Down Home Granola Recipe
I don’t know about you, but when the holidays roll around starting really mid-October and running until Easter, it’s easy to get overloaded with sugar, and high fat foods.
This of course is especially the case at Christmas. This week at work alone, we’ve had brownies, cookies, fudge, and brittle that co-workers have lovingly baked. While it’s fun to sample, sugar comas at 2:30 with 2 hours still to work are downright painful.
Then there’s the “neighbor” gifts…what do you give your friends to show that you care without adding to the chocolate landslide. We normally do a pumpkin chocolate chip bread or cinnamon almonds.
My sister in law Shellie Stacey (Jeff’s sister who live in the Las Vegas area) sent me a granola recipe her daughter Maurie shared with her that she said was absolutely amazing. She is a Boss in the kitchen, so I take her suggestions seriously.
We whipped up a batch, and I couldn’t agree more. In fact we liked it so much, we decided to bottle some up and spread the joy to the neighborhood.
Down Home Granola Recipe
What I like about this recipe is that it isn’t overwhelmingly sweet and loaded with fat. Plus, with the addition of different nuts and seeds, it contains a bit more protein than standard recipes. And, if you choose your dried fruits wisely, you add a variety of different anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
It’s perfect to eat as a cereal, use as a topping for yogurt and smoothies, or just snack on a handful. I recommend you get it out to the neighbors quick, because this batch didn’t last long at home!
Down Home Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 c. oatmeal (quick or old-fashioned, we used old-fashioned)
- 2 c. chopped nuts (we used cashews and almonds, but choose your favorites)
- 1 c. dry, roasted sunflower seeds
- 1 c. roasted pumpkin seeds (Jeff wanted to add these, and I loved it)
- 2 c. crushed cold cereal (your choice, we used Special K w/Strawberries)
- 2 c. shredded or flaked coconut (we picked flaked for chunkier texture)
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 3/4 c. butter, melted
- 3/4 c. honey
- 4 tsp. vanilla
- 2 c. dried fruits (we used cherries and Alaskan blueberries, Shellie uses golden raisins, and cranberries)
Directions
In a large bowel, combine oatmeal, nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, cold cereal, coconut, and brown sugar. Mix together.
Melt butter, and stir in honey and vanilla. Then add to oatmeal mixture and mix thoroughly. It will not be super moist, so don’t stress.
Bake on cookie sheets (I used parchment paper as well to ensure it didn’t stick), or glass baking dish at 325 degrees for 20-25 min. Remove and let cool. It will crisp up a bit.
Mix in dried fruit, and this tasty granola recipe is ready to eat or package up.
Hope you enjoy, and thanks to Shellie and Maurie for sharing!
