The goal is not to make crisp apple chips (yet) but rather chewy apple pieces that will then be added to the granola mixture before baking. Together, all of these ingredients will bake to make one beautifully caramelized and crispy apple granola.
Ingredients
Oven-Dried Apple Pieces
3apples
Caramelized Apple Granola
½cupcoconut oilmelted
½cupmaple syrup
½cupbrown sugar
½tspground cinnamon
½tspground ginger
2tspvanilla
1pinchsalt generous
zest of one lemon
4cupsold fashioned oats
1cuphalved pecans
1cuptoasted coconut flakes
oven-dried apple pieces
Note:
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Instructions
Oven-Dried Apple Pieces
1
Preheat oven to 225 F.
2
Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3
Core apples and slice into 3-4mm rings.
4
Chop each ring into 4 equal pieces, and scatter over a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5
Bake in the centre of the oven for approximately 90 minutes.
6
Once done, remove from oven and use for Caramelized Apple Granola recipe.
Caramelized Apple Granola
7
Preheat oven to 325 F.
8
Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
9
In a large bowl mix together melted coconut oil, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, salt and lemon zest until smooth.
10
Using a rubber spatula, then stir in oats, pecans, coconut flakes and apple pieces and mix until well combined.
11
Spread mixture evenly over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a rubber spatula, press down and pack the granola mixture together to create a tightly packed layer.
12
Add to oven and bake for 30 minutes, until edges are golden and caramelized.
13
Remove from oven and let cool slightly before breaking into large chunks.