Fennel-Honey Granola
Fennel-Honey Granola
I was browsing my recipe index recently, and realized that I have only 2 entries under Breakfast. While some of my fellow bloggers have entire websites dedicated to the most important meal of the day, I have only two posts? How could this be? Well, if I am perfectly honest, breakfast is not really my favourite meal. I could wile away the morning over cups of good coffee, but it doesn’t really interest me to break out the pots and pans and start cooking up a storm: I am just not much of a morning person. However, when I saw this recipe in Bon Appétit’s June 2015 issue, I did get excited. I whipped it up in the evening, (when I’m at my best) and had it for breakfast with Greek yogurt and honey the next morning! Perfect for any non-morning types like me!
This recipe is stunning (if granola can be stunning)! It is nutty, sweet, and rich, and the the exotic accent of toasted fennel seeds sends it over the top! As soon as I tasted it, I had all sorts of ideas for incorporating it into desserts. I can’t wait to start working on some of those ideas.
I will be bringing a big bowl of my granola over to Angie’s Fiesta Friday tomorrow. It may seem a bit odd to bring granola to a party, but the revelers at Angie’s virtual blog party are at it around the clock and somebody may appreciate a big bowl of gourmet granola for breaky! I hope you like this recipe as much as my husband and I did.
Fennel-Honey Granola
Ingredients:
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
¼ cup slivered almonds
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
½ cup honey
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned oats
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
½ cup dried apricots, chopped
½ cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
Method:
Preheat oven to 350°. Toast pine nuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, sesame seed, and fennel seeds on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing occasionally until lightly golden, 5-7 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 275°.
Meanwhile, whisk honey, peanut butter, oil, orange zest and juice and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth.
Toss nuts and seeds, oats, and salt in a large bowl. Pour honey mixture over and gently mix until the oats mixture is completely coated.
Spread out on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring halfway through (edges will take on colour before centre does), until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Let cool: granola will crisp as it cools. Break into pieces, then stir in apricots and cranberries.
Granola can be made 1 week ahead and stored tightly covered at room temperature.
Serve with some Greek yogurt and honey.
Foodie On Board 
54 Responses to “Fennel-Honey Granola”
Lovely things going into this yummy scrumptious granola. Delicious way to kick start the day👍☺
Thanks SKD! There is nothing like healthy ingredients to start the day!
This granola sounds magical. I love the cheeky hit of fennel, so different. 🙂
I am a bit like you when it comes to breakfast, when it comes to preparing it, no interest as coffee does the job. But if someone wants to feed me, breakfast food is my chosen food. #endbreakfastrant
Have a great weekend.
Haha! Yes, I love it when somebody else cooks breakfast for me too! 🙂
What a wonderful combination, Juliana – I’ll have to give this a try soon!
I hope you do, Ginger! Let me know what you think . 🙂
I must try this, especially with the fennel seeds. I too would make it the night before – cooking and having breakfast is just too much for me in the morning. Thanks for posting and happy FF to you.
Haha! It seems like there are a number of use who dislike cooking in the morning… A bonus that I found with this, Hilda, is that the fennel flavour gets stronger the longer it sits! Quite lovely actually! 😀
Sounds so delicious…pinned😊
Thanks, Marisa!
You’re not going to believe this, but I’ve been looking at fennel seeds in the grocery store and wondering what to do with them! What perfect timing for me to see this wonderful recipe! I must make this soon – it sounds absolutely delicious!
Wow, that is perfect timing! Go for it, then! It is so easy and really tasty!
Love the combination of flavours and all the different seeds and nuts. This sounds wonderful 🙂
Thanks Natalie! Yes, I have been eating the whole bowl and it is really wonderful! 😉
Stunning!! I’m not a huge breakfast person either. I mean, don’t get me wrong… I’ll eat breakfast food alllllll day long… I just don’t have the energy in the morning to actually cook it 😛 This looks totally doable and delicious 😀
Well, this one is perfect for people like you and me! Fix it at night and eat it in the morning…there is nothing better! 😀
Fennel in granola? Brilliant! Reminds me of my husband (and my) favorite scone they discontinued at an old Italian cafe/coffee shop we used to run into each other at before we were married . . . “fisherman’s scone” and it had candied fruit peel, zest, candied fruit and fennel seed. I would love to make this soon, it’s got so much great stuff in it — pine nuts (!!!!), peanut butter, apricots. Really nice job here!
