The smell of granola while cooking is worth the simple effort alone. Everyone in your home will think you are a baking goddess! This granola recipe is so simple and such a cost savings. Store bought granola can be expensive and this recipe makes twelve cups of amazing granola. A version of this recipe was shared with me by a dear friends Courtney Graham, so I every time I make it, I fondly think of her love for the kitchen.
You will need one very large bowl for mixing and two cookie sheets. I like using the Silicone Baking mats for the cookie sheets because there is less mess to scrub off of the cookie sheets. You can use parchment paper, but you will need to use a fair amount of cooking spray so the granola does not stick to the paper. The granola will store in an airtight container for weeks on end, but it never lasts that long in our home.
12 cups of uncooked oats (I like the Gluten Free option from Red Mill or Trader Joes)
I cup of flour (I like to use almond flour, but any flour will do)
1 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup of seeds or nuts (I like to mix whatever I have in the pantry; my favorite is slivered almonds and sunflower seeds)
1 cup of dried fruit (*optional, but I like the dried cherries)
1 Tablespoon of cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons of salt
Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. I warm the next set of ingredients up in the microwave, but it can be done on the stove top.
1 cup of coconut oil
1 1/3 cup of honey
1 Tablespoon of vanilla
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Mix all ingredients until completely incorporated. Divide out the granola onto two cookie sheets. I like to pat down the granola with the back of a spatula, this creates more nuggets in the final product.
Bake at 250 degrees or 40 minutes. The baking time will vary slightly if you like a softer granola texture or a crispy and crunchy texture. The granola will not be crispy when it is finished cooking, however it is delicious warm. The most important step is to let the granola cool completely, before loading into storage bins. This allows for the granola to solidify and promote those yummy little nuggets that everyone hunts for in their bowl.
I make this recipe every couple of weeks, it is so easy and I hope you enjoy it as much as our family.