Maple Vanilla Homemade Granola

Homemade Granolas are AWESOME!!! 

I love granola and otas. Granola and oats. Granola and oats. I just loveeee them so much I could totally eat a bowl of them at one good sitting. As much as granola makes a good accompaniment to cereal, greek yogurt, milk oiaj etc , many commercial granolas are all heavy laden with sugar which when eaten in excess, can actually mean consuming more calories than you could have imagined. Also it’s pretty hard sometimes to get all your fav ingredients in one box so it makes sense to make your own granola.

My first homemade granola was a simple one. I included oats, dried cranberries, sesame seats, walnuts and almonds and a dash of vanilla and manuka honey. Mix all these up together and toast them lightly in the oven for a good 20-25 min and you’ll have a jar of yummy granola to make your every morning happy.

Oh and I forgot to mention that while the granolas are baking in the oven, the smell is arhhhhhhhhh to die for. It smells like sweet honey diffusing the air in the entire house. So good. I wanted a healthier version so I just omitted the oil and added in a dash of pure vanilla extract.

Ingredients (Adapted from Cookieandkate) 

• 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola)

• 1½ cups raw slivered almonds (or other nuts*)

• 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt

• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger- I omitted this

• ½ cup melted coconut oil (or olive oil)- I omitted this 

• ½ cup + 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)

• ¾ teaspoon vanilla

• ¼ cup chopped dried cranberries

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts, salt, cinnamon . Stir thoroughly to combine.
2. Stir in the oil, honey and vanilla. Turn the granola out onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer. Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway. The granola should be turning lightly golden (keep an eye on it as honey tends to brown). The granola will crisp up as it cools.
3. Let the granola cool before stirring in the chopped fruit. Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or keep it in the freezer for longer shelf life.