I’ve always been a devoted fan of snickerdoodle cookies.
Butter, cinnamon, sugar…I mean really, what’s not to like?
Granted there was one traumatic experience involving these beauteous baked goods, Xena the Warrior Princess, and a seedy motel, but I’ve long since gotten past it.
Or have I?
It was 1996, and I was a freshmen in college, just a wee babe, still wet behind the ears, but with the ego of an eighteen year old. Translation, despite having little wisdom or experience to back it up, I thought I could conquer the world. Not much has changed.
I was home visiting my family for Christmas, with my new boyfriend in tow (the future Hubby). We hit a bout of bad weather, which is usual for Buffalo, and despite my father’s gentle suggestions we stay back until the highways were clear, we forged ahead. How young and foolish we were.
We hit the road early in the day, optimism high and loaded with a platter of snickerdoodle cookies, a departing gift from my dear mother. It wasn’t long into our drive, mere minutes really after the semi-truck we were following drove off the road and into a snow bank, when we realized we had made a grave mistake.
With the Hubby’s head sticking out of the passenger window, we navigated off the highway to the nearest exit, where there were minimal signs of life: one lone Burger King and a motel 666 (or something like that). This dilapidated excuse for a hotel had a solo pay phone in the parking lot (this was well before cell phones were commonplace) and rooms with outdoor access only. It was the kind of establishment people paid for by the hour.
In any event, the Hubby and I pooled our limited resources together and discovered we had enough money for a one night stay, with just a little left over to buy a cheeseburger, no fries. While I would have preferred the carbs, our sensibilities won. We split the meat, hunkered down on the Queen sized bed with questionable covers and turned on the television. The boob tube was on wheels and only had one channel. I don’t remember which station it was, but I do know they were having a Xena the Warrior Princess marathon.
Hours and many battles in a leather thong later, we realized we were famished, so we ate the only thing available to us: not one another. It was far too early in our relationship for cannibalism and besides we’re not that kind of couple.
Instead, we ravaged the snickerdoodle cookies my mother had sent, dozens upon dozens (I might be exaggerating). We consumed so many cinnamon sugar-coated balls of delight, we made ourselves sick, although it could have had something to do with the hours of horrible television we endured that day.
The next day, we drove back to Cleveland, on clear roads and with our intestines cleaned out.
The moral of the story is if that experience didn’t turn me off snickerdoodle cookies, nothing will, although I did have to stop watching Xena, even though she is a total bad ass.
- 3 cups Rolled Oats
- 2 cups Macadamia Nuts, chopped
- 1 cup lightly salted Cashews, chopped
- 3 Tbsp. Flax Powder
- 1 Tbsp. Cream of Tarter
- 2 tsp. Baking Soda
- 1/3 cup Cashew Butter
- 1/3 cup Olive or Canola Oil
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 3 Tbsp. Sugar
- 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
- Preheat over to 350, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine dry ingredients into a bowl and mix thoroughly (from the rolled oats through to the baking soda).
- Stir in cashew butter, mixing as thoroughly as possible. Stir in oil of choice. Mix to coat everything. Add in the maple syrup, stirring to coat everything.
- In a small bowl, mix your sugar and cinnamon together. Stir HALF the mixture into the granola.
- Once combined, spoon mixture onto a baking sheet. Leave clumped together. Do not spread out on the baking sheet. Sprinkle HALF the remaining cinnamon sugar on top.
- Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove granola from the oven and gently turn the edges and very top layer inward. These are the most likely to burn. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar on top and bake for another 10 minutes (20 minutes total).
- Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
- Will keep in an airtight container for several weeks.
- If you like your granola on the crunchier side, you can cook it a few minutes longer.
- Also, if you like big clusters, don’t stir once you remove it from the oven. When it cools, it will harden into clusters.
Do you make your own granola? Ave loves bashing the nuts. 🙂
good heavens this speaks to my heart, and says sweet sweet words! thank you for this genius creation! i love anything snickerdoodle-ish. i have never made granola but hey, times are a changin. i’m ready to venture into the granola world if this recipe is greeting me.
