Homemade granola

I like granola but any stuff I get always has something in it that I either don’t like or am not really fond of.  To solve this problem, I decided to make my own.  I first started looking for granola recipes and found this one.  It also has stuff in it which I don’t like, so I decided to modify it.  Here is what I came up with:

  • 3 C rolled oats
  • 1 C cashews
  • 1 C pecans
  • 1/4 C dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 C maple syrup
  • 1/4 C vegetable oil
  • 3/4 t salt
  • 1 C raisins
  • 1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.  In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts and brown sugar and mix completely with your hands.  In a 1 C capacity mesasuring cup, combine the oil, maple syrup, and salt.  Wisk with a fork until the syrup and oil combine.  Pour the oil/syrup mixture into the large bowl of dry ingredients.  Mix until all the dry ingredients are coated.  Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil (will help with cleanup later) and spread mixture onto sheet evenly.  Cook for 5 15 minute increments, mixing up the mixture in between.  Once done in the oven, place into a clean large bowl and let cool completely, otherwise the chocolate chips will melt.  Add the chocolate chips and raisins and mix completely.  Makes 14 1/2 C servings at 325 calories each.

Variations

One variation I did on this recipe is to replace the pecans with macadamia nuts and the chocolate chips with white chocolate chips and to add 1/2 C dried blueberries.  That results to being 15 1/2 C servings at 330 calories.

Another variation is to replace the pecans with walnuts and just 1/2 C dried cranberries.  Result is 15 1/2 C servings @ 315 calories.