My Favorite Basic Granola
Crispy, clustery, perfectly-sweetened and versatile to your liking.
Servings 7 cups
Ingredients
Mix together:
- 7 cups rolled oats
- 1 TBSP cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup sunflower, pumpkin, or sesame seeds
- 1 cup chopped nuts
Add wet ingredients, combined (warmed if necessary to mix thoroughly)
- 3/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 3/4 cup nut butter
Optional Spices
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp ground ginger
Add after baking:
- 1 cup dried fruit (raisins, apricots, dates, dried apple, craisins)
Instructions
- Position oven racks so the bottom one is not on the lowest level--put them both near the middle or top to prevent burning. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Mix dry ingredients, except dried fruit, in a large bowl. You can leave out the nuts and seeds and stir them in after baking if you'd like to keep them raw (more nutritious but without the toasted flavor).
- Mix nut butter and maple syrup together. Warm up in the microwave if needed to make it pourable.
- Toss all together until everything is coated. I use my hands to really get it mixed.
- Spread onto two cookie sheets. Bake 10 minutes, SWITCH PANS, then 10 minutes more. SWITCH PANS half way through so the bottom one does not burn. It should be until golden brown and dry. Let cool completely. Stir in dried fruit (and raw nuts and seeds, if not already in) and store in an airtight container, jars, or bag.
Notes
Variations:
- Almond Ginger: Use almond butter, add 2 tsp ground ginger or 2 TBSP freshly grated ginger root.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip: Use peanut butter, add mini chocolate chips to cooled granola.
- Pina Colada: Omit spices. Use almond butter, add shredded coconut and chopped dried pineapple and mango to cooled granola.
- Orange Cranberry Pecan: Use chopped pecans for the nuts, add the zest of one large orange before baking, and add dried cranberries to cooled granola.
- Maple Sea Salt: Use almond butter, and use 1.5 teaspoons of course salt. Add a little maple flavoring to the nut butter mixture if you have some (about 1/2 tsp).
