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
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.
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| It will look toasted. |
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:
Looks so much easier than I thought. I will try this today. Love the yellow cart!
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.
This is so like my recipe! I'll be making some for my hubby soon. What can I say? Great minds! ; 0) Pam (SD)
Looks yummy, Brenda! What's the oven temp, tho? (She who does not do much baking anymore asks!) Have a beautiful November Sunday, Bess
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
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.
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.
I truly love the cookbook holder you have on your counter. So lovely!
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
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