Last night Ben and I were enjoying our evening snack while watching the OG Real Housewives of the OC (my fave): Triscuits and cottage cheese for her (a better swap for the Taco Doritos and cottage cheese I used to inhale in college, me thinks,) and homemade Maple Almond Granola that I had poured into a snack-sized bowl, for him.
Dip, crunch, mmm. (Her)
Crunch, crunch, crunch…yum. Hey where’d you get this? (Him)
I made it.
You made this? Wait, how did yo- HOW DID YOU MAKE THIS?!
Um, I just made it. Like stirred stuff together then baked it.Â
But…HOW?!
And so on and so forth. The conversation literally continued on in this way for a solid 3 minutes. It was hysterical. Apparently the fact that you can make granola – really good granola – from scratch, and that it’s incredibly easy too (like, easier than baking cookies!) was a source of intense wonderment for my man.
Maple Almond Granola combines pantry staples like old fashioned oats, raw almonds, pecans and sesame seeds with maple syrup, honey, and coconut oil, which are tossed together and then baked. The result is a perfectly crunchy, subtle maple flavored, un-sweet, sweetened granola. Translation: It doesn’t taste like you’re crunching on sugar cubes, like the store-bought stuff.
I got really into the idea of making homemade granola after enjoying a bowl of it layered with yogurt at the East Bay Meeting House in Charleston last week. It was the perfect, light-yet-filling breakfast and I couldn’t wait to remake at home (naturally.) Besides sprinkling the granola into your morning yogurt, you could also combine it with a banana and splash of milk for breakfast, or take it straight to the face, a la Ben.
This granola recipe is highly customizable too. Don’t like pecans? Use walnuts, or another type of nut, or leave them out! Fresh out of sesame seeds? Use pepitas or sunflower seeds instead. Dig raisins? Add in a handful. Just use what ya’ got!
Start the Maple Almond Granola by combining the dry ingredients into a large bowl, including 3 cups certified gluten-free old fashioned oats, 1/2 cup whole raw almonds, 1/2 cup chopped pecans, and 1/4 cup sesame seeds. Roughly chop another 1/2 cup raw almonds then toss ’em in there too.
Finish with a sprinkling of 1/2 teaspoon salt and a dash or two of cinnamon, then stir everything together.
Next, in a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup coconut oil with 6 Tablespoons real maple syrup and 2 Tablespoons honey over medium heat.
Just stir occasionally until the coconut oil liquefies, about a minute or two, then add in 1/2 teaspoon each vanilla and almond extract.
Pour the coconut oil mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to thoroughly coat, then spread the mixture onto a silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes at 300 degrees, stirring halfway through. Note: the granola will not be crunchy when hot, so take it out when it’s golden brown!
Let the granola cool completely before stirring in 1 cup dried fruit, if you please (I used dried chopped apricots,)Â then store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 weeks.
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Homemade Maple Almond Granola
Description
Maple Almond Granola is a perfectly crunchy with a subtle maple flavor. So easy to make at home, and WAY less sugar than store-bought granola!
Ingredients
- 3 cups certified gluten-free old fashioned oats
- 1 cup whole raw almonds, divided
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- dash of cinnamon
- 6 Tablespoons real maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup dried fruit, optional
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees then line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper and set aside.
- Combine oats, 1/2 cup almonds, pecans, sesame seeds, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Roughly chop remaining almonds then add to the bowl and mix to combine. In a small saucepan, melt coconut oil in maple syrup and honey. Once melted remove from heat and stir in vanilla and almond extracts. Pour into oat mixture then stir until well coated.
- Spread mixture onto prepared baking sheet then bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until granola is golden brown (granola will not be crunchy when hot.) Cool completely then stir in dried fruit (if using,) and store in a container with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Get your taste buds revved, folks, because this granola is divine. I hope you enjoy!
Kristen 04.11.2013
Love this recipe! also love that you used to eat doritos and cottage cheese, one of my favorite combinations. Need more recipes with cottage cheese- totally an Iowa thing!!!
Tree @ Mother of Pearl It Is 04.10.2013
This is just what I need for those mid-afternoon hunger pangs at work around 3pm. :) I have a granola recipe that I’ve used in the past, but yours looks MUCH tastier! Love the whole almonds in it!
Megan 04.10.2013
Made this today – so yummy! My little girl enjoyed putting “crunchies” on her yogurt at snack time. Thanks for the recipe!
Tammy 04.10.2013
OMG!!! I thought I was the only one that eats Doritos and cottage cheese! Totally delish! lol
Brita 04.10.2013
PERFECTION! can’t wait to try it out!
Jeri Wendzel 04.10.2013
What are some alternatives in place of nuts? I don’t like nuts and that’s the only reason I have no made my own granola before. I can’t think of things to put in it besides oatmeal and raisins!
Laura 04.10.2013
You could add seeds e.g hemp or the alternatives Kristen mentioned above, or roasted soybeans/edamame (the crunchy ones in the snack aisle). Other alternatives could be shredded coconut, chocolate chips or small squares of fudge (add after the granola has cooled so they don’t melt!)
Iowa Girl Eats 04.10.2013
You could just leave them out, or add more seeds in place of nuts – pepitas, sunflower seeds, etc!
Jeri Wendzel 04.10.2013
I was afraid you were going to say that. I don’t like seeds either or soybeans like the other lady suggested. Not for lack of trying. Bummer…
Julia Jolliff 04.10.2013
Homemade granola is the best. It’s one of my new favorite things to make. The coconut oil addition to this looks great–must try!
Alexa 04.10.2013
This is awesome. I was just thinking how I wanted to buy some gluten free granola, but mulling the purchase because it’s packed with SO much sugar. With this recipe I can make my own with far less, thanks!
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog 04.10.2013
I’ve always had a problem with store bought granola and even granola bars being too sweet and sugary for my liking. I’m totally going to try out this recipe as a change.
Masha 04.10.2013
Oooooh…that looks lovely! I want to make some and top of my morning oatmeal with that crunchy goodness!
Mandy 04.10.2013
Ooh, this looks good! My grandma used to make all her own granola. She and my grandpa raised walnuts on a small farm, so it had a lot more walnuts than this does, but otherwise it sounds pretty similar! Will need to try!
Sara 04.10.2013
Mmmm, this looks great! I have some yogurt that is in need of granola.
Health/Fitness Links To Get You Through The Day | 04.10.2013
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Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie 04.10.2013
Haha it’s always kind of cool when people cannot believe you made something instead of buying it. As is it isn’t possible something that good could be homemade :-P
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner 04.10.2013
Yay–another granola recipe to try! And then hide so I don’t eat it all in one day.
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction 04.10.2013
Homemade granola is the best, especially when it’s loaded with almonds!
Nina @ Too Hottie For That Body 04.10.2013
I caught this post as I was drinking my morning tea trying to figure out what I want to eat for breakfast. This looks perfectly yummy for a day like today. Too bad I didn’t find it last night so that I would have been prepared to shove some in my face first thing in the morning.
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats 04.10.2013
Yum!! I keep meaning to make my own granola but haven’t made myself push the button yet! Your great recipe is another reminder of why I need to do it :)
Katelyn 04.10.2013
I love the Real Housewives of OC is my fave! Altho, I’m like your hubs….you can make amazing granola? I’ll stick to what I know I’m good at baking! haha
Trisha 04.09.2013
Totally forgot RHOC started again this week! I’m really resisting the urge to start up my DVR right now (way past my bedtime) but can’t wait to see those biotches back at it!!