Granola is one of my favorite things to eat anytime of day. I am sure you will love this beautiful Paleo granola with its subtle hints of pear and cardamom that perfectly pair with sweet dried smyrna figs and coconut. It is great all on its own with some cold plant milk and fresh berries, or can be added to a baked sweet potato, unsweetened dairy free yogurt or ice cream, or even as a topping over a bowl of fresh fruit. It is so versatile for breakfast and snack time and something you can feed good about when made with all whole food ingredients!

I always keep a batch of homemade granola in my home for my family because I know that it is full of “good for you” ingredients without any of the refined oils, sugars or additives you find in store bought versions. Not to mention, it is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free and grain free!

Why Coconut is So Good for You!

The most abundant ingredient in my Paleo Pear and Fig Granola is unsweetened flaked coconut, but why?

• By choosing unsweetened coconut, you are eliminating a very inflammatory ingredient: refined sugar.  Refined sugar has been directly linked to chronic inflammation which can lead to other chronic symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, mood disorders, and pain. [1]
  

Refine sugars are so inflammatory because they have been highly processed and stripped of any naturally existing minerals typically found in the plant.  For example, in a teaspoon of white sugar, you will find that there is absolutely nothing in it except empty carbohydrates. [2]

Now take pure maple syrup, what I used in this recipe.  You will find trace minerals like potassium, calcium, sodium and iron.  This is food in its whole form, the way it is meant to be eaten. [3]

2. Coconut is so good for you for several reasons, here are two of my favorite:

a. Coconut contains caprylic acid which is a known anti-fungal.  Caprylic acid is known to support your gut health by keeping your microbiome balanced, as well as supporting your anti-inflammatory pathways. [4]

b. Coconut is loaded with insoluble fiber and minerals!  These are key in healthy digestion and function, gut health and detoxification!  The daily recommended value (DRV) of fiber each day is around 28 grams give or take (this is a bio-individual number, however, this is a good average for most adults).  On average, one cup of flaked coconut has around five grams of fiber, that’s almost 20% of your daily need!

Paleo Pear and Fig Granola Ingredients

Makes approximately 16 servings

1 cup Organic Pear* Purée, about 2 large pears

1/2 cup Pure Maple Syrup

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt

1.5 tsp Ground Cardamom

4 cups Unsweetened Flaked Coconut

1 cup Raw Sliced Almonds

1 cup Raw Slivered Almonds

1 cup Raw Pepitas or Pumpkin Seeds

1 cup Raw Walnuts, chopped

1.5 cups Unsweetened Dried Smyrna Figs, roughly chopped

*I love Bosc pears, but you can substitute your favorite variety, just make sure they are organic as they are on the EWG Dirty Dozen List!

How to Make Paleo Pear and Fig Granola

1. Preheat oven to 275 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Rinse, peel and roughly chop your pears adding them to a high speed blender.  Blend on high until smooth and creamy in texture using your blender plunger if needed.

3. In a large bowl combine pear purée, vanilla extract, maple syrup, sea salt and cardamom.  Stir well to combine.

4. Add the coconut, nuts and seeds and stir well to evenly coat and combine.

5. Spread your granola over a parchment lined baking sheet in a thin layer, use two baking sheets if necessary to reduce clumping.  Bake for 75-90 minutes, stirring every 15-minutes until dried out and lightly browned.

6. Remove from oven and remove parchment from baking dish and set on the counter to cool completely. Add your chopped figs and mix in.

7. Store in an airtight container up to 3-weeks!

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FAQs

Q: My granola is soggy, what happened?

A: It sounds like you needed to cook it for a little longer.  Try testing a spoonful before removing from the oven by letting it cool on a clean plate.

Q: My granola isn’t clumping, is that okay?

A: This recipe is not a “clumping” granola recipe, so a looser granola is the desired outcome.

Q: What can I use instead of maple syrup?

A: Pure, raw honey is the next best thing. 

If you like this recipe, check these out!

Coconut Chai Energy Balls: I love these because of how quickly they come together and with just a few simple ingredients.  Plus they are nut free, macronutrient balanced, and loaded with protein rich seeds and fiber.

Pumpkin Spice Yogurt with Gingersnap Toffee Topping: This is one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast!  The toffee topping is so good over any dairy free, unsweetened yogurt.

Paleo Vanilla Granola: This easy nutritious granola will keep you satisfied all morning long and has the beautiful flavor combination of vanilla and almond.

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does. – Amy

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