Cherry Vanilla Granola! Tart, chewy dried cherries and crunchy slivered almonds are sweetened with a combination of honey and maple syrup infused with fragrant vanilla bean in this easy-to-make snack.
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This Cherry-Vanilla Granola is what granola-filled dreams are made of. Tart, chewy dried cherries and crunchy slivered almonds are sweetened with a combination of honey and maple syrup infused with fragrant vanilla bean.
One of my favorite parts of eating this granola is the vanilla bean-flecked milk that's left over at the end... it's the grown-up version of the thrill you got as a kid when you discovered Cocoa Puffs created its own chocolate milk byproduct.
Full of fiber and flavor and ready in under 30 minutes, this is a snack that will become a regular craving!
Looking for more tasty homemade granola recipes? Check these out!
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, and can be made vegan and gluten-free. (See Variations & Substitutions below.)
Ingredients
- Rolled oats
- Sea salt
- Slivered almonds
- Dried tart cherries
- Coconut oil or butter
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Vanilla bean pod (or vanilla bean paste)
Instructions
Prepare a small sheet pan by lining with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a large bowl, toss together oats, salt and slivered almonds. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together coconut oil, maple syrup, honey and vanilla bean seeds along with the vanilla pod. Bring to a bubble and allow to simmer on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
Tip: If you do not have a vanilla bean pod or vanilla bean paste, simply stir in 11/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract once the mixture is removed from the heat.
Remove the vanilla bean pod and pour the syrup mixture over the oat mixture, stirring until well-coated.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 15 minutes until slightly golden and fragrant.
Remove from oven and toss in dried cherries.
Cool completely and store in an air-tight container.
Recipe FAQ's
Since dried fruit contains a lot of sugar and can burn easily, it's usually best to toss it in once the granola is finished baking.
Cool the granola completely to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Yes! Place cooled granola in an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months! This is a great option if you make a large batch.
Variations & Substitutions
Try these variations!
- Add dark chocolate chips for a decadent twist.
- Switch up the type of nuts you use in the granola. Try walnuts, pecans or macadamia nuts.
- Sprinkle in some coconut flakes for a tropical twist.
Diet-Specific Substitutions
- Vegan: Omit honey and use all maple syrup.
- Gluten-free: Oats, in and of themselves, are naturally gluten-free, but can often be contaminated during processing or storage. To be certain that the oats are gluten-free, buy oats that specify this on the packaging.
Cherry Vanilla Granola
Ingredients
- 2½ cups rolled oats
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅓ cup slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or your favorite type of oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 vanilla bean pod scraped or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ½ cup dried tart cherries
Instructions
- Prepare a small sheet pan by lining with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large bowl, toss together oats, salt, almonds. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together coconut oil, maple syrup, honey and vanilla bean seeds along with the vanilla pod. Bring to a bubble and allow to simmer on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
- Remove the vanilla bean pod and pour the syrup mixture over the oat mixture, stirring until well-coated. Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 15 minutes until slightly golden and fragrant.
- Toss with dried cherries.
- Cool completely and store in an air-tight container.
Notes
- Add dark chocolate chips for a decadent twist.
- Switch up the type of nuts you use in the granola. Try walnuts, pecans or macadamia nuts.
- Sprinkle in some coconut flakes for a tropical twist.
- Vegan: Omit honey and use all maple syrup.
- Gluten-free: Oats, in and of themselves, are naturally gluten-free, but can often be contaminated during processing or storage. To be certain that the oats are gluten-free, buy oats that specify this on the packaging.
Anonymous says
Delicious! love, love, love it!
thekitchenprep says
@Anonymous - Thank, thank, thank you! 😉