Description
Bake crunchy oat clusters with dried fruit in 30 minutes. Sheet-pan granola broken into chunky bites perfect for snacking.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup chopped dried apricots
- ⅓ cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine oats, sliced almonds, chopped pecans, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and sea salt in a large mixing bowl and stir well.
- Whisk together maple syrup, melted coconut oil, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly with a large spoon until everything is evenly coated and sticky.
- Transfer the granola mixture to the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer, then press down very firmly with the back of a spatula to compact it.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes without stirring, until the granola is golden brown and fragrant.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet for at least 1 hour without touching or disturbing, as this is when the clusters form.
- Once fully cooled, break the granola into large chunky clusters with your hands and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, and raisins to the cooled clusters and toss to combine, then store in an airtight container at room temperature for food safety.
Notes
- Replace coconut oil with melted butter for a richer flavor.
- Use honey instead of maple syrup for a different sweetness profile.
- Swap almonds and pecans for walnuts, cashews, or hazelnuts based on preference.
- Add 2 tablespoons of chia seeds or ground flax seeds for extra nutrition.
- Use dried blueberries, cherries, or chopped dates instead of cranberries and apricots.
- Mix in ¼ cup of mini dark chocolate chips after cooling for extra indulgence.
- Press the granola mixture down very firmly and evenly on the baking sheet for the largest clusters.
- Do not stir or disturb the granola while baking, as this prevents cluster formation.
- Let granola cool completely undisturbed for at least 1 hour to allow clusters to harden properly.
- Add dried fruit only after baking and cooling to prevent it from burning or becoming tough.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain crispness and prevent clusters from softening.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American