Spring is coming and we couldn’t be more excited to dip our toe in some warmer weather. Color Me Rad is teaming up with Desi from Unconventional Kitchen to bring our readers healthy, delicious recipes that are perfect for any season. Here’s Desi’s coconut cashew granola that is easy to make and easy on your waistline.
Coconut Cashew Granola
- 1/3 C maple syrup
- 1/3 C packed brown sugar or coconut sugar (I have used both)
- 4 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 C coconut oil
- 5 C old-fashioned rolled oats (Quick oats will NOT work in this recipe — you will get mush :).)
- 1 C shredded unsweetened coconut (This is optional but really good.)
- 2 C raw nuts (I really like cashews in this recipe, but almonds are good too.)
- 2 C dried fruit (Dried cherries are amazing in this. Raisins are good too, or really any dried fruit.)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Don’t skip this step, it makes for the easiest clean up.
- Add the coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt into a medium sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until the coconut oil is melted and all the ingredients are mixed together.
- In a large bowl, add the oats, coconut if using, and nuts.
- Dump the sauce over the oat mixture and stir to combine.
- Spread the granola into a thin, even layer. Using a spatula (or your hand, covered in waxed paper), press down on the mixture until very compact.
- Bake until lightly browned. I bake it for 20 minutes and then rotate the pan and bake for another 10-20 minutes. Watch it at the end so it doesn’t burn. I set the timer because it goes pretty fast at the end and I have burned my fair share of granola!
- Remove pan from oven and cool on a wire rack to room temperature, about an hour. Let it cool completely before touching it — so hard I know! But if you do, you will be rewarded with big chunks.
- Stir in the dried fruit.
Desi suggests mixing granola with greek yogurt for a perfectly balanced breakfast. Check out Unconventional Kitchen for more healthy eating tips and recipe tricks.
