After I took this picture, I got to eat it. Yummmm! Probably my favorite breakfast in the whole wide world. So what makes it sooooo dang good? My granola, of course. So here’s the recipe.
I should probably let you know I absolutely LOVE oatmeal, cranberries (fresh is best), and all kinds of nuts. Love, Love, Love ’em! I eat them everyday in something. I put nuts in EVERYTHING, because they go with everything. Naturally I would put these lucious ingredients into my granola recipe. I must admit this granola is pretty darn fabulous. It can be a bit pricey to make. So I buy nuts in bulk and keep them in my freezer. I also buy the dried fruits in bulk and freeze them as well. I usually double the recipe. I keep a jar full on my kitchen counter and I either give the rest away or freeze it as well. I’m really proud of this…
I should probably make a disclaimer about the fact that I’m NOT a photographer. I’m can’t even consider myself a novice or a beginner. Thanks to one of my favorite people in the whole wide world, Ann Marie, I can get the photo’s that I have. I hope to improve myself to beginner soon. Any way, THE granola ingredients pictured above.
Look! The ingredients are labeled (Thanks Ry). As you can see I have placed all of the dry ingredients in a large, heavy roasting pan. I have left the nuts whole because I like them whole. You can chop them if you want. I use unsweetened organic coconut. I think it makes the finished product less sweet. I have also used raw wheat germ, but you can use toasted if you want. All of these nuts have fabulous health benefits that we won’t go into right now (but I probably will in the future). Put them all in the roasting pan, no you don’t have to put them in order and make it look pretty like I did. Just dump them in and give them a stir.
Mix it all up.
The next ingredients you will need are these three. I like to use a mild tasting olive oil (duh, health benefits),
honey and pure maple syrup. Please don’t use fake maple syrup like Mrs. Butterworths. Ewww.
Pour all the ingredients into a sauce pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Just when it starts to bubble around the edges like this, take it off the heat. Give it a good whisking to make sure the three ingredients are well blended.
Pour the hot mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir very well to make sure all of the ingredients are coated with the honey mixture.
The dry ingredients will look glazed. Now place the roasting pan in a preheated 325 degree oven. You are going to bake it for 30 minutes. Don’t forget to stir every 10 minutes. This is very important. Make sure you especially get around the edges and corners. If you don’t, the edges will get crispy and brown. NOTE: This is not a crispy, crunchy granola. It is chewy.
Meanwhile, prepare the dried fruit. Well there really isn’t much preparation. I generally chop the apricots, but if you buy them prechopped just measure and wait.
As soon as you remove the granola from the oven add the dried fruit. Don’t add the fruit then bake the granola. That would be a bad idea.
Stir it well so that the dried fruit is distributed evenly through out the granola. Let the granola cool in the pan. Ta Da that’s it! You’re done!
Now you can display your beautiful granola in a pretty jar and your counter. Everyone will be so impressed.
This is how I make my favorite breakfast. I’m really diggin’ this Wallaby yogurt. I use plain nonfat. I used to be a fan of vanilla, but it’s too sweet for me these days. You could really use any flavor you want, but I want the flavor of my granola to stand out. I like to add fresh sliced strawberries and orange segments. I cut away the outter peel then cut away each segment from the membrane. Banana’s are good too. Sprinkle some of the granola on top. I like alot of granola! One fabulous healthy breakfast. This is a great recovery meal after a good hard run. Yes, I run…alot!
Yum!
Janet’s Granola
6 cups uncooked old fashioned Oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup whole walnuts
1 cup whole pecans
1 cup pistachio nuts
1 cup cashews
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup unsweetend coconut
2/3 cup extra-light olive oil
2/3 cup honey
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried blueberries
1 cup chopped dried apricots
In a large roasting pan mix the oats, nuts, wheat germ, coconut. In a medium saucepan heat the oil, honey and maple syrup until blended and beginning to bubble around the edges. Pour the warm syrup over the dry ingredients and mix well. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 30 minutes, turning and stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from oven and stir in dried fruit. Store in an airtight container. Can also be frozen.
Janet, I was wondering if you have put chocolate chunks in this granola? You can never go wrong with a little bit of chocolate…
I sure have and you are right you can't go wrong with a little bit of chocolate.
I love it ! Must try .. Thanks
I just LOVE this granola recipe. It's time to make another batch.
I have been eating it as part of my breakfast, sprinkling a couple tablespoons on top of my oatmeal-in-a-jar (from http://www.thekitchn.com/oatmeal-in-jars-a-week-of-stee-143623 ) which I have topped with a dollop of delicious yogurt made with the recipe found here ( http://inthelittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/going-greek.html )
I also like it on some of the above mentioned yogurt for a snack.
Thanks for all the work you put into this wonderful blog. I'm looking forward to trying more of your recipes AND to making another loaf of the delicious crusty bread from another one of your posts.
This comment was from Sharon B. For some dumb reason I couldn't get this to post. anyway…thank you so much for your comment. I need to make a new batch myself. I so glad you love the granola and thanks for the additional links. They look great!
You should try it as soon as possible. It's my favorite breakfast.
That looks fabulous…I love it..should try it as soon as possible
I just made this and it's delicious. I modified it a bit for the ingredients I had at home- I'm missing the coconut a bit, but that just means I have to make another batch 🙂 Delish!
Girls camp? Are you kidding? I'm SO there! Wouldn't miss it for the world. Thanks for the comments, Jeannette. You make my day so happy.
Janet- This granola is perfect for girl's camp! The only way it could be better would be if you came along!
I am a granola fiend, and I haven't had chewy granola in a long time. I'm going to have to make this.
I'm probably going to have to make everything you post, in fact.
This looks amazing. I think I will give it a try. Thanks for the recipe.
Boy, I'd give anything for your granola right now… looks devine.