My Pantry Shelf

Granola is a hot item in our house these days. Though its name may be the butt of jokes in some circles, granola deserves credit for being not only full of healthy whole foods, but also incredibly tasty. Perhaps if Santa had to choose, granola might end up on the nice AND the naughty list.

Giftable Granola is my favorite granola recipe. It is sweet with a touch of salt and packs an endearing crunch. It tempts as a mid-day snack and turns a bowl of fruit and yogurt into a great morning. The recipe is incredibly flexible, so feel free to add your own favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. The granola keeps for weeks in a sealed container, but not at our house. This batch is mostly being bagged up and given to friends, an antidote to the ever-present indulgence that is December. Make a batch of this now for gifts, or save the recipe as a kick-off to your New Year’s resolution. I think you will love it.

Giftable Granola

8 cups rolled oats

2 cups seeds (pepitas, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, or a combination)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

2 cups dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, chopped apricots, blueberries, or a combination)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

Toss the oats, seeds, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Pour the honey, maple syrup, oils, and vanilla over the top. Sprinkle with salt and toss again. Spread the mixture over two rimmed baking sheets. Slide granola into the oven. After 20 minutes, stir the granola around every 10 minutes or so, otherwise the edges will become too brown. Cook for a total of 40- 45 minutes or until the granola is golden. Remove from the oven and let cool. Mix in the dried fruit.

Once the granola is completely cool, pack it into air tight containers and store at room temperature.

Print this recipe: Giftable Granola

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