Oats and Honey Granola

Homemade granola is easy to make, it's more economical and tastes better! For breakfast, serve it with milk or yogurt and some fresh, frozen or dried fruit. Or, simply eat it "as is" for a tasty and healthy, crunchy snack.

Recipe Ingredients:

Single Batch:
3 cups old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup slivered almonds, or chopped walnuts or pecans
6 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons ground flax seed* or quick oats (optional)
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt or pink mineral salt
1/4 cup (2 ounces) coconut oil, melted
1/4 (2 ounces) cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Double Batch:
6 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup slivered almonds, or chopped walnuts or pecans
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup ground flax seed* or quick oats (optional)
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or pink mineral salt
1/2 cup (4 ounces) coconut oil, melted
1/2 (4 ounces) cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C).
2. Place the first 6 ingredients into a large bowl and stir to combine.
3. Place the coconut oil in a glass 1 cup measure and melt in the microwave on HIGH, for 20 to 30 seconds. Add the honey and vanilla extract.
4. Pour the honey/coconut/oil mixture into the oat mixture and stir until thoroughly combined and the granola mixture is evenly coated.
5. For Single Batch: Spread granola on lightly greased large (17x12-inch) baking sheet with sides.
6. For Double Batch: Spread granola on a lightly greased commercial-sized half sheet baking pan with sides, or use two (17x12-inch) baking sheets with sides.
7. Bake for 1 hour, stirring granola every 15 minutes.
8. Cool completely and store in an air-tight container. For longer storage, granola keeps well in the freezer.

Single Batch makes about 1 quart granola. Double Batch, about 2 quarts.

*Use a power blender, or a spice/coffee grinder to ground whole flax seeds. (Whole flax seeds must be ground to release their nutritional benefit.)

Serving Suggestion: For a delicious breakfast, serve granola with vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit (or partially-thawed frozen fruit) such as strawberries, blueberries or pitted fresh cherries.

Variations:

Before Granola is Baked:

• Use other types of chopped nuts such as chopped cashews or hazelnuts.
• Use other types of shelled seeds that can be eaten whole, such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds, or try hulled hemp seeds.
• Spice it up with 1 or 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
• Use pure maple syrup instead of honey.

After Granola is Baked:

• Add 1 cup (more or less) dried fruits such as whole raisins, cranberries and cherries, or chopped dried apricots or dates.
• Add 1 cup (more or less) white, dark or milk chocolate miniature chips, or try other flavors like cinnamon chips.

Recipe and photographs by Hope Cantil; copyright © 2018; properties of CooksRecipes.com. See Terms of Use.