I’ve taken quite a shine to making granola lately. I enjoy coming up with new flavours, and find new ones taking shape in my mind on a regular basis. Even more, I enjoy a simple breakfast of berries, plain yogourt and a tablespoon or two of granola for flavour, crunch and a touch of decadence.
This recipe brings together the fragrant marriage of cardamom and orange. The cardamom is the real scent show-off here, infusing the kitchen with its floral, citrusy perfume, enhanced by the bolder citrus of the orange. Like all my granola to date, it’s subtly sweet with maple syrup and raisins playing supporting roles. Coarsely grated orange zest and juice are the star flavourings in the cast, adding brightness and pizzazz. The nuts this time around are almonds, cut simply in half, both for crunch and to display the beauty of their skins.
It’s been said that this is my best granola to date. That may be a matter of opinion, but I do know that making a batch of this on New Year’s Day morning would get 2017 off to a zesty start. Happy New Year!
Orange Almond Granola
© Marlene Cornelis, Urban Cottage Life 2017
Preheat the oven to 325℉ and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
- 3 cups large flake oatmeal
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2-1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- zest of 1 orange, coarsely grated
- 1 cup whole almonds, cut in half crosswise
- 1/3 cup (100 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3/4 cup raisins
Combine the oatmeal, salt, spices, orange zest and almonds in a large bowl and toss well. Add the orange juice and maple syrup, then stir until the the dry ingredients are evenly moistened.
Spread the granola on the baking tray. Toast in the pre-heated oven for 30 minutes, removing twice to stir and turn the mixture. Use this time to wash and dry the mixing bowl (you want it perfectly dry when you return the toasted granola to it.)
Once the oatmeal and nuts are nicely toasted and the mixture is dry, decant the granola into the bowl, toss in the raisins, and set on a cooling rack. Stir the mixture every once in a while until it’s completely cooled and ready to decant into your storage container.
Hungry for More Granola?
- Kitchen Hack ❉ Quick Skillet Granola
- On the Bandwagon ❊ Pumpkin Spice Granola
- Another Way to Apple A Day ❦ Triple Apple Granola
- Indulgent Festive Crunch ❦ Pomegranate Pistachio Granola
Interesting love it.
Thanks, Suzanne, and Happy New Year to you!
[…] Here are a few more granola recipes that elevate this normally humble breakfast staple: Pomegranate Pistachio Granola, Triple Apple Granola and Orange Almond Granola. […]