homemade

Air fryer chocolate high protein granola recipe

February 14, 2021 1 Comment

This homemade air fryer chocolate granola recipe is so easy to make in just 15 minutes! Its the perfect wholesome breakfast or snack, as the granola is made with chocolate protein powder and delicious pieces of hazelnut, dried coconut, rolled oats and much more!

What is granola

Is oatmeal and granola the same thing? no not necessarily however the main ingredient is same, rolled oats. Granola is a breakfast cereal similar to muesli. Oats paired with a range of other ingredients, are toasted in an oven or air fryer until crispy and slightly golden in colour.

What ingredients are in air fryer granola

Granola recipes vary massively as a range of ingredients work quite well with this breakfast cereal option. Here are some the most common ingredients in granola;

Oats – I like to use organic jumbo rolled oats
Steel cut oats – sometimes used for granola
Sweetener/Sugar – Honey, syrup, brown sugar
Extra Flavourings – Vanilla extract, chocolate chips
Nuts – Pistachios, Hazelnuts, Cashews, Walnuts, Almonds, Macadamia, & peanuts.
Nut butters – peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter
Dried fruit – dried coconut, dried peaches, raisins, sultanas, dried bananas
Seeds – Sunflower Seeds, Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Hemp Seeds.
Oils – coconut oil, vegetable oil, canola, grapeseed

Can you make homemade granola in the air fryer

Yes you sure can make granola in the air fryer! Air frying homemade granola is a great quick way to make granola without using an oven.

How to make air fryer chocolate hazelnut protein granola

Chocolate granola is so delicious! Pairing the granola with chocolate protein powder takes the flavour to another level whist also being a high source of protein. Here’s how you make it! (scroll to the bottom of this blog post for the full recipe including measurements and cook times via the recipe card)

Add oats, hazelnuts & chocolate protein powder to a large bowl, then mix.
In a smaller bowl whisk together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, peanut butter and vanilla extract. Once combined pour over the dry hazelnut, oats and protein powder mixture. Stir the mixture with a large spoon until combined.
Pour the granola mixture directly into your air fryer basket, no need to line the base (it’s okay if some of the granola hits the bottom of the air fryer basket)
Whilst air frying remember to use a fork to separate the granola mixture through out the cook time, to ensure even cooking and prevent the top layer from burning.
Remove the granola from the air fryer by pouring over a grease proof / parchment paper lined oven tray. Once cooled sprinkle the chocolate chips and coconut flakes over the granola.

Homemade Air Fryer Chocolate Protein Granola Recipe

What to eat with air fryer chocolate protein granola

Granola is a ready to eat cereal that can be paired with a range of ingredients for breakfast or a quick nutritious healthy snack. Here are some ideas on what to pair with homemade granola;

Add to smoothies
Milk
Yogurt
Add to smoothies
With nut butter
Fresh fruit

How do you eat chocolate granola

Here are some ways I’ve paired my chocolate & hazel nut high protein granola;

How long does granola last

Homemade granola can last up to 2 week and even longer if you freeze the granola. The best way to store granola is by placing it into an air tight container to keep it fresh and prevent it from going soggy.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN AIR FRYER

Air frying is such a great way of cooking food! The popular small counter top electric air fryer convection oven, mimics the process of “frying food” without having to deep fry in oil! Here are some of the top benefits of cooking with an air fryer;

Healthier – Air frying is a much healthier alternative to deep or shallow frying food. Up to 80% less fat can be achieved in certain air fried meals by using this cooking method rather than frying conventionally in oil.
Even cooking – Because the fan in an air fryer circulates at a high speed within a small space, food tends to crisp up quicker and cook evenly throughout.
Time efficient – Although some air fryers have a pre heat setting, air fryers generally heat up very quickly. Due to their size, cook times are substantially lower compared to an oven, which can take up to 15 minutes to pre heat fully and come up to temperature.
Easy to use – Air fryers are very easy to use and are a great kitchen tool for cooks that might not be as confident in the kitchen.
Saves space – As air fryers are small and portable, they are great for people who may not have access to a fully functioning kitchen. For example a college student or someone who lives in a studio apartment where you may not have access to a full size oven.
Versatility – Air fryers are probably the most versatile kitchen gadgets available. Not only can you air fry food, you can also bake, grill, toast, steam and roast ingredients in the air fryer.

WHAT AIR FRYER DO I USE?

I’ve tested quite a few air fryers and one of my favourites is the Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer, 6 Quart/ 5.L. I love the size of this model and the large square shape air fryer basket, i find you can fit more food in air fryers shaped like this. The vortex air fryer comes with 4 built in smart programs in 1 appliance (air fry, roast, bake and reheat) so it’s super versatile! I especially love how easy the fryer basket is to clean as the drip tray on the base of the basket is removable.

What breakfast foods are high in protein

A great source of protein to pair with granola is plain Greek yogurt.

