Cranberry Orange and Pecan Granola
An irresistible gluten-free granola flavored with dried orange peel, cinnamon and ginger. Great to give as an edible gift or to keep all to yourself!
I have a very long, consistently evolving list of recipes that I want to make and every week, at least ten new ideas pop into my head. I’m usually left trying to narrow it down to the few that I realistically have the time to make, but of course the list that I eventually narrow it down to is always completely unrealistic. Consequently, I end-up rolling out of bed on the weekends in my pajamas and rushing to the kitchen so that I can run around like a crazy person as I make four different things and try not to burn the house down.
Brandon will occasionally snap a picture of me during this process {memories, he says} but this morning, as I stood there in my comfy fleece pants and spandex sports bra with melted chocolate smeared on my stomach and bits of crumbled cheese stuck in my hair, he was kind enough to have mercy on me.
Sometimes I wonder if all of this is worth constantly feeling like a hot mess, but then when I stop and take a deep breath and the scent of orange peel, cinnamon and ginger creeps into my nose, I’m reminded that yes, it is.
That list of recipes has been flooded with all things cranberry and orange lately but I’m trying my best to mix in other recipes so that I don’t overload you with the same thing over and over again. That said, I’m very happy with my decision to make this granola because it’s the best to ever come out of my kitchen.
I know I tend to say that with every new granola I make but this one really is the best. It uses an entire dried orange peel and the flavor makes itself known as soon as it sets foot on your taste buds.
There are actually a few different ways you can dry an orange peel- I chose the fastest route which is baking it in the oven for about 30 minutes. As it bakes, it starts to curl up and eventually hardens so that you can grind it with a food processor {or a coffee grinder} into a fine powder.
After it’s baked, the bright flecks of orange stick to all of the other ingredients, leaving pops of citrusy flavor with each bite.
And then the scent…THE SCENT. You can forget having to buy holiday candles because this will blow those out of the water.
It’s special enough to give as an edible gift and it’s vegan (if made with maple syrup) and gluten-free so you don’t have to worry about it ruining anyone’s diet. Plus it’s kind of nice to have a healthy alternative to all of those holiday cookies.
Okay, okay. Who am I kidding? It’s nice to have IN ADDITION to holiday cookies.
It’s all about balance, right?
Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats*
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1 large orange peel, dried and finely ground (approx. 1/4 cup)
3 tablespoons golden flax meal
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Thinly slice the orange peel and then spread it out on the cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, until it starts to shrink and curl then remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Raise the oven to 300°F and then use a small food processor or a coffee grinder to grind the orange peel into a powder. Transfer the ground orange peel to a large bowl with the oats, pecans, pumpkin seeds, flax meal, cinnamon, ginger, and salt then stir to combine.
- Next pour in the honey or maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract and stir until everything is evenly coated. Spread the mixture onto the cookie sheet, keeping it together in about a 10x 10” block. This helps it stick together while it cooks so that it will have a chunky consistency when cooled. You can skip this part if you don’t like chunky granola.
- Bake in the oven for 35 minutes and then allow to cool for at least 20 minutes. Transfer it to a large bowl and stir in the cranberries then store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
*be sure to use certified gluten-free for allergies
Looks great! You always have wonderful pictures too. Love the bow and mason jars. Happy Monday!
I love that you made your own dried orange peel. I need to have this granola!
I love the idea of using dried orange peel! That’s genius. I love those juice sweetened cranberries! I’m so glad my Whole Foods finally got them in!
I can completely relate to being overloaded by recipe ideas and not having the time to follow through — #storyofmylife. But you picked a VERY good recipe to go with! Cranberry and orange has to be one of my favourite holiday flavours of all time, and I don’t think I need to tell you about my current obsession with granola. Let’s just say that I’ve given myself a stomach ache from it more times than I care to admit :lol:
These photos are fantastic, Sarah.
I, too, made granola this weekend for holiday gifts!
Wow, this sounds like it would have SO much flavor-yum!! I just bought a huge bulk size tub of greek yogurt from Costco over the weekend, so this would be perfect ;)
Yummm! That looks incredible. I am always looking for fun recipe that can double as DIY gifts.
This looks so pretty! And I love the holiday-themed ribbons :) Also, anything that is going to make my kitchen smell like Christmas is totally getting made this year!
Yum! I love the orange/cranberry combo this time of year. I bet your kitchen smelled amazing.
You’ve done it again. This is gorgeous. And I’d love to see an “outtakes” post of all the pictures Brandon takes of you cooking. I didn’t know that’s how you make orange peels. So cool! Nice work, Sarah. :)
1) I’ve been loving on orange lately 2) Our weekend mornings sound quite similar 3) THAT POUR SHOT. That is all :)
Sounds like an awesome holiday recipe lady! Hehehe, I’m cracking up at your description of what you look like dashing around your kitchen like a mad woman. I feel like I keep rushing to make recipes before the natural lighting goes away so damn early, but I think I need to just buck up and buy some food photography props already!
When you figure out how to end the hot mess-edness, let me know, cause I could use some advice in that area, too. I have to admit, I’m kind of bummed Brandon didn’t get a pic of you with the chocolate smear and cheese crumbles, cause that would have been a fun action shot. You should totally post those!!
The orange peel? You’re brilliant! This granola would totally be one of those recipes I would make with the intention of gift giving and would end up binge eating over the stove.
what a cool alternative to holiday cookies (!)
I have been on the hunt for a healthy and delicious homemade granola, and voila, here it is! I cannot wait to try this, and hopefully use it as part of my holiday gifting.
Thanks!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
Cranberry orange is suchhhh a good combo! Keep those recipes coming! I can’t get enough of it right now!
And this granola … I need to make a batch to have on hand for breakfast and snacking. It looks completely fantastic. And you totally had me laughing …. a scene very similar took place in my kitchen recently … with flour all over my clothes, sticky stuff all over the counter and crumbs on the floor being frantically licked up by Emma! lol
Haha, I feel the exact same way!! I have a huge book of all the recipes I want to make and I feel like I hardly have time to get to any of them! At least there is always next year! I recently started making my own granola and I just love how easy it is! This looks delicious and I love that you dried your own orange peel :)
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I made this yesterday, I was looking forward for my breakfast this morning , what a treat I had, tasty, low in sugar and salt, home-made , loved it, thank you for the recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Laura! :)
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Yes, yes, yes! Made this wonderful granola this evening – and had to stash it away quickly from my husband’s multiple ‘samples’. The orange peel did it for both of us. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s breakfast – with sliced bananas and yogurt. Thanks again!
I had to hide it from my husband too, haha! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment, Jackie! :)