Feeling a little Granola?

  Cereal is easy. Bowl, milk, fill belly, right? Well, we are a little into the whole DIY (do-it-yourself) thing and cereal just might be the place to do it. Not only does homemade granola taste better than boxed breakfast cereal, it is more filling, contains any goodness you want it to and you can make a big 'ol batch that lasts much longer than that box of cereal that seems to magically be empty all the time.

Granola is very easy to make and can be tailored to fit any preferences. It tastes great with plain, probiotic rich yogurt and fruit or with the milk of your choice. Try making our fresh homemade hemp milk or make parfaits with our modern jam recipe using chia seeds. Yum!

Granola

1 cup virgin coconut oil

2/3 cup honey

1/3 cup maple syrup

2 tsp cinnamon (or try a spice blend like pumpkin pie, chai tea or one of your favourites)

1 1/2 tsp good quality sea salt of your choice

1kg bag rolled oats, about 10 cups (you want to use the big rolled oats, not the quick cooking or instant), use gluten free oats if needed

1 cup unroasted, unsalted sunflower seeds (or nut or seed of your choice)

1 cup dried cranberries (or dried fruit of your choice - try cut up dates, figs, gogi berries, cherries, raisins, mulberries, etc.)

Steps

Preheat the oven to 325F and cover 2 baking sheets with parchment. Put the oil, honey, maple syrup, spices and salt in a pot on the stove over low heat. While everything is melting together, measure the oats and nuts and/or seeds into a large bowl. Save the dried fruit to add later.

Pour the melted mixture over your oat mix and stir until everything is well coated.  Spread approximately half of the mixture onto each of your two baking sheets and bake for 15 minutes. Take them out of the oven and give them a bit of a stir. Put them back in the oven for another 15 minutes. They should be just a bit toasted looking around the edges.

Leave them to cool for at least a half hour as they crisp up while they are cooling. Once cool, add the dried fruit and put into large mason jars or the storing vessel of your choice.

Homemade granola also makes a great gift or hostess offering. Enjoy!

Recipe and posting by Amy Buckman, Community Ambassador for Amaranth Stores.