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Homemade Granola
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Posted In: Baked-Goods
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Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
PrintIngredients
2 ½ cups oats
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tablespoons melted or liquid oil (coconut oil or other high-heat oil of your choice)
3-4 Tablespoons warmed honey
¼ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup or less of shredded coconut (if you like it)
1 cup or more of mixed chopped nuts and seeds (try cashew pieces, almonds, sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts, etc.)
1 Tablespoon maple syrup (to mix directly with the nuts)
Additions for after the granola is done baking:
¾ cup or so of dried fruit (or more or less to taste). Try things like dried apples, raisins, candied ginger chopped real small, dried cranberries.
You can also mix in a sprinkling of whole or ground flax-seed. You might want to store the granola in the fridge if you are adding these items, or just add them as you are serving the granola.
Story
The thing to know about this recipe is that all ingredients and measurements are forgiving and flexible. If you don’t want oil, leave it out. If you want it less sweet, just cut back on the honey. The nuts and seeds can be in any combination and you can change the spices and flavorings around. I’ve been following this basic recipe lately and the nuts change according to what we have on hand. Cashew pieces and sunflower seeds seem to be a good kid-friendly mix for us.Directions
To start: In a large bowl combine everything except the nuts, seeds, and the maple syrup. Mix well. Pour onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Use the same bowl to mix your nuts & seeds with the maple syrup. This helps them have a nice maple flavor that will stand out more than if you mixed them in with the oats. Note: I usually brush or swirl a little oil around the bowl before adding the nuts and maple syrup so that the syrup is less likely to stick to the bowl. Next pour the nut mixture onto the cookie sheet with the oat mixture and gently mix them together.
When baking, you are looking for the granola to come out slightly golden in color. It will not be crispy right away, but will crisp up after cooling. Better to take it out too soon than too late.
Put the cookie sheet into a 350 degree oven. Set the timer for 10 minutes. At 10 minutes stir the granola on the tray being sure to move the granola on the edges into the middle (the edges will brown first). Set the timer for another 10 minutes. Pay close attention to the granola in the last five minutes checking as needed. You may be done after a total of 20 minutes and you may want to bake it slightly longer, adding a minute or so at a time. You could take the whole tray out and let it cool slightly for a taste test.
When it is done to your liking, let it cool on the tray. When cooled I add the dried fruit like apples, raisins, cranberries… whatever you like.
This small batch is a good size for a trial batch. I make two large cookie sheets at a time, doubling the recipe above. I store the cooled granola in ball jars. You can use any airtight container or bag.
I like to serve the granola with a topping of frozen blueberries or any fresh fruit that we have on hand.