Peanut Butter Cashew Coconut Granola

Oh boy, it’s here! Another gluten-free granola recipe for you. All of my others have had very fall-like flavor profiles (pumpkin and sweet potato) but it’s time for spring y’all. Not that peanut butter and cashews exactly scream spring like asparagus and artichokes do, but they’re tasty year-round so just enjoy.

This yummy, crunchy, savory-sweet granola is great fuel before a workout. Grab a small handful about 30-45 minutes prior to heading out the door. After a sweat session, top 3/4 cup low-fat plain greek yogurt with 1/4 cup granola and half an apple chopped for a well-balanced recovery meal. Add an extra dash of cinnamon for a more heart-healthy edge!

What You’ll Need:

5 cups gluten-free rolled oats
1 cup raw cashew pieces
1 cup unsweetened shaved coconut
1/2 cup coconut oil (liquid or melted)
3/4 cup all-natural peanut butter
3/4 cup maple syrup or honey
1 Tbs vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean scraped
Optional: 1 cup chopped dried Turkish apricots

How to Make It:

Preheat the oven to 300°F
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, cashews, and coconut.
In a blender, blend together the coconut oil, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth.
Pour blender mixture over your dry ingredients and stir until evenly coated.
Spread the mixture on a lipped baking sheet, pressing it down to evenly cover all the way to the edges.
Bake for 1 hour, gently turning the granola with a spatula every 15 minutes. Flip in sections so that you keep some clumps. Move some of the granola from the edges to the middle and from the middle to the edges about halfway through so that it cooks evenly.
After an hour, turn the oven down to 275°F and cook another 10 -20 minutes. You’ll know it is done when it is dry to the touch and piece left to cool on the counter turns crispy. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
If you’re adding dried apricots, stir them in while the mix is still cooling.

Note: store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.