Today, I am sharing my maple granola recipe. This crunchy, nutty topper is the best granola you will ever have!
Out of the way store-bought granola! My homemade recipe is healthy and packed full of nuts, coconut oil, pepita seeds, and cinnamon. The secret ingredient that makes this granola delicious is maple syrup. When completely cooled crunchy clusters break apart creating the perfect snack! Top smoothie bowls, chia pudding, salads, and oatmeal with this crunchy delight.
My family and I love Autumn's Gold Grain Free Granola Bars at Costco. We have these bars in our pantry at all times. I was on a mission to create the BEST paleo granola, so I tried many different recipes and flavor combinations until I landed on this recipe. Autumn's Gold and this recipe ingredient list are almost identical, how funny is that!
Now when my daughters see this homemade granola sitting out on the kitchen countertop, it's all they want to eat.
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What You'll Need For This Recipe
Almonds - Make sure to buy unsalted
Macadamia - Love them for their rich buttery flavor
Pecans - A must in any granola in my opinion of course
Coconut- Adds a tropical, nutty, and sweet flavor
Pumpkin seeds - Also known as pepita seed
Chia seeds - Rich in omega 3 fatty acids
Coconut oil - For fat and flavor! I love the extra coconut flavor it contributes
Maple syrup - Secret ingredient
Vanilla - Essential in any baked good
Cinnamon - For seasoning
How To Make Maple Granola Recipe
- In a food processor combine nuts, coconut, cinnamon, and salt.
- Pulse the nuts until they resemble a small chop. Be careful not to chop too fine.
- Melt coconut oil in a microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Pour over the chopped nuts.
- Add in pepita seeds.
- Then chia seeds.
- Drizzle in maple syrup.
- Mix everything together so all the flavors meld.
- Flatten granola mixture on until ½ inch thick. Bake in a 300-degree oven for 35-40 minutes.
Pro Tips
- Use coconut oil. You can use any oil or melted butter. Fat is what gives you that nice golden brown color and irresistible crunchy texture. Coconut oil is good for you and packed with a delicious tropical flavor.
- Pulse nuts until desired texture. In this recipe, I am going for a small chop. If you chop the nuts too fine, you will have nut powder which is not what we want. Press the pulse button for a 10-15 second burst until you reach the right texture.
- Give maple syrup a try. You can substitute this recipe for honey if you like. On the other hand, if you want to make the best granola ever, use maple syrup. The combinations of toasted nuts and maple syrup are magical.
- Do you like chunky granola? Me too! Use parchment paper so the maple syrup doesn't stick to the pan. Press down and flatten the granola mixture before baking.
- Oven temperature is SO important. If the oven is too hot, the nuts will burn before the baking is complete. I find that 300 degrees for 35-40 minutes is the sweet spot.
- Let the granola cool completely. After the granola leaves the oven it will be soft. Once cooled down, you will have those yummy crunchy, chunky, clusters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is homemade granola cheaper?
Homemade granola is healthier, tastier, and cheaper. If you have an hour to spare, grab a mixing bowl, oven, and baking tray. Then make my maple granola recipe!
How do you store granola?
You can store granola in an air-tight container for 2 weeks or a freezer for later. To freeze, place granola in a ziplock bag and remove as much air as possible. If you have a vacuum sealer, that will work the best.
What makes granola stick together?
When the sugars caramelize, they make everything stick together forming into desirable clusters. It's very important to let the granola cool completely before breaking it apart.
What are some optional add-ins?
- Dried fruit - Cranberries, apricots, raisins, and cherries.
- Chocolate chips - add them in after granola has cooled, or they will melt.
- Oats - This recipe is paleo, so I omitted the oats. If you love oats in your granola, by all means, add them in.
- Spices - Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice are all great options.
You might like these too...
- White Balsamic Dressing Recipe
- all-purpose gluten-free flour recipe
- Gluten-Free Kumquat Date Bread
- Insanely Delicious Candied Kumquats
📖 Recipe
Maple Granola Recipe (Paleo)
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans unsalted
- 1 cup almonds unsalted
- ½ cup macadamia nuts unsalted
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds unsalted
- ½ cup coconut flakes
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
- In a food processor blend almonds, pecans, macadamia, coconut, cinnamon, and salt. Pulse until nuts are in small pieces but not powder.
- Pour nuts into a large mixing bowl, add in pumpkins seeds, chia seeds, coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup. Mix well until combined.
- On a parchment-lined baking tray press down granola mixture until flat. You are looking for a ½ inch thickness.
- Bake in a 300-degree oven for 35 minutes. Granola should look golden brown.
- LET COOL COMPLETELY. This is crucial to the granola's success. Once completely cooled down you can break into clusters.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.