This Maple Granola is made with real maple syrup and lots of fruits and nuts. Endlessly customizable with any combination of add-ins.
I start many days with granola, mixed into some Greek Yogurt. Not just any granola though. I have been making my own granola for some time and have tried a number of recipes. This one is my favourite.
I've learned a thing or two about how to make good granola through trial and error. First, it has to have oil. If you want crispy granola, you need oil. I use vegetable or canola oil. You could use coconut oil, but be aware that it will impart a light coconut flavour.
Good granola also has to have sugar of some sort. Maple syrup or honey, together with some brown sugar hits the sweet spot for me. No pun intended :). It's always tempting to try to reduce the fat and sugar, but I've never been happy with the results. I'd much sooner eat less of a better tasting granola.
Cook's Notes
You need to cook the granola until it is well-toasted. Toasted oats have the most flavour. You also need to stir the granola regularly as it cooks, to ensure it toasts evenly. Without stirring, it will almost certainly be over-cooked around the edges. As such, when you are "stirring", focus on moving the granola closest to the edges into the centre and the granola in the centre towards the edges.
There is a proper time to add different items to the mix when cooking granola. You don't want to cook any fruits, so save them to stir in at the end, once the granola is out of the oven. Add coconut and walnuts/pecans near the end of the cooking time to avoid burning or bitterness. Almonds can be added from the start.
This recipe is great with maple syrup or honey. Honey seems to produce more clumps than maple syrup for some reason. I love the flavour undertones of maple syrup, myself, so I sacrifice the clumps usually. If you love clumps in your granola, go for the honey and don't stir it after you take it out of the oven.
Muskoka Maple Granola
Ingredients
- 4 cups large-flake, old fashioned oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, raw, unsalted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil, or other neutral tasting oil
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup, (you could substitute honey)
- 1 Tbsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 ° F.
- Combine the oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, brown sugar and salt in a large bowl. Stir well to combine, breaking up any lumps of brown sugar.
- In a glass measuring cup, combine the oil and the maple syrup. Microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove. Add vanilla and stir well.
- Pour oil/maple syrup mixture over the oats mixture. Using two spoons, stir and toss the mixture until all of the oats are coated with the syrup.
- Place granola directly onto a baking sheet and place in the oven. Set the timer for 10 minutes. At the end of 10 minutes, remove the granola and stir, moving the granola around the outside edges into the middle and the middle out towards the edges. Set the timer for another 10 minutes. After the second 10 minutes, sprinkle with the coconut and then stir well again. Return to oven and set the timer for one last 10 minute bake. (30 minutes total, stirred twice at 10 minutes and 20 minutes). At the end of the last 10 minutes (30 minutes in the oven), remove the granola from the oven. Stir just a bit then sprinkle with the cranberries and raisins and leave undisturbed until it is completely cooled. Once cooled, stir the granola. Store at room temperature in an air-tight container. Will keep for several weeks (although it may not last that long).
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon to make personal health decisions.
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Alex Hogan says
Hello! Do you think I could use quick oats for this or shall I wait til I’ve got large flake? Thanks!
Jennifer says
Hi Alex, I might be inclined to wait as I think you'll be happier with the result with large flake. While quick oats will technically work here, the large flake oats give the finished granola much nicer texture, I think. If you do want to try with quick oats, just watch the baking time, as it will cook up more quickly.
Allie says
By far my favourite granola recipe! I have made it more than 10 times. The last time I forgot to add the dried fruit and coconut in later, and actually baked it the whole time - it was just as good, if not better! I like it crunchy :) thanks for the great recipe!
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Allie! Thanks so much :)
Irene (former Ontarian, now PEI) says
I've been making granola for years and decided to try a new receipe. Yours certainly didn't disappoint! Easy to make & very tasty!
We usually have this on a non-working day as a special treat.
The one thing that baffles me is: how does one get the edge into the middle & vice versa? Haven't mastered the technique after all these years!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed this, Irene! And I use a spatula to move the edges in to the middle, then I pull the underneath stuff from the middle out to the edges :)
Megan says
Hello Jennifer!
Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. I loved it!
Although, I was wondering. Is it healthy enough to eat almost everyday?
Jennifer M says
Hi Megan and thanks. I think so :) I eat a very small amount (1/4 cup), with fruit and greek yogurt. It provides lots of good fibre to start the day and keeps me full a long time.
Susan says
Fantastic recipe! After the first time I made it my family continues to ask for it. I even made it to give away for Christmas gifts this year. I personally like the taste of the coconut oil as opposed to the vegetable oil. I used unsweetened coconut -- didn't even notice it wasn't sweetened because the maple syrup and brown sugar add enough sweetness Thanks for the recipe. It's now my favourite breakfast cereal!
Jennifer M says
So glad you (and your family) enjoyed it, Susan. Thanks for letting me know. You've convinced me to try the coconut oil the next time I make it. Does it crisp up the oats just as well?
Lael says
Is the coconut sweetened or unsweetened?
Jennifer says
Hi Lael, You could go either way really. I usually use sweetened, as it's what I have around, but there's no reason unsweetened wouldn't work with this.
Eva says
Hi Jennifer, Could this be made into a bar? Have you done that? I have to eat on the run in the morning and want to eat healthy instead of fast food and I am going to try this one! I have been looking for a good granola recipe.
Jennifer says
Hi Eva. I haven't tried to make granola bars with this particular recipe but I think you could. Here's how I would try it ... Toast the oats, coconut and almonds on a baking sheet at about 350° for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. Remove from oven and put in a big bowl with the brown sugar. Heat the oil and maple syrup then add the vanilla, as per the original recipe and add to the oats. Throw in the cranberries and raisins. Stir well then press into a 9x13-inch pan and bake at 300° for 20-25 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing. I'll try it with my next batch but if you try it first, let me know how it worked out.
Eva says
You are Awesome! I will thank you!
Amelia says
I had this for breakfast this morning and it was fantastic! Thanks for sharing the receipe.
Jennifer says
You're welcome, Amelia. Glad you enjoyed it!