As promised in yesterday’s post, here is my recipe for homemade granola.  This post can also be found in my blog, Stacy Loves…

I made granola for the first time last week.  I had never realized before how easy it is to make.  After trying some that my friend had made, I had to have her recipe.  I modified it to my liking and according to the ingredients I had on hand at the time.  That is one of the great things about granola…you can use whichever nuts, seeds, and extras you personally prefer or have on-hand.

Homemade granola can be made at a fraction of the cost of store-bought granola, and it is really easy to make!  It is packed with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and nutrition.  According to this article on WebMD, oats are one of the top ‘Superfoods’ that everyone needs.  Granola is an easy way to get lots of nutrients and superfoods into my kids’ diets.  I love to eat this plain, but it is also delicious mixed in yogurt or eaten as a cereal with milk.

The recipe I use is below, but feel free to modify the ingredients to your own liking.  Just try to keep the measured amounts the same.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup pecans (or nuts/seeds of your choice)
• 1/2 cup cashews (or nuts/seeds of your choice)
• 1/2 cup almonds (or nuts/seeds of your choice)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2/3 cups dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.)
• (Optional) Extras:  Shredded coconut, chocolate chips, etc.

Instructions:

1. Spread oats in an even layer on a baking sheet.  Bake at 325° for 7-10 minutes.
2. Transfer oats to a large mixing bowl.
3. Chop nuts/seeds in food processor until chopped but still coarse.
4. Mix nuts/seeds into mixing bowl with oats.  Set aside.
5. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, and coconut oil. Bring to a boil.
6. Once boiling, remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon vanilla.
7. Pour mixture into nut/seed/oats mixture and mix until combined.
8. Add dried fruit.
9. Bake at 325° for approximately 15 minutes.
10. Add chocolate chips or other extras (if using).
11. Let cool and transfer to an airtight container.
12. ENJOY!!! 🙂