A few weeks ago, I wanted to make some granola. There is a recipe that my mom has used forever that my aunt had emailed her. I used to be able to make it from memory, but I haven't made it in a while. I thought for sure it made it into the recipe book, but alas, it did not. So I started my Pinterest/Google search for a new one and stumbled upon this little gem from Balancing Beauty and Bed Lam.
I made a few tweaks here and there based upon our likes and what I felt like throwing in. I've made this recipe twice now in the past two weeks and loved it. This last time I decided to write down my recipe since I was to the point of just winging it (Andrew just loves when I don't follow recipes).
So here it is, my yummy granola :)
Yummy Granola
Ingredients:
8 cups old fashioned oats2 cups mixed nuts (I used almonds and walnuts, but pecans would also be tasty or sunflower seeds)
2/3 cup brown sugar (NOT PACKED)
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
pinch of salt
2/3 cup and a few extra squeezes of honey (or a spoonful if yours is in a jar)
1/3 vegetable or canola oil
1/2-1 cup dried fruit (craisins, dried cherries and blueberries are awesome but raisins work too)
1/4-1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.Add 8 cups of oats to the bowl along with 2/3 cup UNPACKED brown sugar. Mix together.
Add 1.5 tsp cinnamon and stir.
Stir in 2 cups mixed nuts (I also recommend raw since you'll be baking everything anyway)
In a separate bowl, mix 2/3 cup honey and 1/3 cup oil. I put this in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make combining the two ingredients a little easier. Stir together (you won't be able to completely combine the two, but you can mix it up a little)
Pour the honey mixture over the oats.
Stir until well-combined. You want the honey to have coated everything in the bowl.
Spread on a large baking sheet or jelly roll sheet, you know, the ones with the lip around the edge.
Bake at 325 for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, stir the granola with a spatula then bake for another 12 minutes. Remove from oven and give it one more stir before sprinkling with dried fruit. Let the granola cool completely.
Once cool, sprinkle with chocolate chips and let rest. You might think that the granola is totally cool, but you will notice some of your chocolate chips starting to melt. Just don't touch it and you won't have a chocolatey mess on your hands.
Let the granola sit out for a few hours to completely cool.
After it is cool (mine sat out overnight), scoop in an airtight container.
I've eaten this granola everyday. Sometimes by itself.
But it's great:
- on yogurt
- on yogurt and fruit
- with milk
- on pudding (chocolate pudding is really good)