Thanks so much, Sue! Wow, those scones sound completely amazing…you should make them for the blog and then I can have the recipe! Now they sound stunning! 😀
Make granola and love to bring it as a houseguest offering during the summer. this is so different and interesting. love the fennel seeds! Will try it!
Or hey, make it as little gifts for the Christmas season! It would be perfect!
I just love granola and am very happy that you brought it to Fiesta Friday!
Really glad that you like this, Julie! 😀
This sounds great, I have never really gotten into granola (tended to go for muesli which is less sweet) but this one could twist my arm to try.
Perfect! You don’t have to put in as much honey as this calls for. It would still work and be as tasty. 😀
What a great combination – your granola will definitely do the rounds on this Fiesta Friday Juliana. Love all the ingredients 🙂
I hope they clean out the whole bowl. 🙂
I’m a big granola fan–this sounds so yummy!
Ah, well then I think you would like this recipe, Nancy! 😀
I have hardly any breakfast recipes too! Time to work on that 😀 This granola looks amazing Julianna, what lovely flavors!
Hey Naina! I will be interested to see what you come up with! You are so creative, I’m sure it will be wonderful!
I’m getting to make a batch of my Muesli and I’m going to divide some out for this – It sounds so different and looks so lovely! I really don’t like fresh fennel – I’ve tried and tried, but I do love Fennel seed. Funny, huh?
I’m glad you brought this to Fiesta Friday = and gave me the courage to try it! I would have just passed by this recipe had I seen it, otherwise. 🙂
Good idea to make two recipes in one go! The best thing about this is that the fennel seed is toasted and it really enhances the flavour. I hope you enjoy it when you do get to try it! 😀
It’s very creative! I love the idea.
Granola can definitely be stunning! Especially this one 🙂
Awww, thanks Elaine! You are very kind!
Just honest 🙂
Looks great! I ate some honey baked granola this morning but your homemade version looks way better! 😀 Because homemade is always best 😉
I’m with you! Homemade is always better! 😀
So true 😀
Granola flavour looks intersting.. Looks delish
Well, thanks so very much!
Oh yes! I can pack this in my lunch box and have breakfast at work!
Gina
I have been doing that too. It is a lovely mid-morning treat! 😉
I get Bon Apetit too – but I have not read the latest issue. Thanks for bringing this to my attention as it sound delicious 🙂
Isn’t is such a great magazine, Judi? Check out the issue – there are a few recipes that I will try for sure!
Like you I am not a breakfast person but this looks delicious. This has so many nice ingredients and fennel seeds as well! Yum! 🙂
Thanks Petra! Wow, it seems that so many of us don’t fancy breakfast too much! This is perfect for our crowd! I think you will like it…
I’ve recently made my first granola (I will post very soon) and it turned out to be super good…. next step is making your recipe! I love the addition of fennel seeds, it must have a special flavour!
I can’t wait to see you recipe, Margy! I think I will start using fennel seeds more often as I am growing very fond of them. They really liven up the flavours of the granola! 😀
A very interesting combination of flavors Julianna, looks good! I’m a big fan of homemade granola (make mine in the slow cooker) the only way to go. The commercial kind is usually tres blah!!!
I hope you have a great summer and good luck with your move.
BTW, in case you thought i was having knee surgery, it’s not me, but a blogger who left a comment at my blog is, Joyce. I’ve never actually had any surgery and want to keep it that way. 😉
Take care, G
I agree about the blah commercial stuff!! And I’m so glad that I misread your post! How awesome to never have had a surgery and that you are not having any this summer! 🙂 Enjoy!
I made this after seeing it in Bon Appètit and agree that is is utterly delicious! However, since I am new to making my own granola I was expecting it to be somewhat dry and need to be broken apart. Mine turned out a bit sticky even though I baked it for another five minutes longer than recipe called for. I was concerned about baking it longer since the recipe stated it would crisp upon cooling. Any ideas why it was sticky? Or is this the way it should mean. Plan to freeze some since I would not eat all of it in one week. Thanks.
Hi Carol. Well it is interesting that you had this experience because mine turned out the same way. I loved the flavours here and we gobbled it up anyway. I think I will try making it again. I am living in a different home right now and I now have a gas stove and the oven is a lot hotter than the one I had before. I am wondering if it is the heat of the oven, or maybe the pan I cooked it on… It will be interesting to see.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog and make a comment! 🙂 Let me know if you get better results somehow.
I will be trying it again before my son comes to visit in November. Will let you know. Thanks for letting me know yours came out the same.