Homemade Pistachio Granola Recipe with Dried Cherries

My Pistachio Granola recipe is an easy, crunchy way to make your granola at home. This pantry-friendly recipe contains dry primary ingredients and a touch of sea salt for the perfectly balanced homemade granola. Trust me, you’ll never buy store-bought granola! If you want more pistachio recipes, check out my Bakery-Style Pistachio Muffins Recipe with Pudding or my No-Chill Brown Butter Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Pistachio Granola is a fun twist on your everyday granola. I love the pop of green that the pistachios add. For this recipe, make sure you use unsalted pistachios! This crunchy texture is next level, and I promise you’ll love this homemade granola recipe as much as I do! This recipe was inspired by this easy granola recipe.

Ingredients

• Unsalted pistachios – These vibrant green nuts add a delightful crunch and a rich, buttery flavor to the granola.
• Old-fashioned rolled oats – The hearty base of the granola, old-fashioned rolled oats provide a satisfying chewiness and crunch!
• Pecans – These buttery, slightly sweet nuts complement the pistachios and oats’ distinct flavor and crunchy texture. Pecans contribute a nutty richness to the overall mix.
• Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) – Pepitas offer a nice nuttiness, while their crunchiness enhances the granola’s texture.
• Maple syrup – This natural sweetener adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the granola, coating the ingredients and creating clusters of irresistible goodness. Maple syrup also contributes a distinct and indulgent flavor.
• Olive oil – Olive oil helps bind the ingredients together while adding a subtle fruity undertone. It contributes to the granola’s crispiness and achieves the perfect golden-brown finish.
• Dried cherries – The sweet and tangy dried cherries provide a fruity flavor, balancing the nuttiness and sweetness of the other ingredients. Their chewy texture adds a delightful contrast to the crunchy nuts and seeds.

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit (175°Celsius).

Step 2: Next, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 3: Combine pecans, pepitas, pistachios, rolled oats, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.

Step 4: Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly until evenly distributed.

Step 5: Then, pour in maple syrup, olive oil, and vanilla extract.

Step 6: Give the mixture a big stir until everything is combined.

Step 7: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet.

Step 8: Press the pistachio granola down firmly.

Step 9: Bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through (at the 12-minute mark). Press down again before continuing to bake until golden brown.

Step 10: Allow the granola to cool for 1 hour. After cooling, add dried cherries to the granola. Enjoy your homemade pistachio granola!

Tips and Notes

• Low and slow baking –  Bake the pistachio granola at a low temperature for a longer time to achieve optimal crispiness without burning the nuts or causing the sweeteners to caramelize too quickly.
• Stirring during baking – Gently stir the granola halfway through the baking time to promote even browning. This prevents clusters from forming too early and ensures a consistent texture.
• Cooling – Allow the homemade granola to cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking it into clusters. This helps it firm up, resulting in a satisfying crunch.