Homemade Maple Orange Granola

Hood to Coast is the world's longest relay race. Starting at 8,000 feet elevation on Mount Hood and ending on the sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean, this is the "Mother of All Relays." Some people are crazy.

I am one of those people. 

I had the opportunity to participate in this legend-(wait for it)-ary event this year. We're talking 12 runners. 197 miles. Three separate legs. Two vans. Way too many Honey Buckets. One field (for sleeping napping lying down). One midnight run (if you haven't run down a highway in the middle of the night wearing a headlamp and reflective vest...well...you're smarter than me.) And if you were in my van: one batch of this granola.

Homemade Maple Orange Granola

Adapted from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Everyday

Ingredients:

4 c. old-fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 c. walnut halves

1 c. unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 tsp. fine-grain sea salt

2 oranges, zested & juiced

1/3 c.+ unsalted butter

1/2 c. maple syrup

3/4 c. dried cherries

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, walnut halves, coconut, salt, and zest. Heat the butter in a small saucepan over low heat and stir in the maple syrup and orange juice. Whisk until thoroughly combined, then pour the maple mixture over the oat mixture, stirring until everything is well coated.

Divide the granola into two rimmed baking sheets and spread into a thin layer.

Bake the granola at 300 degrees F for 40 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so to ensure it bakes evenly. When it's ready, the granola should be a deep golden color, and the coconut should be almost amber in color and flaky.

Remove from the oven and press down on the granola with a metal spatula (this is meant to help create more clumps - which did not work for me). Let the granola cool completely and add the dried cherries.

Mix well and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Enjoy this granola for breakfast with milk, with yogurt for a light snack, with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert, or on its own as a simple snack. I love it and think you should make it. Even if you're not running 20 miles over the next 24 hours. Especially if you're not running 20 miles over the next 24 hours.

If you want to learn more about Hood to Coast, they made a movie about it (that's how you know it's legit)! Here's the trailer: