| Ingredients | |
| 5 cups rolled oats (“old-fashioned” not quick oats) 1 cup each: – raw sliced almonds (or walnuts, pecans, whatever you have on hand) – shredded unsweetened coconut – dried fruit (I use a mix of dried Morello cherries and crystallized ginger) 1/2 c. neutral-tasting oil (light olive, canola, sunflower, etc., or melted coconut oil. A combination of any of these is fine too.) 1/3- to 1/2 c. real maple syrup (or more to make sweeter if you like) 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg Kosher salt to taste (start with a tsp and work your way up from there) |
|
| Instructions | |
| Heat oven to 325 degrees and cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper (mixture may stick to your pan otherwise).
Reserve about 2 tbsp. of the maple syrup. Mix oats, coconut, dried fruit, almonds, and spices/salt in a big bowl with your hands. Add oil and maple syrup and toss with a spoon until all are well coated. Taste and adjust salt/spices to taste. Dump mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and pat down with a spatula into an even layer about 1/2 inch thick. Bake for 18 minutes on a rack in the middle of your oven. At 18 minutes remove and lightly stir on the sheet, rotating the bottom layer to the top. Pat down again and drizzle reserved maple syrup over the surface. Add more if you like (more drizzle will make bigger chunks as the syrup caramelizes). Return granola to the oven for another 7-10 minutes until top is golden. Remove from oven and let it cool on the tray. Break into chunks and store in an airtight container. Makes about 8 cups, keeps well, the recipe is easily halved. |
|
| Note/Tips/Variations | |
| We eat this straight out of the jar with our hands mostly, but it’s great with your favorite milk and fresh fruit, yogurt, or as a topper on oatmeal and ice cream.
The mixture is adaptable to other add -ins, we’ve tried a number of different nut/fruit/spice combinations. The base is basically the oats, oil and sweetener, and you can take it in different directions from there. I think the dried shredded coconut is crucial, but that’s me. Try chopped dried apricots, dates, and garam masala; dried cranberries, walnuts, and orange zest; or dried mango, raw cashews, and turmeric. Our local TARE Market on 38th and 28th has much of what you need: bulk rolled oats, dried fruit, maple syrup, great fresh spices, raw nuts, etc. And you can buy only the quantities you need. (Bring your own containers/bags). |
|