Make Ahead

Salted Butter Pecan Granola

March 24, 2014
4.5
4 Ratings
  • Serves 7
Author Notes

Although I’m usually a sausage and eggs for breakfast kind of girl, I’ve been on a granola kick recently. It feels like a healthier way to start my day, and it’s a downright heavenly canvas for so many different flavor combinations. Granola can be earthy, with plenty of seeds and grains, or it can be decadent, studded with chocolate chunks and cherries. It can be All-American with almonds and coconut, or exotic, with spices like ginger or cardamom.

I was in an ice cream state of mind when I found myself wanting to bake a batch of granola -- for me, that means butter pecan. This granola is packed with the same flavors as my favorite ice cream, minus the guilt.
Feed Me Dearly

Test Kitchen Notes

Rich and indulgent, Feed Me Dearly’s granola is a fantastic balance of crisp, crunchy oats and smooth, buttery pecans. The maple syrup and brown sugar impart hints of dark caramel, while the butter and salt cut through the decadent sweetness. Bake until the oats turn a dark, golden brown to allow the sugars to fully caramelize and the oats to develop a rich flavor, similar to that of buttered toast. Pair the granola with a bowl of thick, plain yogurt and it's almost like eating butter pecan ice cream for breakfast. —Taylor Schwartz

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, not packed
  • 8 ounces chopped pecans
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 250° F. Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, then stir them into the dry ingredients.
  2. Spread the mixture on a large sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Bake the granola, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how dark you want it. Cool completely and store in an airtight container

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • MonaSherry
    MonaSherry
  • Chris Van Houten
    Chris Van Houten
  • Feed Me Dearly
    Feed Me Dearly

3 Reviews

MonaSherry August 16, 2014
Do you know the shelf life of a granola with butter instead of oil? It sounds so delicious but I worry about spoilage ?
 
Chris V. March 28, 2014
Yum! Just made this recipe and it's clearly granola developed by a sausage-and-eggs girl. Indulgent, buttery, salty, sweet, toasty, and very yummy. I also made a batch with black walnut rather than pecan and it's equally satisfying.
 
Feed M. March 28, 2014
Fabulous, glad you liked it!