Crunch Time.
I rarely eat granola at breakfast — it just gets in the way of my morning cocoa. The two just don’t get along. I do, however, find myself nibbling it in the afternoon as a semi-healthy snack. It’s nice and crunchy to wake me up, and it is filled with flavor.
Why “semi” healthy? Because I like my granola sweet and use a goodly amount of maple syrup to sweeten it. If I didn’t, I would just be eating plain boring oats, like a horse.
Unlike some lavish granola recipes, I keep mine pretty simple… you won’t find pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, millet, chocolate chips, or coconut flakes in my granola. Just oats, nuts, and fruit (plus the oil and maple syrup).
No, this recipe will not change the world, and I am sure there are many out there just like it. But good is good, and that is why I wanted to share it with you.
~ David
Almond Apricot Granola
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Ingredients
- 1/3 cup neutral oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup diced dried apricots (about 15)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the oats and almonds toss well to combine.
- Scrape the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, stirring halfway through until golden brown. Remove from the oven and evenly sprinkle the diced apricots overtop. Cool completely on the baking sheet set on a wire rack.
- Put the granola in an airtight container, preferably glass, and store in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
- Makes about 5 cups.
- Note: you can use different nuts (pecans, walnuts) but watch them as they cook – some nuts brown faster than others. You can also substitute different fruit for the apricots: dried cherries, blueberries, and golden raisins all work well.
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FEL!X
April 26, 2025 at 4:47 amI tried some like this several times – but I’m definitely not a müesli nor a cornflakes lover!!!
Mimi Rippee
April 26, 2025 at 6:08 amSimply perfect!
Mad Dog
April 26, 2025 at 6:35 amAlmonds and apricots sound really good, but I’d probably skip the maple syrup and chocolate chips.
Barb
April 26, 2025 at 7:12 amThis sounds like a much tastier way to eat oats than oatmeal. I never cared for the texture of oatmeal and also thought it bland. Your granola recipe takes care of both of those issues. I also like that all the ingredients are healthy foods, unlike commercial granola. I would probably use less maple syrup though. I like the addition of the almonds to add crunch and great taste.