Whatever You've Got Homemade Granola
A basic granola recipe that is customizable to food preferences and allergies or whatever ingredients you happen to have in your pantry.
Servings: 26
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
Ingredients
- 8 cups rolled oats (use organic if possible)
- 3 cups nuts, seeds or other add-ins (ideas: shredded coconut, slivered almonds, sunflower nuts, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flax meal, chia seeds, wheat germ, hemp hearts)
- 1 cup honey, maple syrup or other sweetener (I recommend 1/2 honey, 1/2 maple syrup or brown sugar)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil or other oil
- 1/3 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups dried fruit (ideas: craisins, cherries, apricots, mangos, dates, raisins, dried apples)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, nuts and any other dry toppings you are using (coconut, flax, wheat germ etc...)
- In a small saucepan, mix together the coconut oil, the peanut butter and your sweetener of choice. Heat on low until everything is melted. Turn off heat and add vanilla and the salt. (I prefer to melt ingredients together on the stove, but you can skip that step and mix room temperature ingredients together in a bowl if you prefer.)
- Pour sweetened mixture over dry ingredients and stir until thoroughly coated.
- Spread mixture onto 2 rimmed baking sheets (spray pans with cooking spray first or use parchment paper).
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until nicely browned. Important: Stir every 5 to 10 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Let granola cool, then mix in the dried fruit.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months or freeze in airtight freezer bags. Makes approximately 13 cups or 26 1/2 cup servings.