Down to Earth Granola

This is a delicious recipe for homemade granola that is so easy, you will never buy granola again. My friend Judy and I started the Denver Newcomers Group many years ago when we lived in Denver.  One day at a welcome lunch, we had little bags of granola with the recipe for everyone at the table. The granola is great with milk, or sprinkled on yogurt or straight from the bag for a snack.

Prep time: 15 Minutes

Bake time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

4 Cups old-fashioned oats

1 1/2 cups nuts - one type or a combination such as

sliced almonds, chopped hazelnuts, macadamia, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut

1/3 cup light brown sugar (or less)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup cooking oil (canola oil or vegetable oil)

1/4 cup honey (or 1/4 cup maple syrup for Vegan option)

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups dried fruit or combination such as mango, apricots, blueberries

raisins, cranberries, cherries, chopped peaches, chopped pineapple, chopped figs

1. Preheat oven to 300F. In a bowl, mix the oats, nuts, brown sugar, salt & cinnamon.

In a saucepan, warm the oil & honey. Or microwave in a glass bowl for 40 seconds. Whisk or stir in the vanilla. Carefully pour the liquid over the oat mixture. Stir gently with a wooden spoon, finish mixing by hand.

2. Spread the granola in a 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan (light colored as a dark pan tends to burn). Bake 25-35 (I find 25 just right) stirring/tossing every 10 minutes. Depending on your oven, watch it carefully and bake till it's a light golden color. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool completely. It will get crisper as it cools.

When it has cooled, stir in the dried fruit. Seal granola in an airtight container or self-sealing plastic bags. Store at room temp for 1 week or in freezer for 3 months. Make 9 cups.

Some interesting combinations:

1 cup sliced almonds + 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts - with 1 cup raisins + 1/2 cup dried cherries

1 cup sliced almonds + 1/2 cup chopped macadamias - with 3/4 cup dried cherries + 3/4 cup dried pineapple

3/4 cup sliced almonds + 3/4 cup chopped pecans - with 3/4 cup dried cranberries