Do You Granola?

There are so many granola brands and variations on the market today, it can be really confusing and costly to figure out which one suits your taste the best. A simple solution is to make your own basic granola and then you can create a variety of flavor profiles and experiment with lots of ingredients. Granola is easy to make. It is made out of rolled oats that have been toasted.

BASIC GRANOLA INGREDIENTS
4 cups rolled oats (not instant)
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat the oven to 300°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Place the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl and stir to combine; set aside.  Place the honey, oil, and vanilla in a small bowl and stir to combine. Pour over the oat mixture and mix until the oats are thoroughly coated.

Spread the mixture in a thin, even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir and continue baking until the granola is very light golden brown, about 5 to 15 minutes more.  Place the baking sheet on a wire rack and cool the granola to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. (Note: It will harden as it cools.) 


Now for the fun part. Here are some add-ins that will give your granola a boost! Of course they all start with Granola made from the basic recipe.

Hawaiian Granola
4 cups basic granola (cooled)
1/2 cup dried mango
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup chopped toasted macadamia nuts
1/2 cup sweetened coconut

Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola 

4 cups basic granola (cooled)

1 cup honey roasted peanuts

1 cup peanut butter pieces (candy)

1 cup mini pretzels

Spicy Nut Granola

4 cups basic granola (cooled)

1 cup slivered almonds

3/4 cup pecan pieces

2 tablespoons cinnamon

2 tablespoons ginger

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Granola

4 cups basic granola (cooled)

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

NOTE: You can make up your own flavor profiles! Some add-in ideas: raisins, dried cherries, dried apricots, pistachios, banana chips, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, lucky charms, crackers, dried blueberries, dates, sunflower seeds, M&Ms, chopped kit-kat bars or anything else you see that makes your mouth water.