by Meghan 22 Comments
I abandoned you guys on Wednesday.
I’m sorry about that. Really, I truly am, but I needed a night off; you understand. In fact, based on attendance in the blog world, I’m thinking a lot of you need nights off too. Maybe we should consider a collective holiday break.
SinceI bailed on Wednesday, I wanted to make it up to you though. So Icome bearing gifts, not of the physical kind, but more of the metaphorical kind. I give you…drum roll please…my recipe for OrangeCranberry Granola.
While my giftdoes involve some labor on your part, it won’t take much time and the end result is more than worth the effort. I know you’d probably prefer I just make it myself and ship it off to you, and while that’s a great idea, it’s not going to happen. At least not this month, although therewillbe another granola giveaway sometime in the future…the very, very distant future.
I actually perfected this recipe mid-Summer and then deliberately decided not to share. I know I’m cruel, but there’s a reason for it.Of course there is; you know me, always ready with an argument. Man, you’d think I was raised by lawyers or something(cough, cough).I held back on publishing this lovely little number becausethis granola screams holidays to me;provided granola could scream, obviously. The combination of orange and nutmeg couldeasily beone of Ebenezer Scrooge’s ghosts of Christmas past. In fact, I’d welcome this fruity scentedghost with open arms and a spoon.
Let’s talk citrus. Not surprising given my loveof fruit, but I’m a huge fan, and I like it to pack a punch.The citrus, in my opinion, should never be a bit player. In fact, it should always be the star of the show. Don’t pass mea watered down lemon square because we’re going to have issues. My goal when I bite into something made with any kind of citrus is Iwant the flavor to be strong enough toup and smackyou in the face. Sorta like how Red Bull gives you wings. This granola will slap you upside your head.
Fine, fine, fine; it won’t actually hit you, but you’ll know without a doubt that an orange has been involved in the making of this delicious concoction. You’ll love it too. In fact, I’d go so far as to say your friends, family and coworkers will loveit because this would make a fabulous holiday gift.
I planning on making a quantum leap size physics batch this weekend (I’m pretty sure this makes no sense) and giftingit to everyone I know. Well except you, but we’ve already established that. Besides, I’m given you theactual tools so youcan make it yourself, which is way better. Right…..um, I love you.
Orange Cranberry Granola (Makes approximately 6 Cups)
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 2 1/2 to 3 cups chopped unsalted nuts (I use a combination of walnuts, almonds and pecans).
- 1/2 cup shredded and unsweetened coconut
- 3 Tablespoons wheat germ or flax powder
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 Tablespoon orange extract
- 1 orange: the juice of and the zest from (approximately 1 to 2 Tablespoonsof zest, depending on the size of the orange) Obviously the zestier, the bestier (Go with it).
- 1/3 cup olive or canola oil (I tested this using orange juice in place of the oil, and it wasn’t pretty; learn from my mistakes).
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup (put away the Aunt Jemima; ain’t no maple in that).
- 1 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine the oats, nuts, coconut, wheat germ or flax powder, and nutmegin a medium-sized bowl.Mix in your orange extract, orange zest and the juice from your orange.
- Add in your oil of choice. Stir to combine and evenly coat the dry mixture. Then, add in your maple syrup. Stir to evenly coat mixture. It’s important you add the oiland syrupseparately. I’ve done it together, and it takes away from the texture.
- Once combined,spoon mixture onto a baking sheet. Leave clumped together. Do not spread out on the baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through.*Note: If you like your granola on the crunchier side, you can cook it longer. Also, if you like big clusters, don’t stir it as often.
- Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes andup toovernight, if you happen to have catsandthereforelet it cool on a shelf inthe dining room, where you promptly forget about it.What? It happens.
- Add your cranberries.Enjoy plain, with milk as cereal or with yogurt and fresh fruit.
Are you making any holiday gifts this year? If so, what? Are you a fan of citrus in baking? Do you like the flavor to smack you upside the head, or should it be a bit player?
