Despite our best efforts to convince mother nature otherwise, summer is slowly but surely coming to an end. As the nights get cooler and the sun sets earlier and earlier, we’ve begun to embrace fall and all that it brings. In the summer, we are all about popsicles, ice cream, and pretty much any frozen treat – when fall does roll around, we’re all just about ready for some tasty baked goods and that includes this yummy granola.

This recipe from Seasons and Suppers is a long-time favorite that we’ve slightly adapted over years of making it. Everyone who tries it loves it, so we thought it would make a perfect fall gift for friends and family. We even stamped this punny tag – can you blame us?!

Recipe adapted from Muskoka Maple Granola by Jennifer Maloney of Seasons and Suppers

• 4 cups large-flake, old fashioned oats
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup pepitas (unsalted)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped dates

1. Preheat your oven to 300° F.
2. Add the oats, almonds, pepitas, brown sugar and salt to a large bowl and stir well to combine.
3. Measure out both the vegetable oil and maple syrup into one glass measuring cup. Put in the microwave for 45 seconds and add the vanilla. Stir well with a small whisk or fork.
4. Add the oil and maple syrup mixture to the oat mixture. Stir with a rubber spatula until all of the oats are coated with the syrup.
5. Pour the granola directly onto a baking sheet and spread out evenly. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.
6. At the end of 10 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Stir well so that granola that was just in the middle of the pan is now moved to the outside.
7. Bake for 10 more minutes and then sprinkle with coconut shreds, again stirring well.
8. Bake for another 10 minutes and then remove from the oven. Sprinkle with the chopped dates and leave undisturbed until cool. Once cooled, stir the granola and pour into glass jars, storing at room temperature.

If you can bear to give away this tasty granola, it makes a lovely gift! Grab some plain tags (or cut your own out of scrap paper) and a stamp set. We used both black and red ink to really let our granola-inspired pun shine. Write a special message on the back, tie onto the jar with some colorful ribbon, and give to your family and friends!

Enjoy!