How to Make Your Own Granola
As the pandemic continues to interfere with life-as-usual, more people are cultivating a DIY attitude to food production and preserving. As consumers continue to buy less and make more, the list of staples we used to purchase at the store – bread, ketchup, pickles, jam – are now things we make at home.
I suggest you add granola to that list. Saying no to store-bought granola, which often comes in tiny, expensive bags laden with sugar, allows you to say yes to homemade granola, sure to become a family favorite. Our kids love coming home to the smell of granola cooling on the kitchen island. They often pull up a stool, grab the yogurt from the fridge and dive right in.
Homemade Granola Recipe
(Yield: Roughly 2 quart-sized mason jars.)
Dry Ingredients:
6 cups of rolled oats (use gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola)
1 cup of slivered almonds
1 cup of pumpkin seeds
1 cup of sunflower seeds
1 cup of coconut
3 large handfuls each of chopped pecans and cashews
A generous sprinkle of cinnamon
Wet Ingredients:
1/4 cup sunflower oil
1/4 cup of honey or real maple syrup (or 1/2 cup, if you like it sweeter)
A splash of vanilla extract
Chopped pecans and cashews
Directions:
Using a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Slowly heat the wet ingredients together in a pot on the stove (or in the microwave) until warm. Pour the warm, wet mixture into the dry bowl, stirring until blended well. Spread the granola evenly on two parchment-lined sheet pans. Roast at 350°F (175°C) for 12 – 15 minutes. While it’s baking, toss the granola on the sheet pans once or twice. Your granola should look and smell toasted but be careful not to burn the edges.
Serve with your favorite type of milk or yogurt. In our family, we love to top our granola with fresh berries or a warm pear sauce.
Other ingredients you can experiment with include:
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Candied ginger
- Orange zest
- Chocolate chips (Wait until your granola has cooled completely before adding the chocolate.)
Renée Hartleib
Renée Hartleib is a professional writer and writing mentor who helps others fulfill their writing dreams. Renée writes for online and print magazines and also maintains an active blog where she explores what it means to be a whole-hearted human living in these interesting times. Her book Writing Your Way Home: A 40-Day Journey Within will be published in 2021. Visit her website at www.reneehartleib.com.
