As a mom, I want to give my children the best food possible. A few months ago, my daughter craved some sweet, crunchy granola and asked if we could go to the store. Of course, the chef in me told her that we could simply make it ourselves. Granola is an easy and nutritious treat to eat either plain or with yogurt. I like making my own foods because I can control the amount of sugar. In this recipe, you can decide how much honey or maple syrup you want, or you can also substitute with agave syrup. The other amazing thing about granola is that you can throw in your own choice of nuts or dried fruits. This recipe is customizable.
I give my daughter a little snack bag of granola to take to school every day and she shares it with her friends. This healthy snack is popular with even our picky youngsters!
Granola:
3 cups rolled old fashion oats 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut ¾ cup raw sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds ¾ cup sliced almonds 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ - ¾ cup pure maple syrup ¼ cup honey 1/3 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¾ cup dried cranberries or raisins ¾ cup chopped apricot
Preheat the oven to 320 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients together on a large baking sheet. Toss together with your hands or a spoon. Add wet ingredients. Mix until well incorporated. Spread mixture evenly. Bake for 30 minutes and stir. Bake for another 10 minutes or until it turns a nice golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool. After cool enough to handle, break up the granola in clumps. Let cool completely before storage.
Store in an airtight container for up to six weeks. Makes 6-8 cups.
