Honey-Maple Granola, updated

HONEY-MAPLE GRANOLA

Adapted from David Lebovitz by My Little Blue Heron

This recipe is buried as an ice cream topping in David Lebovitz’s fantastic ice cream book, The Perfect Scoop. I’ve gifted it for the holidays for the past two years (sans ice cream). A colleague told me he refuses to share it with his children. He sprinkles it on his morning yogurt. It’s a great mix-in, a great topping, a great snack, and it’s a great home made cereal. 

Homemade gifts are incomparable because they’re loaded with real ingredients and love. Packed into a clear cellophane bag or a Mason or other lovely glass jar, this is a great gift … for Valentine’s Day, or Anytine’s Day. Double the recipe and please keep some, if only a small amount, for yourself.  It’s delicious.

gifties

Well sealed, this keeps for months.

If you don’t have a Danish whisk for mixing, it’s a very nifty tool to get for your kitchen. The one I have isn't available now (pandemic?) This one will bring you two and it looks exactly like mine! Here’s the link.

You will need two baking sheets (you’ll rotate them top to bottom, front to back when you bake the cereal).

On your mark, get set, g’oats!

peace, love and (always) crunchy granola,

jane

Honey Maple Granola

Equipment: Baking sheet (or sheets if you double the recipe), mixing bowls, measuring cups, spoons and a kitchen scale

Ingredients:

3 cups/312g. organic rolled oats (not instant)

½ cup/70g. raw (unsalted) sunflower seeds

1 cup/80g. raw cashews, roughly chopped

½ cup/40g. dried shredded organic unsweetened coconut

2 Tbsp./20g. sesame seeds

½ tsp./1 g. kosher salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 Tbsp. raw, organic honey (I like wildflower)

3 Tbsp. maple syrup

2 ½  Tbsp. refined coconut oil (it will be odorless and won't dominate the taste)

½ cup (or more, if you like it fruity) diced (about ½”) dried fruit (to be added after the granola is baked. I love dice, dried, organic apricots (make sure they’re very fresh.) Feeling festive or is it holiday time or Valentine’s Day, throw in some dried cherries or organic dried cranberries. Chocolate?: How about some unsweetened chocolate chips!

Procedure:

Preheat oven to 350º F. (150º C.)

In a large bowl, measure or weigh out all ingredients listed through and including cinnamon. Mix well (if you have a Danish whisk, this will work very well for this task!) Set aside.

In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt together the honey, maple syrup and coconut oil.

When warm and melted, whisk gently together and pour over the dry ingredients. Using the Danish whisk or another good mixing tool (a slotted spoon will work!), incorporate wet into dry.

Spread  evenly on baking sheet(s), and bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, checking every 10 to 15 minutes, stirring and turning gently until granola is golden brown.

Remove from oven and (IMPORTANT): cool completely before adding the dried fruit.

cranberries, golden raisins

dried cherries

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two months or pack up into small gift jars or bags and share!