Cardamom Spice Granola

Okay, I admit it, I am just a wee bit of a show off. I like people to like my food. So when a friend in my entrepreneur's breakfast club volunteered to bring breakfast after I'd said I would (and had bought the ingredients), I said I'd do it.

Because I had already decided to try this amazing granola.

Hello, Within the Kitchen... you had me at cardamom. I don't know quite how to explain how much I love this spice. Even my most popular Christmas cookies are made with it! My favourite oatmeal, Chai Spice Baked Oatmeal, has it. Soooo good!

Granola is ridiculously easy to make. You heat the liquids and pour over the dry, then bake and stir. How easy is that?

I must confess this is my first granola. It's true. For years I've looked at recipes — many I've even bookmarked — and never made it. Until cardamom. Yum!

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Cardamom Spice Granola with Pepitas

This wonderfully tasty granola is very easy to make and the spices add a depth of flavour you won’t find in overly sweetened store brands.

1/2 cup                                     agave syrup, honey, or maple syrup (combine sweeteners if preferred)

1/3 cup                                     canola oil

1 tbsp                                        cinnamon

2 tsp                                           ginger powder

1/2 tsp                                      nutmeg

1/2 tsp                                      ground cardamom          

1/2 cup                                     unsweetened coconut

1-1/2 cups                               raw pepita seeds

1/2 cup                                     sliced almonds

1/3 cup                                     chia seeds (or substitute ground flax seeds)

1/2 tsp                                      salt

4 cups                                       large flake oats

1 tsp                                          vanilla

1 cup                                         chopped dried fruit (such as cranberries, apples, raisins, currants, blueberries)

Preheat oven 325°F.

In a small saucepan, combine oil, honey, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom; bring to a simmer over medium heat.

In a large bowl combine all other ingredients, including vanilla and stir to combine. Carefully pour liquid over dry ingredients and stir until well combined. Spread the granola to evenly in an unlined baking sheet with raised sides.

The granola should take about 40 minutes to toast completely. To ensure even browning, stir the granola every 10 minutes while baking.

Cool completely. Add dried fruit.

Adapted from Within the Kitchen: http://withinthekitchen.blogspot.ca/2012/04/cardamom-chia-and-pumpkin-seed-granola.html

Printable Cardamom Spice Granola