Fig, Honey & Cardamom Gluten-Free Granola

Having a mother from Texas, my sister and I were raised with certain values that have stuck with me to this day. The importance of being considerate of and thoughtful towards others was key. In my life today, I often show this love for friends and family through my passion for cooking and food.

That being said, whenever I reunite with loved ones, I can’t help but whip up a couple treats in their honor. This simple gesture inspires me to create new, delicious recipes with them in mind. It truly makes me happy to leave houseguests with a couple of take-home goodies that they can enjoy for days after we have to say goodbye.

So when my best friend, Abby, made the trek down to Austin from her home of D.C. for a long weekend, I was inspired to whip up this goodness. And the best way to celebrate others through food is by using their favorite ingredients, of course!

Abby is a granola-lover, so this was a easy choice. And as for the flavors and ingredients, I was inspired by her favorite dried fruits and nuts. Like myself, Abby is CRAZY about figs, and they add the perfect amount of chew and subtle sweetness to the granola. Abby’s other favorites: pecans and almonds. If you don’t have any of these on hand, you can easily substitute for any other dried fruits or nuts of your choice!

As for the oats, I used gluten free rolled oats, because Abby recently found out that she has a gluten allergy (major bummer). If you don’t have a sensitivity to gluten, regular oats work just as well. But luckily the gluten free option is easy to find in any grocery store and tastes just like the real deal!

The best part of throwing together homemade granola is the limitless spice options available. The simple ingredients lend themselves well to whatever seasonings you have and prefer, but the honey and figs in this recipe screamed ginger and cardamom to me. These add a subtle warmth and spice that’s noticeable but not overpowering.

Once the granola was out of the oven and cooled, I had to force myself not to ruin my little gift by eating the whole batch then and there. I resisted and filled a mason jar with plenty for Abby to take on back to D.C. But luckily, the recipe made plenty extra for us to enjoy over yogurt or by the handful over our long weekend together.

This gluten, dairy and refined sugar free granola is easy to whip up for a healthy morning treat or afternoon snack. While I personally had Abby in mind for this recipe, I know another batch for myself will be happening in the near future. Nothing wrong with a little self-love either