Easy Granola
Granola is a sweet and crunchy treat made with whole grain oats and any combination of additions, such as raisins, cranberries and nuts. Enjoy it alone or as a crunchy addition to yogurt and fresh fruit.
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, toss together oats, coconut, pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon.
- In a small bowl, combine vanilla and oil. Drizzle oil and vanilla over oat mixture and stir to evenly coat.
- Spread oat mixture onto a baking pan covered with foil or parchment paper. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every 10 minutes.
- Stir in raisins and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Smart Shopping Tips
- Homemade granola is significantly less expensive than store-bought varieties, and you can control the amount of sugar and oil and leave out preservatives.
- This recipe is flexible, and you can use any combination of assorted nuts, dried fruit or other additions that your family may love.
- Mix and match different dried fruits and nuts in this recipe to suit your taste. Try walnuts, peanuts or almonds instead of pecans. You may also mix in dried cranberries, cherries or apricots instead of raisins.
- For additional flavor and added nutrients, toss in seeds such as pumpkin, sesame, cracked flax or sunflower.
- Make a yogurt parfait by layering plain yogurt, fresh fruit, and your homemade granola in a small cup. Your kids will love it for a healthy, sweet after -school snack!
- This recipe can be made on the stove. Toast oat mixture in a large skillet over low heat, stirring constantly until golden brown.
