Dates are my very good friends during the Daniel Fast, and this is another recipe where their sweetness shines. My date-sweetened granola is a great option for breakfast, whether served with fresh fruit and almond milk, or as the topper for a smoothie bowl. It also makes a satisfying snack whenever you’re craving carbs and crunch!
I’ve been making homemade granola for years, but typically I’ll sweeten it with honey or maple syrup. I thought date caramel would be a good stand-in for the Daniel Fast, and while it took a few tries to get the measurements right, I’m pleasantly pleased with the result.
My date-sweetened granola recipe is flexible and can be customized to suit your tastes. I love the crisp texture that sliced almonds and coconut flakes add, but you could easily substitute other nuts, seeds or dried fruit. The ground flax and chia seeds add an extra boost of antioxidants, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
While the hands-on time for this recipe is minimal, you’ll need to make the date caramel first, which requires at least 20 minutes of soaking time. Once the granola is in the oven, it needs to bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It’s not a quick process, but it’s super simple, and the end product is worth the wait!
Yield: 6 cups
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Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup raw sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup ground flax
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup date caramel
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients together.
- In a small saucepan, heat date caramel and coconut oil together on low until oil is melted. Stir to combine. You may also microwave the ingredients on high for about 30 seconds, then stir and heat 30 seconds more.
- Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and stir until well coated.
- Transfer mixture to an 18"x13" half sheet pan lined with parchment paper, and spread onto one even layer.
- Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Allow granola to cool completely. Store in a sealed container.