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A close-up of a golden-brown granola recipe, rich with oats, nuts, and dried cranberries, infused with a bright orange essence.

Easy Granola Recipe

Rebecca Blumer
Crunchy, toasty homemade granola with a bright orange zest and cardamom infusion for a quietly gourmet, bakery-style flavor and reliable crisp clusters.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

  • Large, rimmed baking sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • large bowl
  • Medium saucepan

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 1/2 cups slivered almonds
  • 1 cup coconut flakes
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil or coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar or to taste
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups dried cranberries Optional

Instructions
 

Prep the Oven and Pan

  • Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper so the granola lifts easily and bakes evenly without sticking.

Mix the Dry Ingredients

  • In a large bowl, mix oats, pecans, almonds, and coconut until evenly distributed. Set aside while you make the syrup.

Infuse the Syrup and Coat the Oats

  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine oil, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Stir gently until it begins to boil, then remove from heat.
  • Add orange zest and a pinch of cardamom and let it sit briefly in the warm mixture to infuse (keep the boil gentle, not aggressive). Pour over the oat mixture and fold until well coated with no dusty patches.
  • Spread evenly onto the prepared baking sheet and lightly press for clusters.

Bake, Stir, and Cool

  • Bake for 20 minutes, then stir well so the edges do not over-brown.
  • Continue baking on the top rack until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let cool on the pan for 20 to 30 minutes to fully crisp up.

Add Fruit and Store

  • Once completely cooled, toss the granola with cranberries so they stay soft and chewy instead of baking into hard little bits.
  • Store in an airtight container to protect the crunch.

Notes

Press the granola lightly into an even layer for clusters, stir at the 20-minute mark, and cool completely on the pan for maximum crunch.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 8gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 150mgPotassium: 260mgFiber: 6gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2.5mg
Keyword cardamom, crispy granola clusters, granola recipe, homemade granola, orange zest
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