Pecan & Date Granola

This easy-to-make, homemade Pecan & Date Granola is brimming with toasted golden oats, crunchy pecans, & sweet dates...

Can we talk about raisins for just a quick second? In general, I don't like them. I mean, they have their place in the culinary world, but for me that wouldn't be straight from the box. Or baked into any kind of bread or bagel (oatmeal cookies though are a-okay with me ;) ). Or as part of a trail mix (I always pick around them). And especially not in my granola!

Do you know how difficult it can be to find a box of store bought granola that does not have raisins in it?? Nearly impossible. Believe me- I have tried. 

If you have an aversion to raisins in your morning granola like I do, then you are going to love the recipe that I am sharing with you all today! This homemade Pecan & Date Granola is brimming with toasted golden oats, crunchy pecans, & sweet dates.... and absolutely no raisins whatsoever! ;)

Tropical Paradise Granola Clusters

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sunsweet Growers for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Need a mini escape to the tropics now? You can't go wrong with these crunchy Tropical Paradise Granola Clusters infused with sweet tropical flavors... 

It has been in the single digits & teens around here this week, and these cold, frigid January temps have me daydreaming of a tropical paradise escape. I mean, it has been so cold that it literally makes my face hurt. And to quote that popular meme, "Why am I living where the air hurts my face?" It could be worse... I could be living in Fargo, or in Buffalo bracing for lake effect snow, or even the Arctic, right? ;) So, I will just bundle up, bake up some tropical paradise inspired granola clusters, and dream that I am enjoying a big bowl of these while swinging in a hammock on a white sand beach.

These Tropical Paradise Granola Clusters are so simple & easy to make with a little help from the new Sunsweet Philippine Tropicals flavors- Philippine Green Mango & Thai Coconut Chip. And for good measure, I added in some of their dried Philippine Pineapple to the mix. ;) Sunsweet does want to help you Find Your Paradise with an amazing sweepstakes to win a tropical paradise getaway (more on that at the end of this post.) But if you happen to be stuck in the bitter cold of winter (like me) and need a mini escape to the tropics now, you can't go wrong with these crunchy granola clusters infused with sweet tropical flavors...

Gingerbread Pecan Granola

Lately I have been a little obsessed with making my own granola.  Since I have discovered how super simple it is to make (and to tailor to my tastes exactly), I am making a new batch just about every week now.  

One of my favorite holiday flavors is gingerbread.  Gingerbread men.  Thick, soft gingerbread cake.  So why not gingerbread granola?  I added buttery pecans for a little extra crunch.

What you will need:

2 cups of rolled oats

2/3 cup of chopped pecans

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp salt

4 tbsp coconut oil

1/4 cup molasses

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In large bowl, mix together the oats, pecans, sugar, and all the spices.  Set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat the coconut oil over medium heat.  (Often times coconut oil is solid during the colder months & needs to be melted to use.)  Once the oil is melted, add the molasses and mix.  Heat for 1 minute.  Remove from the heat and add the vanilla.  

Pour the liquid mixture over the oats mixture and mix well to combine.  Spread the granola mixture evenly over the parchment paper.  

Bake at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes, taking the granola out and stirring it about every 10 minutes.

Once baked, let it cool completely on the baking sheet.  Break it up into smaller pieces, and then store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

A bowl of this Gingerbread Pecan Granola is perfect any winter morning! 

Granola also makes a fabulous foodie gift for the holidays.  Just pour it into pretty jars and tie a ribbon around the lid!  :)

Have you made homemade granola before?  What is your favorite flavor combination to make?