Maple Coconut Granola and a Glut of Peaches

Maple Coconut Granola

“You know, you ought to make a peach pie while you’re here…”

Dad had just laid out an armful of fragrant, blushing peaches on the island. He said it offhandedly, as if the thought of homemade pie had just occurred to him, though we both knew full well that peach pie was one of his very favorite treats, that he’d been plotting this for some time, and that I’d unequivocally say yes.

I followed him out to the peach tree, which stood bigger than I remembered, the twisting branches heaving under the weight of dozens of resplendent, rosy-hued fruit. I happened to be back home in Santa Barbara for a long weekend right in the midst of the ephemeral peach season, a twelve minute period that falls sometime between late-June and early-July every year.

Backyard Summer Peaches

If you stand under those heavy, dappled branches for more than a moment during that fleeting season (really about two weeks long), you’ll hear the regular, sorrowful thunk of too-ripe-to-hold-on-any-longer peaches hitting the ground, as they all ripen at once.

It’s a delicious battle every Summer to consume and give away as many sweet, flavorful, perfect peaches as possible before the yellowjackets set in at the end of the short-lived harvest. But for the moment, I was focused on pie, and picked as many peaches as I could carry.

Eleven peaches would make their way into a stunning lattice-topped pie, capping off Sunday dinner, while the rest of that splendid hoard would be eaten inelegantly, hunched over the sink, sticky, sweet, peach juice running down our chins…

Why You’ll Love This Lazy, Delicious Granola

The stifling Summer heat spell broke, in its wake a few cloudy, cool days instead of 90-plus temps. A reminder, that hey, you do live in coastal Washington after all, and here’s some grey skies to prove it.

I took the opportunity one morning this week to turn on the oven, and with all the windows flung open, the garden damp and chilly, I made a big batch of my go-to granola. Only, I made the lazy, healthier version of it, with coconut oil and maple syrup instead of refined sugar.

Eight simple ingredients: rolled oats, coconut flakes, cinnamon, sea salt, coconut oil, vanilla, thick, dark maple syrup, and some roasted hazelnuts at the end for good measure.

My method is as easy as it is nearly foolproof, and the resultant sweet and salty, crispy, clumpy granola is addicting by the handful, and spectacular for breakfast, sprinkled (with a heavy hand) over yogurt and fresh peaches and berries and maybe a drizzle of honey… Happy baking!!

If you make this homemade granola recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram with the hashtag #forkknifeswoon and leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it! ★★★★★ Star ratings are especially helpful because they help others find my recipes too. xo, Laura