FREQUENTLY ASKED NUTRITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT CHOCOLATE PROTEIN GRANOLA

Is granola keto friendly

Granola is mostly not keto friendly due to the high amount of net carbohydrates in the rolled oats and sugar. A good alternative for keto granola would be to remove the oats and use a mixture of wholesome seeds and nuts for texture, with the addition of a sugar free sweetener.

Is granola vegan

Granola can be vegan as long as all the ingredients are plant based. For this recipe swap the milk whey chocolate protein for a vegan protein powder, e.g pea protein.

What nutrients are in granola

Granola is a great source of fibre and highly nutritious and can contain a range of macronutrients such as protein, fibre, vitamin E, iron, magnesium and zink.

How many calories are in chocolate granola

There are 393 calories in this air fryer chocolate and hazelnut granola recipe per serving.

Thank you so much for reading along. I hope you making your air fryer chocolate and hazelnut high protein granola.

If you try this recipe, I would be grateful if you could leave a review and star rating, you can find this at the bottom of the page and recipe card

You can also share via social media. If you can take a photo and hashtag #prettydeliciouseats — I would love to see your meals on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook ! 🙂

WANT MORE AIR FRYER MEALS? – TRY OUT THESE AMAZING RECIPES TOO!

Air Fryer Chocolate and Hazelnut High Protein Granola Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

Author: Catherine
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 8 Portions

Print Recipe

Description

This homemade air fryer chocolate granola recipe is so easy to make in just 15 minutes! Its the perfect wholesome breakfast or snack, as the granola is made with chocolate protein powder and delicous pieces of hazlenut, dried coconut, rolled oats and much more!

Ingredients

Rolled Oats – 3 x Cups /275g
Hazelnuts (Whole) – ½ Cup / 55g
Flaked coconut shavings – ½ Cup / 25g
Dark Chocolate Chips – ½ Cup / 100g
Chocolate Protein Powder – ½ Cup / 90g
Coconut oil (Melted) – ½ cup / 100ml
Vanilla extract – 2 x tablespoons
Peanut butter – 1 x teaspoon
Maple syrup – ½ cup / 120ml

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Instructions

Add the oats, hazelnuts & chocolate protein powder to a large bowl, then mix.
In a smaller bowl whisk together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, peanut butter and vanilla extract. Once combined pour over the dry hazelnut, oats and protein powder mixture. Stir the mixture with a large spoon until combined.
Pour the granola mixture directly into your air fryer basket, no need to line the base. (it’s okay if some of the granola hits the bottom of the air fryer basket)
Air fry for 6 minutes at 170°c / 340°f, then use a fork to separate and mix the granola mixture within the air fryer basket. Cook for a further 3 minutes and again break up the granola with a fork. Finally air fry for a further 3 minutes.
Remove the granola from the air fryer by pouring over a grease proof / parchment paper lined oven tray. Once cooled sprinkle the chocolate chips and coconut flakes over the granola. Serve straight away with your choice of dairy/plant based milk or add to a yogurt or smoothie bowl!
Store the remaining granola in an air tight jar, it will keep for 2-3 weeks, but I am sure you would have eaten it all by then! ☺

Notes

Don’t add the chocolate chips until the granola has cooled fully otherwise the chocolate will melt!
I prefer to use organic jumbo rolled oats for the best results in this recipe

Prep Time: 3
Cook Time: 12
Category: Breakfast
Method: Air Frying
Cuisine: Universal

How to make homemade croutons in an Air fryer

February 7, 2021 1 Comment

Making homemade air fryer croutons is so EASY! This crouton recipe is moreish, super tasty and only takes 4 minutes to air fry! Pair them with your favourite salad or soup!

What are croutons

Croutons are small cubed pieces of crispy dried bread which have been re-baked or fried. Croutons can be plain or flavoured with oil, garlic, herbs, butter, cheese, bacon and various spice blends. They are crispy and crunchy, mostly paired with salads and soup.

Need some more recipe inspiration? – Try out these AMAZING recipes too! 🙂

ciabatta bread olive oil italian seasoning black pepper

Different types of seasoned air fryer croutons

Croutons are so veritable when it comes to the different types of flavours you can achieve. You can either flavour the oil, add seasonings / spices, herbs, use a pre flavoured bread or add cheese or cured meats. Here are some croutons variations below;

Garlic croutons
Garlic and parmesan croutons
Crotons with bacon
Italian croutons
French onion soup croutons

How to make croutons with garlic bread

Making croutons with garlic bread is a great way to use up leftover pieces. Simply cut up into cubes and air fry for 4-5 minutes at 190 °c /375 °f. You can also bake in an oven or Sauté in a pan. You shouldn’t need to add oil to the bread as the garlic butter should be sufficient to help the croutons crisp up and provide an amazing garlic butter flavour!

