A few years ago i set out on a quest to make the perfect granola. In my searches I've come up with two very reliable recipes that I've sort of smooshed together into my own version. These would be one by of one my oldest friend's Nicole and another by Alton Brown. For me, the perfect granola is chewy, sweet, and most of all healthy. I think this recipe fulfills all of those requirements and then some. I also love how customizable it is. My husband and I have pretty different tastes when it comes to granola so I usually wind up making two different batches switching out nuts (he loves peanuts and I love almonds & walnuts) and also the fruit (I have an unspoken daily cherry regiment to keep up after all but my husband is a fan of raisins). In my opinion this is best served with Stonyfield Farm's Organic Strawberry Yogurt.
Granola
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup chopped hazlenuts
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup coconut
3/4 tbsp pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon in a pinch)
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins, cherries, figs, etc.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, cinnamon, flax, wheat germ, and brown sugar. In another bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, honey, and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.
Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add dried fruit of your liking and enjoy!
4 comments:
I love granola and clearly homemade is best. But I always have one gripe with granola: it is so addicting that I can't stop eating it. The problem is that granola is so calorie-dense and fiber-packed, that I find myself in trouble/pain when I can't stop eating it. It's a very tasty and nutritious snack, but it always seems to me that a handful of granola is equivalent in calories to about a whole box of Cheerios.
Sounds and looks amazing though, I may have to make this after all (maybe a 1/4 batch).
- The Peanut Butter Boy
woo hoo! I have since perfected my granola bars and have come up with several tasty varieties. I'll have to post them soon.
nick - i hear ya and feel your pain! i usually mix mine with mostly yogurt, that helps break up how heavy it can be sometimes.
nicole - when i make granola bars your recipe is perfect!
I have my granola in my yogurt as well but, I keep hearing people talk about eating it with milk?? And I'm thinking, like cereal? I've also heard of people eating it with milk and hot, like how some people put grapenuts in the microwave. Do you know anything about this and if so, is your granola recipe one that can be heated and have milk added to it?? Thankya!!
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