This granola is sweet, and a little bit salty. It has the perfect level of crunch to add to your morning yoghurt or parfait if you want to get fancy! Lightly spiced with cinnamon, it will start your morning off right. I can (and do) just eat this by the handful for a snack, so I don't know that our stock is going to last all that long!
Granola is the perfect thing to make on a lazy day. It's so easy, you barely need to think, and you will be rewarded with the most delicious smells filling your house, and a large batch of granola that will last you for weeks.
Granola is so versatile, you can really make it out of a combination of oats, and whatever dried fruits or nuts you have on hand.... which is why I call it store cupboard granola. Don't have the same ingredients as this recipe? No problem... mix it up! Just use this recipe as a rough guide to proportions and you can't go far wrong.
You might be thinking, why make granola when you can buy it from the store? I like to make it at home for two reasons. Firstly, you have control over how much (and what type) of sugar you add to the recipe. I find most store bought granola to be overly sweet, and really not all that good for you. Secondly, you get to create all weird and wonderful combinations of flavors versus being limited to the same old boring selection in the store. I'll even give you a third bonus reason... it makes for a great and cheap gift to give to a friend if packaged up nicely.
The Process
Preheat your oven and get your sheet pan ready with some parchment paper.
Get to chopping... you want your nuts and fruits to all be of a similar size to one another to help get an even bake.
Mix, mix, mix. Throw all of that stuff in a bowl, and get to mixing. See how easy it is?
Spread the mixture out on a sheet pan. You want the mixture to be spread in a single layer, and be fairly tightly packed together. This is going to allow for the mixture to stick together so that you get some nice clumps of granola at the end, vs loose grains. The entire recipe here fit on a single sheet pan. If you adjust the recipe down, just use either a quarter sheet pan, or pack the mixture tightly together on one side of a sheet pan, and use a piece of foil to create a fake edge to hold it all together.
5. Put it in the oven and cook for twenty minutes. Do not touch! I mean it. For the granola to clump together don't disturb it. Same goes when it comes out of the oven.... let that baby rest!
6. Take it out of the oven and let cool completely before transferring to a jar or airtight container for storage.
Comments