Granola with Almonds, Apples, and Cherries (Reduced Sugar)

Why This Recipe Works

Granola may seem like a healthy breakfast alternative to sugary-sweet cereals, but most granolas contain a ton of sugar, too (even our homemade recipe had 22 grams per serving). We sought to remedy this by using only a small amount of a natural sweetener while still creating a lightly sweet glaze for the oats and nuts. We found that a mere ½ cup of pure maple syrup for 5 cups of oats provided plenty of flavor and sweetness. Although many granola recipes call for granulated sugar as well as maple syrup, we found it unnecessary, especially after adding a generous 4 teaspoons of vanilla. Pressing the granola mixture down into the sheet pan and baking it at a relatively low oven temperature helped keep the granola fuss-free: We didn't need to mix or stir during baking, and we didn't have to worry about it burning. Once we let the mixture cool, we tossed it with dried fruit to give it extra sweetness. Dried apples and cherries, although pleasantly sweet, are surprisingly low in sugar, and their flavors worked perfectly with the subtleness of the maple and vanilla.