Granola is the ultimate comfort food. Chewy, crunchy, sweet, salty, and easy to grab when you’re rushing out the door – perfect for the upcoming months if you or your little ones are heading back to school.
Of course kids will love this easy snack just as much as the big kids, so why am I claiming this particular granola is for grown-ups? Mostly because of one not-so-secret ingredient: blackstrap molasses.
Rich in iron, calcium, and magnesium, this rich syrup packs a whole lot of good stuff in every tiny serving. And even though this recipe only calls for a few tablespoons, a little bit goes a long way when it comes to the sweet licorice taste this syrup adds to the mix. It can be an acquired taste but the peanut butter and dried fruit balances everything out nicely. Enjoy!
Grown-up Granola
Dry Ingredients
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
1/4 cup dried fruit (I used a mixture of dried berries and raisins)
2 tablespoons ground flax meal
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet ingredients
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
1 tablespoon brown rice syrup
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350.
Line a 9×13 baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl, add dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Then add in peanut butter, brown rice syrup, molasses, and coconut oil. Mix everything together until ingredients are evenly coated.
Pour mixture onto baking sheet, making sure to spread granola out so that it will cook evenly.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
Allow granola to cool in pan for about 10 minutes before transferring onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool for at least 15 more minutes before serving.
Enjoy with almond milk, on top of your favorite smoothie bowl, or straight from the pan – it’s all good!
The Wh0le Story 
