Cherry and Hemp Heart Granola

This easy Cherry and Hemp Heart Granola is packed with nutrients and sweetened by nature with honey and date syrup. Enjoy it with yogurt and berries, served with milk as cereal, or topped on your next baked cobbler!

The first time I made homemade granola, I blew my own mind. It was a recipe I put off doing for a long time. That’s because I thought making granola would be difficult and frustrating. To be completely frank, it’s not.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the art of buying groceries in bulk. One of my top essential bulk items is Rolled Old Fashioned Oats. It’s truly the best bang for your buck. Oats are extremely versatile, too. Keep them in sight in your cupboard, I guarantee you’ll use them more than you think. Oatmeal, overnight oats, oats added to homemade bread or pancakes, and, yes…granola! The list can go on, really.

A quick note about the Joolies Organic Medjool Date Syrup. You read that right! Date. Syrup. I know this might sound…strange. Hear me out! This date syrup has been an incredible way to boost so many essential nutrients and fiber to my meals and snacks and it’s even a great natural sweetener. I add it to my pancakes and waffles, yogurt, smoothies, and it’s a great added sweetener to this granola recipe. My toddler loves this syrup just as much as I do. And to all my pregnant mamas, dates are a FANTASTIC way to support a healthy pregnancy. If you don’t love the texture of dates, seriously try this syrup. Beware, a little will go a long way!

Also, another quick note. Add the 1 cup of dried cherries AFTER baking the granola, while it’s cooling on the counter. Baking dried fruit dries it out completely and turns it rock hard. I learned this very quickly! In my experience, rock hard dried fruit isn’t the most exquisite texture. Imagine that!

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Ways to use granola

• My absolute favorite way: over whole milk Greek yogurt. Top with berries, honey, creamy peanut butter, and even more hemp hearts. This snack is wholesome! I craved it each day while pregnant with my first son.
• Topped with your choice of milk. Always yummy.
• Added to homemade ice cream.
• Topped as a crumble on bakes like berry cobbler.

Tools you’ll need

1. Large bowl
2. Parchment paper
3. 9×13 baking sheet
4. Spatula
5. Measuring spoons and cups

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Ingredients for Cherry and Hemp Heart Granola

3 cups Rolled Old Fashioned Oats
1/2 cup organic hemp hearts
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup raw pecans, chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1 Tablespoon honey (local is best!)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 Tablespoon Joolies Medjool Date Syrup
1/2-1 cup dried cherries

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How to prepare Cherry and Hemp Heart Granola with photos

This granola recipe uses one bowl and it’s simply simple. Like what I did there? Let’s get to it

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients together: oats, hemp hearts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Wait to add the dried cherries until after the granola has baked. Toss ingredients together thoroughly.

Add wet ingredients: coconut oil, honey, vanilla bean paste, Joolies Date Syrup. Stir until combined.

Transfer ingredients to a 9×13 rimmed baking sheet/pan lined with parchment paper. Give the contents a gentle press with your hand or spatula so that it’s evenly spread throughout the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-27 minutes. The granola should look golden brown.

Top with 1/2-1 cup dried cherries and let granola completely cool.

Transfer granola to a clean, airtight container and store up to 1 month. Enjoy!

Until next time,

Meredith