Cranberry Pistachio Granola

The last time I posted about breakfast cereal, I was dissing granola in favor of muesli. I'm back in the granola camp these days.

Sometimes, on a rainy weekend like this one, things just don't seem right without a batch of granola in the oven. The kids walk by the cooling pan all afternoon and sneak bits. I act like I don't see. Things are made particularly cozy by the fact that I am officially listening to Christmas music. I make myself wait until November 1st. I am the World's Biggest Toasted-Oat-Eating Sap.

Cranberry Pistachio Granola
This recipe uses butter--you can sub vegetable oil if you want, and you can use as little as 3 or 4 Tb. of it. The less fat you put, the more closely you should watch to make sure it doesn't burn. I put the pistachios in after it's toasted to preserve their bright green color.

6 cups old-fashioned oats
1 c. raw sunflower seeds
1 c. raw pumpkin seeds
1 c. whole raw almonds
1 c. unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. (1 cube) unsalted butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. pure maple syrup
1/2 c. shelled unsalted pistachios
1 c. dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Mix oats, seeds, coconut, and almonds and salt together in a large bowl.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with brown sugar and maple syrup. Stir to combine, pour over oat mixture, and mix thoroughly. Divide evenly between two pans and toast for 20-30 minutes, switching pans halfway through. Remove from oven and let cool. Add cranberries and pistachios and store in an airtight container.

Comments

[The Rowdy Chowgirl]

This looks so good! It would be just perfect stirred into my morning yogurt. I haven't made my own granola in a long time, but this recipe is tempting me.

[Em]

Cute bowl!

[Food Blog Digest – Fruit]

[...] In Praise of Leftovers – Cranberry Pistahio Granola [...]

[Malaika]

Yum -- this looks good. I agree about the rainy weekend granola sentiment -- I made a variation on your Eat it Every Day Granola this weekend. The boys stole fewer than normal tastes while it cooled, but then had some for lunch to make up for that!

[Biz]

Another reason why I like you - we both listen to Christmas music beginning November 1 :D

My daughter will love this granola - thanks for posting it.

[Pam]

Welcome Back to Camp Granola!! Can't wait to make this one.

[bethany]

i was just thinking about christmas music but thought that it was *wrong* to turn it on before thanksgiving...november 1st is a much more generous date. i like it. :)

[Ken]

I attended a Labor Day party at my nephew's in Greenwater, WA and I believe it was your sister-in-law or perhaps your sister who brought some of your cranberry-pistachio granola for the morning after. It was the best I had ever tasted and immediately asked her for the recipe. She gave me you blog site and I have now made the granola three times. Everyone agrees, it's the best they have ever had. I make oat-craberry scones in which naturally, the main ingredients are toasted oats and dried cranberries. On a whim, I thought I would substitute your granola for the oats and cranberries and now all you try them say they are my best. Good stuff your granola! Thank you for sharing.