Kids Cook! & Three Sisters Kitchen Granola Challenge!
This year, our graduating 5th grade Kids Cook! students received a kit with ingredients and inspiration to make their own granola flavor. The winning flavor was created by Janelle B. at Valle Vista Elementary. Her flavor, Pina Colada Paradise, will be professionally produced, packaged, and sold by Three Sisters Kitchen, the the proceeds of her flavor’s sales going to benefit Kids Cook! and Three Sisters Kitchen! Be sure to follow both Kids Cook! and Three Sisters Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest news and announcements, including when Janelle’s granola will be available for purchase!
Every flavor is unique and amazing, and we want to celebrate all of our creative students chefs by featuring their recipes here on our blog! Scroll down for the full preparation steps.
Bon appetit!
Runner up Recipes
Apri-Mango Granola
by Laura H., Manzano Mesa Elementary
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/8 cup dried apricot
1/8 cup dried mango
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
School Winners
Canela
by Mayela P., Dolores Gonzales
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup raisins
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
Blueberry Walnut Granola
by Eddy M., El Camino Real Academy
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup blueberries
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
by Serenity B., Chaparral
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup almond slivers
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup freeze dried strawberries
1/4 cup oat milk chips
Our panel of judges included Craig Jones (Three Sisters Kitchen,) NM United player Amando Moreno, and Sara Robbins (Kids Cook!) , pictured with our Granola Challenge winner, Janelle!
Cran-Apple Walnut Granola
by Brian P, Pajarito Elementary
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup dried cranberries and apples
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
Banana Split
by Veila M., Lew Wallace
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup puffed rice
1/2 cup peanuts
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup dried bananas
1/4 cup dried strawberries
1/4 cup chocolate chips
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Root Beer Sundae
by Juan C., Chaparral
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup walnuts
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. root beer flavoring
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Red Berry Crunch
by Olivia M., Valle Vista
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup almonds
2 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
5 drops red food coloring
1/4 cup dried strawberries
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup dried cranberries
Steps
Preheat oven to 275℉. Combine rolled oats and nuts in a medium bowl.
Measure and add honey, sugar, and oil into a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is bubbly. Turn off and remove from heat. Stir in salt and spices/flavorings.
Be very careful because the syrup is hot! Add the syrup to the medium bowl with oats and pine nuts. Stir well so every oat and nut is coated!
Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet. Use a rubber spatula to spread the mixture out evenly.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, rotating the sheet every 15 minutes. Remove from oven when edges are browned.
While the granola is baking, measure dried fruits and/or chocolate chips into a bowl and mix together. Chop any large pieces of fruit into oat-sized pieces.
Carefully stir dried fruits into the baked oat mixture. Let cool and enjoy!