve could be the pumpkin/spice portion? A good pumpkin cookie is always my favorite treat this time of year! Thanks for the granola recipe, looks amazing!
Just made this today…served with diced pears slightly warmed and a splash of coconut milk… by far the yummiest feel good comfort food!!!!
Please tell me that the Zephyr monster cookies are going to be included in the treat-a-thon… I love the cookies and have been anxiously awaiting their arrival as a recipe!
I am obsessed with Cinnabon!!! We don’t get it here so I have to have it when I go to the US. This will be amazingg to make in my own kitchen! :)
This looks delish!! Can’t wait to try it out. For Hallowe’en treats I would love to find a healthier vegan version of hallowe’en kisses. Do you remember those?? You had to eat them the same night or else they’d be rock hard by the time you got around to them…or so I would tell myself!
MY granola turned out awesome :-) i made the pumpkin chia pudding and today in our lunches we had layered parfaits with it and the granola. yummmmmy :0)
Love all the vegan treats! Always trying to prove to my family it’s possible to still make the favorites! :)
Thank you!
Oh I bought this e-book a few weeks ago and for some reason have only had time to make one recipe out of it (that and I’m trying to go a little easy on the treats right now) and would you believe it’s this recipe? The only problem I had was keeping it around for more than a few days ;p
I make these cookies (see address below) every year for Halloween but I’m hoping to make them a bit healthier this year now that I only make vegan baked goods. You’re experience would be greatly appreciated in making these fearsome treats a little bit more wholesome.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Black-Cat-Cookies
just made this on a rainy saturday AM in Toronto – my apartment smells heavenly, my boyfriend is smitten, and my belly is full :)
Yum yum!
So glad you enjoyed it – happy weekend!
Is there an oil-free recipe?
…Also, what else is in the bowl with that yummy granola? Chia pudding? What’s the sauce on top?
I think I served it with my vegan overnight oats. :)
I dont know if oil-free would work or not.
This granola is amazing!!!! Only question, mine didn’t clump up at all! You say at the end to break it apart into cluster, but for me, there was nothing to break apart. Any words of wisdom?? Thank you!
Hey Melissa, Mine didn’t clump either when baked in the oven. My guess is that Lisa’s did more so in the dehydrator? Either way, enjoy!
Oh my SWEET goodness!!!! I am making this as I type and my apartment smells amazing!!!! So much for candles! Once the smells disappears I will start another batch! haha I didn’t have any buckwheat groats on hand, so I just added more oats and some raw pumpkin seeds as well!
This granola is SO DELICIOUS. I have made it several times already. I love it! The buckwheat in it adds such a great flavor too! love love love this granola.