For those of us who like to cook, finding new recipes is always exciting. Even when preparing food for the first meal of the day, you may want to get creative. That’s where cooking with hemp can come in. Liven up your breakfasts with this versatile plant. Check out a few of our favorite recipes.

Why put hemp in food

When we say cooking with hemp, we’re speaking specifically of the product of the cannabis plant that’s legal in the U.S. It can only contain up to 0.3 percent THC, which means eating it won’t make you feel out of sorts.

Not only that, but hemp has many potential benefits that make it a great food to eat. The composition of hemp itself can make it a very healthy additive because:

• It contains all 21 down animal acids, the building blocks of protein.

• It’s high in Omega fatty acids.

• It’s an excellent source of gamma linolenic acid, which has good anti-inflammatory benefits.

• It is high in fiber.

• It is high in vitamin E and other antioxidants.

Breakfast time with hemp

Whether your new to cooking with hemp, or a vet, you’ll be able to liven up your breakfasts with this superfood. Give these recipes a try.

It only takes five minutes to blend up this breakfast smoothie, making it a quick and easy way to start your day. If these ingredients don’t strike your fancy, you can add hemp seeds to your own smoothie blend to create something completely original.

Hemp Recipes

1. Ginger ‘Heal Yourself’ Power Smoothie

Ingredients:

• Banana

• 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

• 1 tsp. Grated ginger

• 2 Tbs. shelled hemp seeds

• 1 tsp. Maca powder

• 1 tsp. Tahini

• 3/4 cup water or favorite type of milk

Once blended, you’ll have a creamy and smooth drink rich in antioxidants and full of foods often used for their healing properties.

2. Porridge

With the ability to add any toppings you want, having a porridge base that uses hemp seeds offers up a comforting breakfast that’s perfect for a cold morning. You also have the option to chill it if the day feels too hot for a warm breakfast.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup shelled hemp seeds

• 1/4 cup finely grated cauliflower

• 1cup almond milk

• 1 Tbs. ground flax or chia seeds

• 1 Tbs. almond butter

• 1/2 tsp. Vanilla bean powder

• 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

• Pinch of salt and a few drops of sweetener or syrup

Combine hemp, milk, and cauliflower into a sauce pan first and bring to boil. Simmer gently for five minutes, adding in the rest of the ingredients toward the end of the cooking process. Stir frequently to mix everything well. Once complete, add whatever toppings you’d like and it’s ready to eat.

3. Banana Muffins

If you like a breakfast that’s already ready when you wake up, try making a batch of these healthy muffins to get you through the week. Then, it’s just grab one and go each morning on your way out the door.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs. ground flax seeds

• 6 Tbs. warm water

• 1cup light spelt flour or all-purpose gluten-free flour

• 1 tsp.baking soda

• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder, aluminum free

• 1/4 tsp. of fine sea salt

• 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar

• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted but not hot (grape seed oil also works)

• 2 very ripe bananas (total of 1 cup smashed)

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1/4 cup hemp hearts

• Optional: 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

To prepare, preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and put paper muffin cups into a muffin pan. Mix the flax seeds and warm water together and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. After doing that, go back to the flax seed bowl and add in the bananas, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract and mix well. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and then add in the hemp seeds, stirring to combine. Spread the mixture evenly across the muffin pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of one muffin comes out dry and clean.

Make sure to cool muffins at least 15 minutes before diving in, or store them in an air-tight container so they’re at the ready when you want one.

4. Maple Date Granola

Good for breakfast or even just a snack, it’s always nice to have some form of granola on hand. This one is also gluten-free and vegan, with a little sweetness for an extra pop of flavor.

Ingredients:

• 6 dates pitted and chopped (Medjool are preferred)

• 3/4 cup maple syrup

• 2 Tbs. olive oil

• 2 cups gluten-free oats

• 1/2 cup raw sliced or chopped almonds

• 2 Tbs. hemp seeds

• 1/4 cup flax seeds

• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a small saucepan, heat the syrup and dates over medium heat. Bring it to a boil so it reduces slightly, stirring occasionally for about eight minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, mash the dates a little more, and add in olive oil and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.

In a separate bowl, mix the oats, almonds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Combine and then pour the maple-date mixture on top. Stir to completely coat the dry ingredients and transfer it to the cookie sheet. Press into an even layer and bake for 25 minutes, taking the granola out after 10 minutes, and again with 5 minutes left to go, to stir and pat back down. Tent with foil after the first 10 minutes as well.

Once cool, you can break it up into smaller pieces for easier eating. Whatever gets left over should go into an airtight container for storage.

5. Almond Pancakes

When you’re looking for a little more of a substantial breakfast, maybe even something you could use for brunch, think pancakes. They’re not only delicious, but can fill up the bellies of a tableful of friends in no time. Pair these fluffy stacks with a fruit salad or even some scrambled eggs for a killer combination.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ground oats

• 3/4 cup almond milk

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp. baking powder

• dash of salt

• 1 tsp honey (or a little more if you want sweeter pancakes)

• 2 Tbs. almond butter

• 3 Tbs. Hemp Hearts

• 1/4 tsp. pumpkin spice

Combine everything together well and let the batter sit for about three minutes to thicken up. Then, in a greased pan, ladle in about four tablespoons of the batter per pancake, cooking on low. It should take about 3-4 minutes per side. Flip carefully.

Once you’re done, you’ll have a giant plate of golden pancakes, perfect for just about anyone to enjoy.

Becoming comfortable cooking with hemp

As you become more proficient cooking with hemp, you may want to try other products beside those that work best when cooking. In the online store at Arbor Vita8, we offer a variety of products that allow you to ingest popular cannabinoids like CBD and CBG, as well as use them topically. From tinctures to balms to capsules, we’ve got it all. Start shopping today.