This morning, my kids and I were sitting in the living room (we had a sleepover in the living room :-) ) comtemplating what to have for breakfast. Makenzie screamed out "Granola!"... it was so funny, like it just came to her that she wanted granola! Well, my granola jar was EMPTY! Around here, this isn't a good thing. She LOVES homemade granola! A long time ago I found a recipe for homemade granola and I changed it up a bunch to fit our likings. I love it because I am able to use the apple juice that I bottle every summer, honey from the hives in our neighbor's field, and the awesome goodness of oats, coconut, and a variety of different nuts. I know that alot of people enjoy dried fruits and berries in their granola, but truthfully, I just don't! However, we do like fresh fruit in it. We enjoy it with milk and a banana, or mixed in with a fruit yogurt. Makenzie also rarely leaves the house without a ziploc full in her purse or her backpack. I can't complain. She's 8 and loves the healthy stuff..?
Feel free to make your twist on this! Make it your own too!
In a large mixing bowl, combine:
4 cups old-fashioned oats (not quick)
1 1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup flaked coconut
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
In another bowl, whisk together until well mixed:
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup 100% apple juice(no sugar added)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line your cookie sheet with a SILPAT or lightly grease. Pour liquid mixture over the oat mixture, stirring until all ingredients are well-incorporated. Spread onto prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, making sure to stir every 10 minutes. Let cool completely then place in an airtight container.
**After your mixture is out of the oven and still warm, this is when you would want to add your dried fruits and berries**
Click here for a printable recipe!
Enjoy!
Happy Cooking!
Teauna :-)
Looking at most granola recipes, they should store between 2-3 weeks in an airtight container. Mine has never lasted long enough to know :-)
I love granola,especially with yogurt! It looks like dried fruit is the only thing I'd be able to use. Can you think of anything else I could add since nuts are off the menu for my boys?
ReplyDeletehow about pumpkin seeds? They aren't a nut and they give the nutty texture... dried fruits like dried cranberries, dried bananas, dried cherries, dried apples, even dried dates, raisins, etc...would be good... I'm not sure what else would work to replace the nuts...
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