Orchard Fruit & Nut Granola
Full of orchard fruit, nuts and honey, this crunchy homemade cereal is a great way to start to your day, excellent with yogurt or handy as a healthy snack when you're flying out the door, shirt untucked and your stomach growling...my stomach is always growling so I like to make this often!
You will need: Old fashioned large flake rolled oats (not the minute or quick oats), Rice Krispies, coconut oil (or the oil of your choice), honey, sunflower seeds (I used roasted & unsalted), dried apricots, dried sour cherries,dried apple rings, dry roasted almonds, walnuts, cinnamon and cloves.
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees, then in a large bowl, pour in 2 cups of rice cereal (such as "Rice Krispies"),
...3 cups of old fashioned, large flake rolled oats (not the minute or quick oats)
...a 1/4 cup of roasted, unsalted sunflower seeds,
a 1/2 cup of chopped unsalted, dry roasted almonds
...a 1/2 cup of coarsely chopped walnuts,
...a 1/3 cup of chopped, dried apricots
...a 1/3 cup of chopped, dried apple
...and a 1/3 cup of coarsely chopped dried sour cherries.
Toss everything into the bowl...
...and stir with a wooden spoon until all of the dried fruit, nuts and seeds are evenly distributed throughout the oats/rice cereal mixture...set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine a 1/2 cup of coconut oil,
..a 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsps. of honey...place over medium/low heat until oil and honey melt, stirring occasionally.
Next add in a 1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon,
...and an 1/8 of a tsp. of ground cloves.
Stir until combined,
...then pour over oat/fruit & nut mixture.
Using a wooden spoon, stir until everything is evenly coated.
Spread the granola evenly onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet..(I used a 21x15 inch sheet...you can split the mixture in half and use two smaller sheets as well.)...bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for about 15 minutes...
Remove pan from oven, stir the mixture and return to the oven for an additional 10-12 minutes (watching carefully that the mixture does not brown too quickly...the dried apple will be the quickest to burn).
Remove granola from oven when golden brown (but not too brown...since this is a family website, I won't mention what burnt granola tastes like!) Place baking sheet on a wire rack and let cool completely. Once cool, break granola up into pieces and place in an airtight container.
...and there ya have it...homemade granola ready when you are...also makes a perfect snack for hiking, hunting and canoe trips...except in my case, I usually blow through all of my snacks before I get there...Enjoy! :)
Orchard Fruit & Nut Granola
2 cups of rice cereal (such as "Rice Krispies")
3 cups of old fashioned, large flake oats (not quick or minute oats)
1/4 cup of unsalted, roasted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of chopped, unsalted, dry roasted almonds
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
1/3 cup of chopped, dried apricots
1/3 cup of chopped, dried apple
1/3 cup of coarsely chopped, dried sour cherries
1/2 cup of coconut oil
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsps. of honey
1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. of ground cloves
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees...in a large bowl combine the oats, rice cereal, sunflower seeds, chopped nuts and dried fruit...stir to combine and set aside.
2. In a saucepan, add the coconut oil and honey and place over medium/low heat until honey and oil have melted.
3. Add the cinnamon and cloves and stir until combined.
4. Remove from heat and pour over oat/fruit & nut mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.
5. Spread mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet (21 x 15 inch or 2 smaller sheets) and put into the preheated oven.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes then remove from the oven and stir...return pan back to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until golden brown...watching mixture carefully as the dried apples tends to burn quickly.
7. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Break up pieces of granola and store in an airtight container.