Montmorency Tart Cherry & Pistachio Granola

This post is sponsored by the Montmorency Tart Cherries. 

I was so excited to partner with Montmorency Tart cherries to make a delicious recipe featuring tart cherries, along with a basket of surprise ingredients. 

Montmorency tart cherries contain anthocyanins – a natural compound that contributes to the ruby-red color and the distinctive sour-sweet taste. Studies suggest Montmorency Tart Cherries may help aid recovery after intense exercise.  Other studies have examined the impact of this super fruit on sleep, inflammation, heart health and digestive health.

But the most exciting aspect of tart cherries to me? Is that they contain a natural source of melatonin - a hormone that helps to regulate our sleep cycle. As someone with on and off lifelong insomnia, this makes tart cherries an excellent thing to incorporate into my diet, especially as a post-dinner and pre-bedtime snack. 

I wanted to create something that could be made in batches, something easy to grab without making a mess or cooking something new every night. A quick, delicious, sleep-friendly snack!

Montmorency Tart Cherry & Pistachio Granola:

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2.5 cups rolled oats (gluten-free certified, if necessary)

  • 1 cup shelled pistachios

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

  • 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

  • 1-2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 cup dried Montmorency Tart cherries (or more!)





DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 300. 

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a saucepan, combine wet ingredients, just until mixed and heated. Slowly incorporate the wet into dry. 

Spread combined mixture onto parchment paper, and bake for 15 minutes. Stir granola. Bake for another 10-20 minutes, watching to ensure it doesn't burn. 

Let cool slightly, chop cherries and combine. 

Feel free to play around with less sugar, or substituting some of the sugar with stevia or monk fruit.

Serve with plant-based milk or yogurt, a few banana slices. Enjoy!











Katie Buchanan