Tangy Crunchy Granola

I had a very ripe pear that I wanted to use up and didn’t want to just make something like a muffin or cake with it. I’ve seen a few recipes about homemade granola and have kept them as a recipe to try one day. So there! It would be a great way to use up all the cereal leftover bits that sink at the bottom of cereal packs.

With the pear reduced to a puree, mixed with orange juice, then thickened to a syrup, this made a nice tangy crunchy granola. It smelled so good while baking! I had it with some warm homemade soy custard on this cold frosty Wednesday morning.

Ingredients (3 – 4 servings)

½ cup orange juice (squeezed from 1 orange)
½ cup pear puree (from 1 pear)
1 tablespoon vegan margarine (you may leave this out for a low-fat version)
5 tablespoon soft brown sugar
10-12 pitted dates, chopped
¼ orange peel, finely chopped
1 cup cereal leftovers (optional, or just add 1 more cup rolled oats)
2 cups rolled oats
2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
1 tablespoon carob/chocolate chips (optional)

• Mix the orange peel with 1 tablespoon sugar and a few drops of water. Leave this to marinade.

• Pour orange juice and pear puree in a saucepan.
• Add in remaining 4 tablespoons sugar and margarine.
• Bring to a syrup.
• Stir in dates.
• Remove and allow to cool a little.
  

• Preheat oven at 170 degrees Celsius.

• In a big bowl, mix in cereal dust, rolled oats, desiccated coconut and carob chips.
• Add in the syrup and mix well.
• Make sure everything is well coated with this mixture. (I used my hand).
• Lay on a greased baking tray. Sprinkle with the orange peel. (Lightly mix if you want).
• Bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove and scrape off.
  
• Allow to cool before storing in an air-tight container.