Maple Pecan Granola

10 mins Prep Time

50 mins Cook Time

Written By

Christine Peddie

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you want to ensure that it’s also the most delicious. Crunchy, delicately sweet, filling and delectably maple forward, this granola, inspired by Smitten Kitchen, is a perfect thing to keep on hand.

Easy to customize, you can choose to make this granola any way you like. Omit the nuts, add coconut, switch up the dried fruit; anything goes! Just don’t omit the whipped egg whites. They may seem unnecessary but they’re literally the glue that holds this granola together, resulting in appealingly large clusters. Few people crave powdery, isolated oats in their granola. What we want are hearty chunks baked to a caramelized, satisfying finish. Add the egg whites, and you’ll have exactly that.

In yogurt bowls, eaten with milk, as a snack or, in a pinch, as dessert, this granola is hard to beat. Bake some up and you’ll almost look forward to waking up each day.

Ingredients

Maple Pecan Granola

3 cups large flake rolled oats
1/2 cup raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds
1/4 ground flax
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites
3/4 cup pecan halves
3/4 cup dried fruit, such as cranberries, mixed berries, raisins, etc.

Directions

Maple Pecan Granola

6 Steps

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300°F. In a large bowl, combine oats, pumpkin seeds, flax, olive oil, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
Step 2

Stir brown sugar, maple syrup and vanilla together in a small bowl. Toss syrup with oat mixture.
Step 3

In a separate, clean bowl, whisk egg whites until frothy. Combine with oat mixture.
Step 4

Spread granola in an even layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes.
Step 5

Remove granola from oven. Add in pecans and, using a large spatula, flip over large sections of granola, trying not to break up clusters. Bake for an additional 20 minutes, until toasted and evenly browned.
Step 6

Remove granola from oven and allow to cool completely. Mix in dried fruit. Store in an airtight container.