Microwave Granola

Are you sick of microwave recipes from me yet? I hope not, cause here comes another one. Besides being more convenient and faster, microwave cooking instead of heating an entire oven has got to save on energy bills, right?


This granola is super yummy, takes less than 10 minutes to make (except for cooling time), and you want to know what else? People can't even tell that it was made in the microwave and not an oven. And they're also impressed when you tell them.


Here are recipes for two different kinds of microwave granola. Enjoy!

What you need
For basic granola
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I used almonds, but use whatever you like)

3 Tbsp. sunflower seeds

2 1/2 c. Whole Grain Oats

1/4 c. wheat germ

1/4 c. honey

1/3 c. packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. oil

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. chili powder

For coffee, coconut granola

1/2 c. chopped nuts

2 1/2 c. Whole Grain Oats

1/4 c. wheat germ

1/2 c. shredded coconut (I used sweetened coconut)

1/3 c. honey

1/3 c. packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp. oil

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. instant coffee powder

For salty peanut butter granola
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
3 c. whole grain oats
1/4 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. peanut butter
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. chili powder


*You can add any extras you want such as chocolate chips, raisins or other dried fruit to any of these granolas.*


What you do

Put nuts (and sunflower seeds for basic granola) in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt brown sugar, oil, honey (and peanut butter for peanut granola) together in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. 

Add spices (and coffee powder if you're making the coffee, coconut granola) to the sugar/honey/oil mixture. Add oats, wheat germ (and coconut for the coffee, coconut granola) to the microwave safe bowl with the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Drizzle the honey/sugar mixture over the oat/nut mixture and stir to combine. Microwave for 4 minutes, stirring (to distribute heat) then patting down tightly with the back of the spoon (to create clusters) after each minute.


When you're done with the four one minute microwave cycles, stir in any extras you want (*chocolate chips, raisins, dried fruit*) and spoon the still hot granola onto a greased piece of foil. Pat the granola down tightly onto the foil. I like to use my hands because it tends to stick if you use the back of the spoon. Let it sit until the granola is cooled and hardened. Break into desired-size granola clusters and store in an airtight container.

**Tip: Once granola is cooled, pull up on the long edges of your foil rectangle so that the granola rolls into the middle. Insert one end of your foil roll into a ziplock bag, raise the other end and shake the granola into the ziplock bag. Easy Peasy.

Microwave Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

Ever wanted to make brownies but with all the dinner you're cooking, there was just no room in the oven? Or maybe you don't even have an oven (like me). Or maybe waiting 5 minutes for them to cook instead of 25 is way more appealing. Either way, I give you microwave brownies. Fast, delicious, easy.

What you need

For the brownies

1/2 c. melted butter

2 eggs

1 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

3/4 c. flour

1/2 c. baking cocoa

1/2 c. choc chips

1/4 c. peppermint chips (these can be from whatever you want: bashed up candy canes, cut up York peppermint patties, or my personal favorite Andes mint baking chips)

For the frosting

2 ¼ c. powdered sugar

¾ tsp. peppermint extract

2 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. milk

Green food coloring

What you do

Beat butter, eggs and sugar together with an electric mixer until combined and fluffy. Beat in salt, vanilla, and peppermint until just combined. Ditch the beater and mix in flour and baking cocoa by hand. Fold in chips. Spread batter into a greased microwave-safe pan (I used an 8 inch round glass pan. Microwave on high 5 minutes. (If you know your microwave is more or less powerful than average you may want to let the brownies cook a minute less or more.) When a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean and brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan, the brownies are done.

While the brownies are cooling, combine 2 cups of the powdered sugar, peppermint extract, melted butter, and milk in a bowl for the frosting. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add more powdered sugar or milk as needed to get the right consistency. You want it to be thick but spreadable. Stir in green food coloring one drop at a time until you get a minty green color. Take it slow, I only needed one drop. And viola, deliciousnessssss.

See that big chunk missing on the left side? That's where I couldn't wait anymore before I tried some. Snacking while cooking is always acceptable. :-)