Granola is a breakfast food and snack food consisting of rolled oats, nuts, honey or other sweeteners, such as brown sugar, and sometimes puffed rice, that is usually baked until it is crisp, toasted and golden brown. During the baking process the mixture is stirred to maintain a loose, breakfast cereal-type consistency. Dried fruits, such as raisins and dates, and confections such as chocolate are sometimes added.
A bowl of granola.
Besides serving as food for breakfast and snacks, granola may also be eaten for an evening meal and by those who are hiking, camping, or backpacking because it is nutritious, lightweight, high in calories, and easy to store; these properties make it similar to trail mix and muesli. It is often combined into a bar form, which makes it easy to carry for packed lunches, hiking, or other outdoor activities.
Granola is often eaten in combination with yogurt, honey, fruit (such as bananas, strawberries or blueberries), milk and other forms of cereal. It can also serve as a topping for various types of pastries or desserts. Granola, particularly recipes that include flax seeds, is often used to improve digestion.