Healthy Honey-Pecan-Cherry Granola Recipe
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why would you wake up to a stack of flapjacks drowned in maple syrup or a bowl of sugary cereal? Instead of reaching for instant pancake mix or a sweetened oatmeal packet, consider crafting your own homemade, healthy granola.
Our honey-pecan-cherry granola recipe below is jam-packed with healthy fats from the crunchy pecans, brain-boosting MCTs from the tropical coconut shreds, antibacterial properties from the honey, vitamin C from the tangy orange zest, and antioxidants coming from the tart cherries. Can your bowl of frosted cereal flakes and chocolate clusters compare? (We didn't think so.)
Besides for breakfast, this crunchy granola makes for a delicious trail mix base that you can pack on the go. Throw it in your purse for a midday meal that won't break your calorie bank, or toss it into your gym bag for a perfect pre-workout snack. It's got slow-digesting carbs to keep you going through that HIIT session, as well as some plant-based protein to keep you full. What's more, the cherries in the granola contain melatonin, which can help you fall asleep faster—deeming this recipe an ideal bedtime snack, too!
Hands on time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Nutrition: 136 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated), 51 mg sodium, 12 g sugar, 2 g protein, 1 g fiber
Ingredients
Makes 12 servings
1⁄4 cup honey
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange zest
1⁄2 tsp apple pie spice
1⁄8 tsp salt
11⁄2 cups puffed rice cereal
1 cup regular rolled oats
1⁄2 cup chopped pecans
1⁄4 cup shredded coconut
1⁄2 cup dried cherries
Milk (optional)
How to Make It
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 15×10-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together the first six ingredients (through salt). Add cereal, oats, pecans, and coconut; stir to coat well. Spread cereal mixture in prepared pan.
- Bake about 15 minutes or until golden, stirring after 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Stir in cherries. Let cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks. Serve with milk, if desired.
Eat This! Tip
CHERRY CLEVER!
- Did you know that cherries, like milk, contain melatonin?
