Jack has been a granola lover for years and only recently decided to make some up after reading several articles and coming to the conclusion that it is easy, fun, and you can come up with a killer granola. Packaged granola often has more oils, sugars and preservatives that you don’t care for. It is also difficult to find one that has the combination of fruit, nuts and grains that you would like. Answer = Make it yourself.
One of the great things about DIY granola, is that you know exactly what goes into it and can adjust the proportions of nuts and grains to suit your taste. The only golden ratios Jack found are the ratio of 2:1 oats to nuts (that doesn’t include the coconut or seeds) and about 2½ tbsp of liquid to each cup of oats (oil and honey). Like all golden ratios,you can stray from them, but not too far. Don’t forget to gather together all those leftover nuts and dried fruits, they will fit in the mix quite well.
So maybe put on some New Age music, your Earth Shoes with the Negative Heel Technology, light a candle (or not), and let’s go granola.
Ingredients
3 cups old fashioned oats (Quakers is fine, or bulk from the health food store)
¼ cup slivered almonds, coarsely chopped
¼ cup pecans, pieces, chopped or whole
¼ cup walnut pieces
½ cup shelled sunflower seeds
½ cup golden flax seeds
½ cup sesame seeds
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (sweetened if you want the extra sugars)
½ cup good quality honey (you may prefer maple syrup. 100% please)
6 tbsp olive oil (substitute canola if preferred)
¼ cup packed light brown sugar (dark if you want the richer color)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup dried cranberries (or 50% dried cherries and 50% cranberries)
¾ cup dried apricots, chopped
½ cup golden raisins
Ingredient Notes
If you don’t like cranberries or cherries, substitute with more raisins.
Nut types can be mixed and matched within the quantity, cashews, pistachios etc.
Nuts can be whole or chopped to the size you like.
Add more nuts if you want a particularly nutty result
STEP 1
Heat the oven to 350º
Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with a layer of parchment paper
Combine the first batch of ingredients, oats, nuts, seeds and coconut in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
STEP 2
Put the next group, honey, oil, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Stir occasionally until sugar is melted and the mixture is well blended.
STEP 3
Stir the blended liquid mixture into the bowl of dried ingredients from Step 1.
Stir the mixture until everything is moist and well coated.
STEP 4
Spread the mixture on the parchment paper and even out the layer over the whole baking sheet
STEP 5
Bake for 20 minutes
IMPORTANT: Watch the time. Your mileage may vary due to individual oven performance. You are looking for a light golden brown color. Deterioration from light to dark to burnt can be quick, so keep an eye on it.
The granola will not be hard and crunchy when you take it out. Be patient, that happens next.
STEP 6 SERVE and ENJOY
Cool completely, in the baking sheet, on a wire rack.
Will take about 1 hour and the layer will crisp up considerably as it cools.
Once cool, break it up into chunks and crumbs in your large bowl.
Stir in the dried fruits
Store in an airtight container.
Your scratch made granola will keep for up to 2 weeks at room temperature–if it lasts that long.
