Homemade Granola

This is a great, easy granola recipe (aka, no stirring while it's cooking in the oven!). 
I prefer eating granola with milk (like cereal).  My kids and husband love it with yogurt (we get lactose-free).   We first discovered this way of making granola via Cook's Illustrated and then have experimented until we found a few flavor mixes we love.  There's always some in a tupperware near our cereals ready for breakfast or snacktime!

Homemade Granola

 

Set oven to 325F.  Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

 

Mix the following in a large bowl:

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

3-4 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp salt

½ cup vegetable oil (don’t skimp on the oil!)

 

Add one of the following spice mixes:

1. 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 ½ tsp ginger, ½ tsp allspice, ¼ tsp nutmeg (my favorite mix)
2. 1 ½ tsp ginger, ¾ tsp nutmeg (nice w/ coconut and dried tropical fruit)
3. 2 Tbsp orange zest, 2 tsp cinnamon (nice w/ cranberries & pecan nuts)

 

Once that is all whisked together, fold in the following until thoroughly coated:

5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (don’t use quick oats!)

2 cups mix of favorite dry ingredients, such as nuts, coconut, seeds

Options to add: (correlate with spice mixes A, B, C)

1. A few options that go nicely with spice mix A.
1. 1 cup shredded coconut, ½ cup sunflower seeds, ½ cup pumpkin seeds
2. 2 cups slivered almonds
3. 1 cup slivered almonds, 1 cup seeds
2. 1 ½ cup shredded coconut, ½ cup almonds or cashews (optional)
3. 2 cups pecans

 

Press the mix onto the cookie sheet until you’ve got an even layer.

 

Bake for ~ 25 – 30 minutes, until a light golden brown.  The darker it is, the crunchier and more toasted tasting.  I’d go for a happy medium.

 

Remove from oven and put pan on cooling rack.  Let cool 1 hr.

Break the granola into pieces (as big/small as you want).

 

Add 1-2 cups of dried fruit or mini chocolate chips (optional)

The key thing is to add these last. If you bake the fruit in, it will dry out.

Options to add:  (correlate with spice mixes A, B, C)

1. A few options:
1. 1-2 cups dried cranberries or blueberry-cranberries
2. 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup mini chocolate chips
3. 1-2 cups mix of raisens, craisens, & dried currents
2. 1-2 cups dried mango or pineapple
3. 1-2 cups dried cranberries

Granola with almonds, coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and yellow raisens. Yum!

 

Store in a sealed Tupperware or Ziploc baggie.  It will last nicely for 2 - 4 weeks.  Enjoy!