I’m a sucker for snacks, especially those with a lot of crunch. Cranola, crackers and trail mix are some of my go-tos. But lately, I’ve taken to this sticky maple date granola, which is decidedly more chewy than crisp – and highly addictive.
Served with a scoop of Good Culture cottage cheese (another new obsession) and fresh fruit, it makes for a delicious and filling breakfast or midday pick-me-up. Of course, you can enjoy maple date granola by the handful, too.
Double the recipe if you plan to share. Maple date granola disappears quickly and stores well for a week or so, if it lasts that long.
Recipe adapted from Salted Plains.
Maple Date Granola
Makes about 3 cups
Ingredients
- 8 dates, pitted and chopped
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 3 tablespoons flaxseeds
- 3 tablespoons hemp seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9"x13" baking pan with parchment paper, coat with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a small sauce pan, combine the dates and maple syrup and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and mash up dates with a fork. Add olive oil and vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, pecans, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, cinnamon and salt. Pour wet mixture on top and stir to combine.
- Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan, flattening the top with the bottom of a spatula.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir and flatten the top with the bottom of a spatula. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir and flatten the top with the bottom of a spatula. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 5 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Using your hands, gently break up granola into large shards.
- Store granola in an airtight container at room temperature.
