Perfect Granola

As you like it...

This granola, lightly sweetened with a bit of honey, is perfect because you make it however you want it! Don’t like walnuts? No problem! Can’t get enough cranberries? Throw them in! Just make sure your fruit/nut/seeds mixture adds up to 2 cups and use ingredients without added sugar or salt. (unless you like it sweet and salty…) If you’re using whole nuts, you may want to chop them coarsely. Or, for a really easy granola, use your favourite trail mix. 

Perfect Granola
Makes 5 cups

3 cups of oats
2 cups of fruit/nuts/seeds (see below to check out what I used)
¼ cup grapeseed oil (or another neutral flavoured oil)
¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon of vanilla
¼ cup flax seeds (optional)
pinch of sea salt

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees F. Measure oats into a large bowl. Heat oil, honey and vanilla in a small saucepan on low and stir until warm and blended. Add the fruit/nut/seeds mix and toss to coat.

Add to oats in the large bowl, add a pinch of sea salt and toss until well blended.  Put a single layer of granola on the cookie sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring once or twice.

(Be careful not to burn. Adjust your temperature as needed. I used a countertop convection oven, which tends to get hotter than it says because the element is so close to the pan.) Store in an airtight container - Mason jars work well.

In this recipe, my fruit/nuts/seed mix consists of: Thompson raisins, currents, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, unsweetened coconut flakes and sunflower seeds.

I think it’s perfect, but here are some other ideas:
cranberries, chopped dried apples, apricots or cherries,  pumpkin seeds, almonds, sultana raisins, dates, figs, prunes, or add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc…

Enjoy with fruit and yogurt for a quick breakfast or a delicious snack.