CELEBRATE WITH A HONEY AND MAPLE PECAN GRANOLA DESSERT

Enjoy lightly sweetened oats, buttery toasted pecan halves, and syrupy sweet dates with a touch of almond and cardamom.

ABOUT HONEY AND MAPLE PECAN GRANOLA

I used less honey and maple than many recipes call for in this granola. But then I added super sweet, and healthy, chopped dates (coated in date powder) to elevate the sweetness for a treat.

I think the high sugar content of granola makes it better suited as a dessert. Enjoy it on holidays and at celebrations rather than as an everyday breakfast occurrence.

But, don’t let it stop you from having an occasional bowl of this maple pecan goodness soaked in raw milk for a dessert on occasion. See the work around there 😆?!

The aroma of sweet almond and toasted vanilla pecan fills the kitchen as you bake. Turn on the lovely music and imagine yourself on a walking street finding the sweetest European bakery in a quaint village. Then get out your pretty plates, it’s almost time…

HELPFUL EQUPMENT
Small saucepan – for combining sweeteners, oil, and spices
Half-sheet baking sheet – using a rimmed baking sheet makes stirring the granola easier
Spatula – stainless steel spatula for pressing granola into the pan and removing it from the pan

honey, maple, coconut oil, and ghee for oats and maple pecans

INGREDIENTS FOR GRANOLA
old fashioned rolled oats – not quick cooking, I like using sprouted oats
pecan halves – make sure you grab raw pecans, not roasted, and no oils added
organic coconut oil – to coat the oats and pecans and to prep the baking sheet
ghee – organic, if possible, no added flavorings
raw honey – no honey bear or honey syrups with additives, just pure raw honey
pure maple syrup – 100% maple syrup without corn syrup or other additives
pure vanilla extract
almond extract
sea salt
green cardamom pods – grind seeds using a mortar and pestle
chopped dates – I use chopped dates coated with date powder

add sweetener to oats and pecans for maple pecan granola

IDEAS FOR HOW TO SERVE HONEY & MAPLE PECAN GRANOLA FOR CELEBRATIONS

With yogurt
As an ice cream sundae maple pecan topping
With cooked fruit, like baked apples or pears
As a holiday celebration breakfast cereal (too high in sugar for an everyday breakfast)
Make a parfait
Add other seeds and dried fruits you enjoy and serve it like a trail mix

homemade granola with pecans, dates, honey, maple, almond extract, and vanilla extract

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Make sure to coat the oats evenly before baking.
Use high quality sweeteners, spices, oats, pecans, and oils.
Use the ghee (don’t switch to all coconut oil) for a nice buttery flavor.

WHAT TO AVOID

Granola burns easily don’t walk away during those last 5 minutes.
Place the pecans closer to the center of the pan so they don’t burn as easily along the edges.
Do not forget to stir the granola as you bake it or you’ll have burnt maple pecans and oats.

maple pecan granola with toasted maple pecans

STORAGE OPTIONS

Store in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Store it in the freezer to keep it longer (around 4 weeks).

LEFTOVER TIPS

Let granola come to room temperature before serving.