Easy Homemade Granola

As a Californian yogi who loves granola and world peace, I might as well be a hippie... or a terrible stereotyper who should be studying for finals rather than cooking much less, updating her blog.  But I care about my readers way too much to deprive y'all of some easy recipes for healthy snacks.

Granola is great.  Unfortunately, it's not always cheap.  Thankfully, with some basic ingredients and 20 min., you can have your very own bowl full of delicious granola to sprinkle over your yogurt or to eat on its own.  Here's how!

Easy Homemade Granola { via 3 letter words & Amateur Gourmet }

Ingredients

•  2 cups rolled oats
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. veggie oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup whole raw almonds
• 1/3 cup chopped up dried apricots*
• 1/3 cup orange-flavored dried cranberries*

* Feel free to add whatever nuts or dried fruits your heart desires!

Instructions

1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2) In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon and salt so spices are well-distributed.

3) In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla.  Whisk until completely combined.

4) Pour the honey mixture over the oats and use your hands to combine.  Gather some of the mixture in each hand and make a fist.  Repeat until all of the oats are evenly coated in honey.

5) Pour the oats onto the baking sheet and spread out evenly.  Leave a few clumps here and there for texture.

6) Bake for ~10 min, then remove from the oven and flip the granola using a metal spatula.  (A silicon will melt because of the heat).  Add almonds and pop baking sheet back into the oven.

7) Bake for 5 min. and flip the 'nola again.  This time, sprinkle the chopped up dried apricots and pop the sheet into the oven for one last round.

8) Bake for 5 min. and then remove from the oven.  Let it cool completely.  Add dried cranberries and toss together.  After it's cooled, transfer to an airtight container... but not before you sample a handful or two, or three.  Enjoy!

yield: 3 cups of scrumptious granola!

type: Snack

difficulty: Easy

cost: $