Grocery stores carry many kinds of granola. All are tempting. When you read the ingredients label, you may discover the granola is high in fat, sugar, and salt. Some consumers find store-bought granola hard to chew because it’s not fresh. What’s a shopper to do? Making your own granola is the answer.
I came across this recipe years ago and modified it to suit my tastes and health needs. It has no salt and is lightly sweetened with honey. You make your own by adding dried fruit you like. Homemade Granola with Apples and Cinnamon tastes great on yogurt and surprisingly good on frozen yogurt.
INGREDIENTS
6 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ cup sliced almonds
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
2 tablespoons apple juice
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup dried fruit of choice: chopped apples, chopped apricots, chopped cherries, currants, raisins, blueberries, or reduced sugar cranberries
METHOD
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Coat two cookie sheets with baking spray.
In a large bowl, combine oatmeal, cinnamon, and almonds.
In a small bowl, combine honey, olive oil, apple juice, and vanilla extract.
Add wet mixture to oatmeal mixture and mix well.
Pour granola into baking pans, spreading out evenly.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring several times, until granola starts to brown.
Remove from oven and add dried fruit. Cool completely. Store in tightly sealed containers. Makes about 7 cups.