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I first started thinking about doing my own granola a couple of years back for a brunch I was throwing for about 15 ladies. Traditionally (back on the east coast) my brunches were served with lots of bacon, waffles, maybe a mac and cheese, you get the idea…well I was not going to get away with that kind of a menu with these woman, I needed to provide a healthy alternative. It was also an item that I could do ahead of time, which makes it a fantastic brunch addition.
Homemade granola is incredibly easy and so so good! There are so many different variations that you can do with the base recipe. You can then divide it up at the end and add in each person's favorites if you wish. I like to keep mine somewhat healthy so I keep to the dried fruits but my husband likes chocolate chips in his. I usually eat this for breakfast or snack with milk, kind of like a cereal. It's great over yogurt with fresh fruit and makes a fantastic hostess gift. It keeps well for a few weeks in an airtight container.
I always have some in the house and it's always on my table if I am serving breakfast or brunch. I am not going to lie this is not cheap to make which is why it's pretty expensive pre-made. BUT there are no preservatives and you can put in only what you like.
The "add ins" are endless. I checked out a website that allows you to customize your granola and they were a great source for looking for yummy items to add to my homemade granola.
What is your favorite "add ins" and how do YOU eat your granola??
Granola
Yields: 30 servings
8 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable or coconut oil
1 T ground cinnamon
1 T vanilla extract
2 cups sweetened dried cranberries
1 ½ Cups unsweetened coconut
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.
2. Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. (I use my nonstick roasting pan)
3. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. (I put on rubber gloves and get in there so I can make sure its all coated evenly)
4. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes.
6. Stir once halfway through and add coconut if you want it toasted.
7. Cool, then stir in the cranberries before storing in an airtight container.
Note: this makes A LOT of granola. I would suggest cutting the recipe in half first. I also use coconut oil which I keep in my fridge. You can nuke it easily since its hard to work with in its solid state. If you have a Trader Joes near you I would suggest getting all the ingredients there, I found it much cheaper than the regular supermarket. I LOVE cinnamon so I usually double the amount. IF you like large chunks of granola don't stir it so much half way through and let it cool completely in the pan before breaking up.