How to make croutons shapes from bread

To make croutons from scratch is pretty simple to do! All you need to do is slice bread into 1 inch or 1 cm cubes. The best type of bread for croutons is slightly dry/stale bread as the croutons will cook and crisp up quicker whilst cooking. More fresh and softer bread will take longer to dry out whilst cooking. In this recipe I’ve used a ciabatta loaf. Ciabatta is an Italian white bread made from wheat flour, water, salt, yeast and olive oil. It has a great crispy exterior already and amazing flavour already enriched with olive oil. You can also use these other types of bread to make croutons;

Sourdough bread
White sliced bread
Panini bread
Low carb keto sliced bread
Cornbread
Rye bread

How to make homemade croutons in an air fryer

Making croutons in the air fryer is a quick and efficient. You save time compared to using a convention oven as there is no need to preheat! Here’s how you make them;

Slice the ciabatta bread into 1 cm cubes and add to a large bowl.
Pour over olive oil, add the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and mix.
Place the croutons into the air fryer, cook for 3-4 minutes at 190 °c /375 °f. Halfway through cooking turn shake the air fryer basket to rotate the majority of the croutons, so that they can cook on the other side as well.
Once cooked remove the croutons from the air fryer basket.

How to make croutons in the oven

If you don’t have an air fryer don’t worry as you can bake homemade croutons in the oven. Add cubed bread that has been seasoned and mixed with olive oil, to a baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven for 6-7 minutes at 190 °c /375 °f.

How to make croutons in a pan on your stovetop

You can also make croutons without using an oven or an air fryer! Croutons can be toasted in a medium preheated shallow pan or cast iron skillet on a stove top / hob. They will take 6 minutes to cook once the pan is hot. Take care to flip the croutons pieces over whilst cooking to ensure they do not burn.

What are the benefits of an air fryer

Healthier – Air frying is a much healthier alternative to deep or shallow frying food. Up to 80% less fat can be achieved in certain air fried meals by using this cooking method rather than frying conventionally in oil.
Even cooking – Because the fan in an air fryer circulates at a high speed within a small space, food tends to crisp up quicker and cook evenly throughout.
Time efficient – Although some air fryers have a pre heat setting, air fryers generally heat up very quickly. Due to their size, cook times are substantially lower compared to an oven, which can take up to 15 minutes to pre heat fully and come up to temperature.
Easy to use – Air fryers are very easy to use and are a great kitchen tool for cooks that might not be as confident in the kitchen.
Saves space – As air fryers are small and portable, they are great for people who may not have access to a fully functioning kitchen. For example a college student or someone who lives in a studio apartment where you may not have access to a full size oven.
Versatility – Air fryers are probably the most versatile kitchen gadgets available. Not only can you air fry food, you can also bake, grill, toast, steam and roast ingredients in the air fryer.

What air fryer do I use?

What to have croutons with

You can use croutons in many dishes, here’s some ideas below;

Salad – Most commonly croutons are paired with salad, for example a Caesar salad. They add a great texture to a range of other salads too.
Soup – Croutons are great to add on top of soup for both texture and soaking up flavours. Slightly large shaped croutons are classically paired with French onion soup.
Bread crumbs – you can use up leftover croutons by making them into breadcrumbs. Simply add croutons to a food processor and blend until your desired crumb texture forms. You can then use the bread crumbs for stuffing or even as a crispy crust to coat food with e.g. crispy chicken tenders .

How long will homemade croutons last

Homemade croutons will last for up to two weeks. Once the croutons are fully cooked, place them into an air tight jar to ensure they stay fresh and crispy.

Can you freeze homemade croutons

Homemade croutons are freezer friendly which is quite handy if you make a big batch. It’s best to store the croutons in a food bag before freezing. When you’re ready to use the croutons, add them straight into your air fryer basket or oven tray if baking and then cook for 7-8 minutes.

Frequently asked nutritional questions about croutons

How many calories in croutons

There are 82 calories per 1/2 cup in this air fryer recipe, a lot less than you will find if the croutons where deep or shallow fried.

How many carbs in croutons

Croutons are carb dense as they are made from bread which are naturally high in carbohydrates. There are 10.6 net carbs in this air fryer croutons recipe per serving.

Are croutons vegan

Croutons can be completely plant based and vegan if vegan compliant bread is used. The remaining ingredients such as olive oil, salt, pepper and Italian seasonings are all vegan friendly.

Are croutons gluten free

Most croutons contain gluten as they are made from bread which contains wheat. To make gluten friendly croutons, swap the ciabatta bread for a gluten free approved sliced bread or crusty loaf/roll.

Are croutons keto

Croutons are not keto friendly due to the high net carbohydrate make up of most conventional sliced breads and loafs. A great alternative would be again to use a specialist bread which is keto compliant.There are alot of high protein & low net carb bread products currently on the market.

Thank you so much for reading along. I hope you making your Homemade Air Fryer Croutons.

If you try this recipe, I would be grateful if you could leave a review and star rating, you can find this at the bottom of the page and recipe card

You can also share via social media. If you can take a photo and hashtag #prettydeliciouseats — I would love to see your meals on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook ! 🙂

Homemade Easy Air Fryer Croutons Recipe pinterest image