You need to venture into the granola world. It’s a fabulous place to be.
Meghan recently posted…Sweet and Sassy Snickerdoodle Granola Recipe
THIS. LOOKS. UNREAL. I mean, anything with cashew butter or macadamia nuts… and this has both! Making this asap
Sara @ Oats & Rows recently posted…The Weekender 2/11
Hooray! I can’t wait to hear what you think.
Meghan recently posted…Sweet and Sassy Snickerdoodle Granola Recipe
I’m so proud of Ave for enthusiastically bashing the nuts. Although, as we’ve discussed, I do love me some buttery nuts. 😉
I was never a Xena fan. I have never eaten a fast food burger (outside of In-and-Out, which I don’t think is that great). Fun facts.
Buttery nuts are the best kind of nuts.
Meghan recently posted…Sweet and Sassy Snickerdoodle Granola Recipe
Can you believe that snicker doodle isn’t a thing in the UK? Nor in Australia. Words fail me as to why! Cinnamon, butter and sugar? Seriously, what’s not to love?!
Saving this for after the whole30. I do like some crunch in my life and this is just perfect. Also can I add that I think you are a little optimistic about how long this would last in a container. I mean who would take several weeks to eat this?!?
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Valentine’s Day – I celebrate, so what?
It won’t last several weeks; you’re right about that. In fact, all three batches are nearly gone. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Sweet and Sassy Snickerdoodle Granola Recipe
Damn. Those clusters. I think this one may be first.
Oh the 90s and their skeevy motels. I hope that was the night you knew you were going to marry that boy.
Cora recently posted…How To Survive A Job You Do Not Like
The clusters are fabulous and a direct result of the cashew butter. Mmmm, cashew butter.
Meghan recently posted…Sweet and Sassy Snickerdoodle Granola Recipe
Lol oh man. Your story actually reminds me of one I had with my mom when we went camping when I was little. My dad had to leave us for a few days to go do some business in a city that was nearby, so we were stuck on the campground with no car and I guess not a lot of food? Like I Don’t know how that happened…. Either way, we ended up having to eat a tonne of these chocolate cream filled cookie sandwiches, and I can’t look at them to this day without getting a little sick.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…thinking out loud #274
I have a few of those stories involving booze too, although never at a camp ground.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Fun, Food, and Family (#120)
I loved reading that anecdote of yours. Does this mean we should thank your mom for this recipe too? Seriously though, this granola looks like a magical creation.
I also love making granola though I never am patient enough and have it cluster-filled… 🙁
Kaylee recently posted…Valentine’s Pancakes
The cashew butter is what gives the granola the clusters so patience or not, you’ll be fine with this recipe.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Fun, Food, and Family (#120)
Oh man, this sounds so good!
It’s a keeper for sure. Try it!
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Fun, Food, and Family (#120)
I don’t know what’s better – your story telling or your recipe! It’s been far too long since I’ve made homemade granola. Well actually I made some in December for Christmas gifts, but I only got a few fistfuls of it otherwise I wouldn’t have had enough to fill my gift jars with!
Chelsea A recently posted…Date Sweetened Hot Chocolate
The granola is delicious (one of my bests), although I’m partial to the story telling. Thank you for noticing and commenting on it. Blows kiss.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Fun, Food, and Family (#120)
You got me hook line and sinker with those clusters!
The clusters are so good, but the cinnamon sugar sprinkles are my favorite.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Fun, Food, and Family (#120)
Oy vey, what a story! I figure going through that one with the hubby – intestine cleaning and all – really welded you together even more.
I’m glad that episode didn’t get you turned off of Snickerdoodles because else you wouldn’t have come up with this magical creation. It’s been forever since I made granola but this (cashew butter! Macadamias!) sounds like a truly special one.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Stimulating those neurons
This one is so rich and buttery because of the macadamia nuts and cashew butter. It’s probably my new favorite.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Fun, Food, and Family (#120)