it's a date granola

last week i realized that i hadn't made a batch of granola since the summer.  i don't even really eat it as breakfast food unless we have guests {i'd much rather sip on a big green smoothie} but i do like to snack on it.  since i store my granola in mason jars it makes it really easy to walk past and grab a handful to munch on.  that's right, no bowl or utensils needed.

my kinda snack food.



i'm calling this recipe it's a date granola because well, there are big chunks of dates floating about in it.  i guess if i was going for the descriptive name thing i could have gone with "it's a walnut, oats, cacao nibs, hint of cinnamon & a date granola".  but, it just didn't have the same ring to it...

not too sweet, this granola is just right.  little pops of crunchy cacao, rich walnuts with a hint of cinnamon.  you should make a date to make this granola.

it's a date granola
2.5 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup walnuts
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/4 - 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup brown rice syrup
2 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 cup cacao nibs
4 or 5 big medjool dates, pitted and chopped

preheat your oven to 300f.  in a large bowl combine the oats, walnuts, flax, cinnamon and salt and mix.  in a small saucepan {or in a microwavable bowl} gently heat the brown rice syrup and the coconut oil until the oil has liquified.  whisk this mixture well and then pour it over the dry ingredients.   working quickly, stir everything up with a silicone spatula, making sure to get things covered {especially the ground flax which probably sank to the bottom of the bowl}.  turn the bowl out onto a baking sheet lined with either a silpat or parchment paper and spread into thin layer.  bake for 15-20 minutes, checking often and stirring gently halfway through.

when you remove the granola from the oven it won't yet be crunchy and that's okay - it will firm up as it cools.  transfer the granola back to the mixing bowl and stir in the cacao nibs & chopped dates and then return back to the baking sheet, spread it out again and leave it to fully cool before packing up in glass mason jars.

also, this it's a date granola might just be my date for valentine's day this year as my sweetheart is away again on tour.  i think i'm kind of okay with that though because,

1) i'll be traveling abroad to meet up with him at the end of the month in spain! and

2) it means more granola for me.

hah, i'm a romantic, i know.


happy weekend!
xo



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