Granola

Homemade granola is so ridiculously tasty and easy to make that I don't even know why they sell it in stores anymore. Trust me, once you make a batch of your own at home, you'll never go back to the store-bought stuff. The other nice thing about homemade granola is that there are so many ways to vary the recipe. I would love to hear about your favorite flavor combination(s) in the comment section.

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats

2 cups nuts such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, etc.*

½ cup seeds such as chia, flax, sunflower, etc. (optional)

¾ cup shredded coconut (optional)

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

¼ cup olive oil or coconut oil

¾ teaspoon vanilla

¾ teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, etc. (optional)

1 cup dried fruit such as cherries, bananas, raisins, cranberries, etc. (optional)

*Note: You can use one kind of nut but I recommend a combination of at least two different kinds.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl combine the oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, and brown sugar. In a small bowl combine the honey or syrup, oil, vanilla, salt, and spices. Pour the liquid mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well. Pour the granola onto the prepared rimmed baking sheet. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve even color. Let the granola cool,** add the dried fruit (if using), and store in an airtight container.

**Note: The granola will crisp up as it cools.