Saturday, November 08, 2014

Living the Pantry Lifestyle - Simple homemade granola


Beginning this week, I'm going to share some of my favorite food gift ideas.   I had to make a new batch of this granola for my husband so I thought it would be a good first recipe to share.  Next week I will share the easy way I've come up with to make gourmet chocolate covered apples.  I still have to photograph that process.

The granola is very easy and you can tweak it to individual likes and dislikes.  I was out of sliced almonds so they will get toasted and added to this batch later this week.  I keep our granola in a thrifted apothecary jar with a small measuring cup always in it.

Simple Granola
  • 4 - 6 Cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 Cup or more nuts, finely chopped (optional but I prefer them)
  • 1/2 Cup coconut (optional, I did not add it this time)
  • 1 Cup dried fruit or more to taste (I used a combination raisins and dried cranberries)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
  • 1/2 Cup honey (or more if you prefer it sweeter)
  • 1/3 Cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Oven temperature at 350 degrees!  (Sorry, I wanted to move where I had typed it in before and forgot to put it back!).

Mix oats, nuts, coconut, and cinnamon in a large bowl.  Pour honey, vegetable oil, and vanilla into another bowl or measuring cup and whisk together with a fork.  Pour the liquid mixture over the dried mixture and mix well.

Line a large baking pan with foil or parchment paper and oil it well... or plan on scrubbing the baking pan!  I use a half sheet cake baking pan.  Pour the granola mixture onto the prepared pan and spread out evenly.

It will look toasted.
Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, checking a couple of times and gently stirring to keep it evenly browning.  As you get closer to 20 minutes, check until it is finished.  It should be toasted, not burned... and it burns quickly.


Take pan out of oven and let it cool completely.  Then add your dried fruit.  The original recipe called for dried apples but I almost always have raisins and dried cranberries on hand so I use them.  Dried cherries or dried blueberries would be great, as would chopped dried apricots, etc.

Carefully pour into an airtight container.  To use as a Holiday gift, pour into a cute container or Mason jar.

This recipe is based on one from the More-with-Less cookbook.

9 comments:

cecile chappell said...

Looks so much easier than I thought. I will try this today. Love the yellow cart!

Mary said...

Yum! Thanks for the easy recipe! I like your yellow trolley cart - so happy and vintage and useful. I notice you have pretty blue countertops. I thought I was the only girl in the world these days (of granite counter tops) with blue ;). Sure do enjoy your blog.

Anonymous said...

This is so like my recipe! I'll be making some for my hubby soon. What can I say? Great minds! ; 0) Pam (SD)

My Cottage Diary said...

Looks yummy, Brenda! What's the oven temp, tho? (She who does not do much baking anymore asks!) Have a beautiful November Sunday, Bess

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

This reminds me that I haven't made any granola for my hubby for a while. He loves it.

Your recipe looks wonderful, and I like the idea of dried cranberries in it with the raisins. Sweet and tart.

Deanna

Vee said...

That looks so pretty in the jar.The smell of Granola baking is such a wonderful aroma. I should make some tomorrow because John loves it on his yogurt; I just like the pleasant smell.

tam said...

Okay, maybe its too early for me, but I cant find the temp. to set the oven on. I also agree, this is much easier than I thought.

Unknown said...

I truly love the cookbook holder you have on your counter. So lovely!

Anonymous said...

I just discovered homemade granola this past weekend! The recipe I'm using has it baking at 300 for an hour - I found that it darkens w/o burning at about 55 minutes. I stir it every 20 minutes. Love the jar idea!

-Connie in San Diego