Sweetened with maple syrup and a dash of brown sugar, this easy homemade Maple Pecan Granola has the cutest, most glorious, little clusters.
Why i love this recipe
A pantry staple. I adore having this maple pecan granola in yogurt parfaits or as a homemade snack, but my husband loves to eat this granola like cereal, with a big bowl of fresh milk. No matter how you enjoy it, it’s a breakfast or snack that’s perfectly balanced, salty and sweet!
It uses heart healthy oats. Beyond basic oatmeal, rolled oats can be used in granola bars, cookies, muffins, cakes and streusel, too. But, I’ve got to say, this homemade granola is my most favorite way to use heart healthy and wholesome oats!
A smell so scrumptious. The scent that fills our home with warm maple syrup, toasted pecans and cinnamon is absolutely divine. If you have never made granola, itβs really easy, with simple ingredients. I know you will just love how it makes your kitchen smell!
prepare your supplies
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Spatula
- Wooden Spoon
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
gather your ingredients
Rolled Oats – Old Fashioned or Traditional Rolled Oats, or quick oats works well in this recipe.
Pecans – roughly chopped. I grew up in South Georgia where pecans are the state nut. So, naturally, pecans are my favorite nut. Almonds or cashews would a great substitution, too.
Brown Sugar – Brings a rich flavor, with a caramel undertone.
All-Purpose Flour – optional but helps create the chunks that we admire so much.
Ground Cinnamon – Cinnamon pairs incredibly well with the pecans, brown sugar and maple syrup in this recipe.
Maple Syrup – Adds a buttery flavor, which goes amazingly well with the brown sugar!
Water – This balances the dry versus wet ratio, especially with the flour that is added. If you omit the all-purpose flour, you’ll also omit the water.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Vanilla Extract – Because, why not?
Coconut Oil – You could use any neutral flavored oil like avocado, vegetable or canola. But, I stick with coconut oil because it’s what I know and have always used in this recipe.
Salt – helps balance the sweetness.
let’s get to it: How to make maple pecan granola
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 300Β°F.
- Mix. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together, rolled oats, pecans, brown sugar or coconut sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, maple syrup, water, vanilla extract, coconut oil and salt until well combined.
- Bake. On a large baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, pour granola out and spread out evenly. Bake granola for 20 minutes. Then, flip with a spatula, lightly press down the granola and return it to the oven. Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown and feels dry.
- Store. Remove baked granola from the oven and allow it to cool completely before moving it to an airtight container.
A little something special: Optional Granola Mix-Ins
Once the baked granola has cooled, add these combinations for a unique touch:
- Dried fruit – strawberries, blueberries, bananas
- Cranberries and White Chocolate Chips
- Seeds – pumpkin, sunflower, flax
- Coconut and Semi Sweet Chips
Homemade Maple Pecan Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour optional (see notes)
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp. water optional (see notes)
- 1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 300Β°F.
- Mix. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together, rolled oats, pecans, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, maple syrup, water, vanilla extract, coconut oil and salt until well combined.
- Bake. On a large baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, pour granola out and spread out evenly. Bake granola for 20 minutes. Then, flip with a spatula, lightly press down the granola and return it to the oven. Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown and feels dry.
- Store. Remove baked granola from the oven and allow it to cool completely before moving it to an airtight container.
Notes
- If you are omitting the flour, you will also omit the water.
- As the baked granola cools, it will continue to harden.
- Depending on how much you flip and stir the granola after its first bake, the granola may come out too chunky. If you find that you aren't a fan of the large chunks, after it has cooled, you can break up the granola to your desired chunk size.
- Granola can be stored at room temperature, in an airtight container for a couple months.
