Serve this granola with plain yogurt and a spoonful of jam, or with fresh berries and honey. (Kayte Young/WFIU)
Most store-bought granola is too sweet for my taste, so I started making my own.
This granola is simple and quick to mix up. Though it takes over an hour to toast in the oven, it is mostly unattended.
You can adjust the ingredients to your taste--using the fruit, nuts and grains of your choice, or adding spices to the mix.
8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup sunflower oil (or another neutral-tasting oil)
2 generous squirts of honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup almonds, pecans or other nuts, roughly chopped
3/4 cup dried fruit such as cranberries or currants
spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Mix the oats and nuts in a large roasting pan.
In a large measuring cup, mix the oil, syrup, honey and salt. Add spices, if using.
Pour the mixture over the oats and nuts, and toss until fully coated.
Bake at 250F for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes or so, to make sure it browns all over.
Remove from oven when golden brown, and add the dried fruit while it is still warm.
Allow to cool completely before transferring to jars for storage.
