Maple Chia Granola with Dark Chocolate and Dried Cherries

My favorite health food blogger on the internet is Erin Clarke of Well Plated by Erin. Her website is packed with some of the best and basic recipes out there. She has this amazing way of packing vegetables and other power foods into dishes that I have grown up loving.

Erin Clarke has yet to fail me on any recipe I have made. I would recommend her recipes to anyone, but especially busy moms with kids. She makes chocolate cookies with avocados, packs carrots into burgers, and even more veggies into a classic chili. There are comfort food recipes, holiday recipes, and even tailgate recipes for all those sports fans out there.

If you are looking for a great gift to give a friend, I highly recommend her cookbook! It is beautifully written and contains gorgeous photos of her creations. Some of my favorite recipes in her cookbook include

• Buffalo Chicken Burgers with Blue Cheese Sauce - Dad approved!

• Asian Lettuce Wraps - my sister's first YES to tofu!

• Slow. Cooker Golden Coconut Lentil Soup - an excellent meal prep dish!

There is also a recipe in the book for a lovely granola that I made probably 4 batches of this year for Christmas. But I switched it up a little and added a few different touches. So many people asked me for my recipe, so here it is!

Let me know how you enjoy your granola!

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Maple Pecan Granola with Dark Chocolate and Dried Cherries

Recipe Adapted from "The Well Plated Cookbook" by Erin Clarke

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg white

• 1/3 cup natural maple syrup

• 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil

• 3 tablespoons molasses

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (imitation is fine)

• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats (not quick oats)

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

• 1 cup raw chopped pecans

• 1/2 cup dried cherries

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white until light and frothy.

3. Add maple syrup, coconut oil, molasses, and vanilla extract. Stir until all ingredients are completely combined.

4. To the large bowl, add cinnamon, salt, and shredded coconut. Stir.

5. Fold in chia seeds, pecans, coconut, and oats until evenly coated.

6. Line a dark-coated baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread granola mixture evenly on parchment paper.

7. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and flip granola gently on pan with spatula. Press granola back into a single layer.

8. Bake for another 20 minutes.

9. Remove from oven. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.

10. Carefully stir in dried cherries and chocolate chunks.

Enjoy your granola as a snack, with some plain Greek yogurt, or soak it in some milk just like cereal.