Name: Maple Pecan Granola Clusters
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats; 1 cup chopped pecans; ⅓ cup avocado oil (or coconut oil); 1/2 cup, plus 2 tbsp pure maple syrup; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (or maple extract)

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maple pecan granola clusters on a baking tray

We ran out of our usual granola stock in the pantry, so I decided to make another new granola cluster recipe. Why not, right? Given that it is fall, I made Maple Pecan Granola Clusters. The combination of maple and pecan is a famous one. Naturally, these flavors work very well with oats!

Why granola clusters and not just simple, regular granola?

Quite simply, I enjoy eating granola with my hands. Granola clusters allow me to do just that. While you can purchase granola clusters from the store, like most things, they are so much more fun to make on your own. Homemade is substantially cheaper as well.

Here’s what is in these Maple Pecan Granola Clusters:

Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are the oats of choice most of the time when baking. They hold their shape better when baked in the oven. Visually, you can see the difference between old-fashioned oats and quick-cooking oats. Quick-cooking oats are cut into more pieces during processing, in addition to being rolled thinner. For the purpose of this recipe, old-fashioned rolled oats are necessary. They hold their own much better.

Maple Syrup: Obviously if maple is in the name, it is going to be an important component to this recipe. You want to use the pure maple syrup, not the artificially flavored stuff. Pure maple syrup is 100% maple sap, while the artificial kind is simply maple flavored sugar syrup.

Pecans: You can buy pecans already chopped into pieces or chop them yourself. The key is to use pecan pieces so they will blend and eat better in these granola clusters.

Oil: My first oil suggestion for this recipe is avocado oil for its health benefits and neutral flavor. You can, however, also use coconut oil. It may bring in a subtle coconut flavor to the final product though.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract is in this recipe to amp up the flavor. If you have maple extract, you can use that here instead.

Maple Pecan Granola Procedure

This recipe is really simple and quick to put together. The first step is to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. You will want to line a baking sheet tray with a sheet of parchment or a silpat.

In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats and pecans. In a small bowl, whisk together the avocado oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Pour the liquid ingredients over the oat mixture, and stir together until everything is coated and well incorporated.

Pour the oat mixture onto the center of the prepared baking sheet. With your hands or a rubber spatula, flatten and press the granola down into a tight rectangle. The key here is to press everything together as much as you can, almost like a giant granola bar. This process is what is going to give you those lovely clusters of granola.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Rotate the pan, and bake for approximately 15 more minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, break into clusters. You may have some bits that break off. Enjoy with yogurt or milk. You can also just eat it straight from the tray with your hands (wink, wink.)

These clusters should stay fresh for about 5 to 7 days, in an air tight container.

Well if you follow this blog regularly, I hope by now that I have converted you to the beauty of granola clusters. These Maple Pecan Granola Clusters are definitely a recipe to try. Granola is perfect for topping your morning breakfast from smoothie bowls to yogurt. These clusters are easy to munch on with your hands, but they are also great in a bowl with milk.