Heather’s Granola

I’m not a big granola person… It tastes great, but it’s always so high calorie that it’s not quite worth it to consume {for me}—I’m getting ready to go to work, not climb a mountain!  But when Heather came to visit a few weeks ago, she brought along a bag of homemade granola and I could not. stop. eating it.  I politely tried a bite after she told me she’d made it and then was sneaking handfuls the rest of the weekend.

So before she left, Heather made sure to give me a lesson in homemade granola-making and I was all ears!  Before we got going, we had to make a quick trip to Whole Foods to invest in a few granola staples: safflower oil {$3.49}, maple syrup {not syrup, maple syrup…$8}, and oats & seeds {We bought enough to make several batches and the whole thing was $7}, but it will all go a long way.  And has anyone seen the wall of nuts & oats at Whole Foods??  Holy nuts Batman!  The combinations of granola you could make are endless… I could make granola the rest of my life and never make the same batch twice!

So here’s whatchyaneed…

• Steel-cut oats {4 c.}
• Flaxseed {Optional}
• Pumpkin seeds {or sunflower seeds or whatever you want}
• Nuts {We opted for walnuts}
• Craisins {Or raisins, or whatever dried fruit}
• Safflower oil {1/2 c.}
• Maple syrup {1/4 c.}
• Honey {1/4 c.}
• Vanilla {1 t.}
• Cinnamon {Lots of shakes…it’s all up to you!}
• Not pictured: parchment paper

Heat the safflower oil, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon on low heat until they’re combined. {This doesn’t take long…just a minute or two.}

In a large bowl, combine all of the oats and seeds and combine. {There’s really no right or wrong amount or combination—a handful here or there of whatever you want.}

Pour the syrup mixture into the oats and combine until well coated. Do not add the berries.

Spread the mixture over a parchment-lined pan, thin enough that all of the oats get cooked.

Next, cook the oats in a 275 degree oven for 25 minutes.  Then stir the oats until everything on top is now on the bottom.  Cook for another 25-30 minutes.

Once out of the oven, sprinkle the berries on top and let cool.  The granola will cool as a solid sheet, so break up the pieces and store in an air tight container.

I couldn’t believe how easy and inexpensive this was!  But I still just can’t. stop. eating. it.

Let me know if you try it!