Recipe - Get Up & Go Granola (Karen's Granola)

Recipe - Get Up & Go Granola (Karen's Granola)

This granola has a name and a story. Karen is one of those people who comes to a workshop, gets completely absorbed, goes home and starts experimenting — and this recipe was the result. She brought a batch in and I've been making it ever since. It's become a staple in my kitchen and I suspect it will in yours too.

What makes it different from most shop-bought granola is the Get Up & Go cacao powder — CF Organic Wellness's own nootropic blend of unroasted cacao, Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, black maca, matcha, guarana, D-ribose and Triphala digestive enzymes. It turns a simple granola into something that genuinely supports brain function, energy and gut health. The cacao coating on the nuts and seeds also caramelises beautifully in the oven, giving you a deeply satisfying crunch with every bite.

Why These Ingredients Work

• Brazil nuts are one of the richest sources of selenium on the planet — a single nut can meet your daily requirement. Selenium is critical for thyroid hormone conversion, immune defence and protecting cells from oxidative damage. I often recommend one or two Brazil nuts daily to clients with thyroid issues.

• Almonds provide vitamin E, magnesium and monounsaturated fats alongside a good hit of prebiotic fibre. The skin in particular contains polyphenols that feed beneficial gut bacteria.

• Hemp seeds are a complete plant protein containing all essential amino acids, alongside an optimal omega-3 to omega-6 ratio that most people's diets are severely lacking. They also support healthy hormone production and reduce inflammation.

• Goji berries are exceptionally rich in zeaxanthin — an antioxidant that protects the eyes from blue light and UV damage — as well as polysaccharides that support immune function and adrenal health. They add a gentle natural sweetness without spiking blood sugar significantly.

• Unroasted cacao in the Get Up & Go powder retains its full spectrum of flavanols, theobromine and magnesium. Roasting destroys a significant proportion of these compounds, which is why unroasted cacao works so differently to standard cocoa powder — it's genuinely energising without being stimulating in the way caffeine is.

• Coconut oil provides medium-chain triglycerides that the liver converts rapidly to energy — useful first thing in the morning when the body has been fasting overnight. It also helps bind the granola and creates that satisfying crunch during roasting.

Ingredients

• 500g mixed nuts — Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts

• 200g mixed seeds including hemp seeds

• Goji berries (a generous handful)

• 50g coconut oil, melted

• A good splodge of maple syrup

• Cinnamon to taste

• 3 tbsp Get Up & Go cacao powder (available from the CF Organic Wellness website)

Method

• Preheat oven to 170°C

• Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, making sure the nuts and seeds are thoroughly coated in the wet ingredients

• Spread onto a lined baking tray in an even layer

• Roast for 20 minutes — keep an eye on it and give it a good stir halfway through to prevent any edges burning

• Remove and leave to cool completely — it crisps up further as it cools

Serving Suggestions

• Sprinkle over live yoghurt with fresh berries — the fats and protein from the granola slow the sugar release from the fruit

• Use chopped over the Matcha Protein Pudding for added crunch

• Eat a small handful as a mid-afternoon snack with a piece of dark chocolate

• Sprinkle over smoothie bowls, chia puddings or warm porridge

Store in an airtight jar — it keeps well for 2–3 weeks, though in my house it rarely lasts that long. Thank you Karen for this one!

Niki x