Homemade Tart Cherry Honey Granola
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This easy, four-step tart cherry honey granola is a crisp, lightly sweet homemade granola made with rolled oats, honey, almonds, and chewy dried tart cherries. The balance of sweet honey and tart cherries makes this granola perfect for breakfast, snacking, or topping yogurt bowls. It stores well for weeks, making it a great make-ahead staple for busy mornings. Serve it with Greek yogurt and fresh berries or over smoothie bowls for an easy breakfast. Looking for more meal prep-friendly breakfast inspo? Try my freezer-friendly fluffy steamed egg patty or this vegetarian breakfast burrito next.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great for meal prep – Makes a large batch and stores well for easy breakfasts and snacks.
- Sweet and tart – Honey and tart cherries create a balanced flavor in every bite.
- Better than store-bought – Homemade granola lets you control the sweetness and ingredients.
Where are Montmorency Tart Cherries Grown?
Montmorency tart cherries are primarily grown in the United States, with the majority of the crop produced near Traverse City, Michigan—often called the cherry capital of the world. Other leading tart cherry-producing states include Utah, Washington, New York, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Montmorency cherries are prized for retaining their bright ruby-red color when dried, frozen, canned, or juiced, making them widely available year-round beyond their summer harvest season.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
- Oats – I use classic old fashioned oats in this recipe. They are the best choice because they keep their shape during the cooking process.
- Honey – Honey is a natural sweetener and helps to act as a binder and hold the granola together.
- Oil – Coconut oil has a subtle flavor and helps to give the granola a great crisp texture.
- Almonds – Almonds are used to add texture to this granola recipe. Other nuts like pecans can be used in its place though the almond pairs well with the tart cherries.
- Cardamom – While this spice comes in pods that can be opened and ground you can also buy it pre-ground. It adds a sweet, pungent flavor and aroma.
- Salt – A pinch of salt helps to enhance the other flavors in the granola.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Dried tart cherries: Substitute with dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, or raisins.
- Almonds: Swap with pecans, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds.
- Honey: Use maple syrup for a vegan alternative.
- Coconut oil: Substitute with avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or melted butter.
- Cardamom: Swap with cinnamon or omit for a simpler flavor profile.
Pro Tip
Make a double batch and store it in airtight jars for easy breakfasts and snacks throughout the month.
How to Make Tart Cherry Honey Granola (Step-by-Step)
Heat oven to 250ºF (130ºC). In a large bowl combine the oats, almonds, salt and cardamom. In another smaller bowl whisk together the coconut oil and honey. Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture and stir to coat.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, spread the mixture across the pan, pressing the mixture into an even layer.
Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mixture is golden brown.
Remove from oven, stir in the tart cherries and let cool completely. The mixture will still be soft when removed from the oven but will become crisp as it cools. If needed, break up the chunks of granola into smaller pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
How to Serve Tart Cherry Honey Granola
- For breakfast: Serve over Greek yogurt with fresh fruit.
- With milk: Enjoy like cereal with your milk of choice.
- As a snack: Portion into containers for grab-and-go snacking.
- On smoothie bowls: Sprinkle over smoothie bowls for added crunch.
How to Store Tart Cherry Honey Granola
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
- For freshness: Let cool completely before storing to maintain crispness.
- Freezer: Freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Homemade granola may not be crunchy if it is underbaked or stored before cooling completely. Granola crisps as it cools.
Dried fruit should be added after baking so it does not burn or become overly hard in the oven.
Homemade tart cherry honey granola lasts up to 1 month when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Yes, tart cherry honey granola is ideal for meal prep and can be made weeks in advance when stored properly.
Other Recipes to Try
Love this easy grab-n-go option on busy mornings? Check out my other easy-to-transport recipes below:
- California Chicken Burrito with Seasoned Fries
- California Breakfast Burrito
- Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
- Crispy Jalapeño Hash Browns
Thanks for cooking with me! If you made this recipe, leave a 🌟 rating and share your thoughts or tips below. I’d love to hear from you!
Homemade Tart Cherry Honey Granola
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Ingredients:
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup raw almonds
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup honey
- 1 cup dried tart cherries
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 250ºF (130ºC).
- In a large bowl combine the oats, almonds, salt and cardamom. In another smaller bowl whisk together the coconut oil and honey. Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture and stir to coat.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, spread the mixture across the pan, pressing the mixture into an even layer.
- Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until the mixture is golden brown.
- Remove from oven, stir in the tart cherries and let cool completely. The mixture will still be soft when removed from the oven but will become crisp as it cools. If needed, break up the chunks of granola into smaller pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
Notes:
Nutrition:
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Excellent recipe, simple and not overpowered by too many ingredients so that you can taste each of the components. The cardamom was especially nice, and I used lavender honey. Recipe is easy and comes together quickly. Thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing Terry! Oh lavender honey sounds like the perfect pairing! So happy to hear you enjoyed.
It is insane how much different and significantly better homemade granola tastes. You have to try it! This is also quick and easy. I swapped blueberries for cherries. I put this in overnight parfaits and eat it by the handful too.
I definitely need to make with blueberries that sounds so perfect!! Thanks for sharing Julia!
Would maple syrup work with this recipe, I’m allergic to honey. Also, is the calorie count per cup?
Thank you this looks yummy, other than the anaphylactic part! 😜
Yes! Maple syrup will absolutely work. Glad you can make the adjustment. Calorie count can be found if you click the “print recipe” button. It will show at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!