There is something oddly comforting about granola to us. It is so comforting that we will on occasion buy a Costco-sized bag of granola meant to feed a family of 6 for a few weeks time, and polish it off in 32 hours. Is that braggy? Maybe. But it does convey our appreciation for this sweet and salty snack. We wanted to share the granola love with you with our homemade alternative, the ever-satisfying Cranberry Salted Maple version!
One thing we always pay attention to when selecting a granola is the addition of sugar. A good rule of thumb is to find a granola that offers 6 grams of added sugar or less per serving. However- be warned! Granola serving sizes vary in a big way. Some serving sizes will be a full cup, others a 1/4 cup. We prefer a higher fat, lower sugar option, as this means it is usually a nuttier granola, filled with more goodness than fillers. This particular granola is nut-free and allergy friendly! We instead packed it with seeds to provide us with healthy fats, fiber and a glorious crunch.
This recipe also has slightly more sugar than a standard granola due to the dried fruit, the cranberry. The cranberry gives this a chewy texture in addition to the crunch, making this the perfect sweet, chewy, crunchy, salty treat or snack! We used orange flavored cranberries for this recipe and HIGHLY, highly recommend it. However, if you are looking for a lower sugar options, Ocean Spray has a reduced sugar cranberry option! Not sponsored… Just trying to be helpful, as you best believe when it comes to cutting down on the sugar we support ya.
Cranberry Salted Maple Granola (Nut Free)
Equipment
- parchment paper
- baking sheet
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup dried cranberries (or orange flavored cranberries)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicon mat or parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until fully combined.
- Add oats, pepitas and sunflower seeds to the bowl and stir everything together until the dry ingredients are completely coated and evenly incorporated.
- Dump the mixture out onto the baking sheet and spread evenly to form one layer.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, stirring every 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven when toasted to your liking.
- Once partially cooled (10 minutes), stir in cranberries. Let the granola cool completely in the pan before placing in an airtight container.
Notes
Let us know what you think of this recipe in the comments below! Happy baking!
XO,
Amanda and Christina
