homemade granola
Healthy and nutty homemade granola
Kristen & Tara’s Granola
Makes around 2 quarts
Ingredients:
4 cups rolled oats (not “quick oats”)
1 1/2 cups raw, sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups raw walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (you can also try sunflower, or olive)
3 tablespoons raw coconut oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 pinch sea salt
Optional: ½ cup dried fruit, chopped (I used unsulphured apricots and would also suggest chopped dates, dried cherries, or whole raisins)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325˚. Mix together dry ingredients (except for fruit) in a large bowl. Heat the liquid ingredients and salt gently in a small saucepan, just until coconut oil and honey have softened and the mixture can be whisked together. Drizzle liquid into dry, mixing to coat evenly. Spread onto two trays lined with parchment or silpats, and put in the middle zone of the oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes (depending on your oven), rotating trays and stirring granola every 10 minutes or so to redistribute browner “edge” pieces with less cooked “middle” pieces, until beginning to turn golden brown. Watch your trays carefully toward the end, since granola browns quickly! If you’re using dried fruit, stir it in when you remove tray from the oven. Cool—granola will crisp as it cools down–and store in air-tight containers.