Choose Your Own Adventure Granola

Granola with oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, raisins & dried cranberries

Whenever I make granola, I always say to myself: this is so easy! Why don’t I do this more often? As a baker, I usually have the components handy in the pantry or the fridge so I wanted the recipe to reflect that. This is truly a make granola with what you have on-hand.

One tip: separate the mix-ins into ones that would benefit from being toasted (like nuts, seeds, coconut, etc;) and ones that should be added once it is cooled (dried fruit, chocolate chips, along those lines). I hope you make it your own and enjoy!

Choose Your Own Adventure Granola

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons oil (I use avocado but olive oil or coconut oil would work too)

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1/4 brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

• A few grates of nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (I use Diamond Crystal)

• 2 cups rolled oats

• 1 ½ cups mix-ins to toast (nuts, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, sesame seeds)

• 1 cup add-in mix-ins (dried fruit, chocolate chips, yogurt-covered fruit)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment or a silicone baking sheet.

2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, mix the oil, syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and spices. Microwave the mixture until the sugar dissolves, about a minute. **You can also do this step on the stovetop over low heat until the sugar dissolves.

3. Add the oats, and mix-ins you can toast to the bowl and coat it in the mixture. Spread it on the prepared cookie sheet in an even layer.

4. Pop the cookie sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. You’ll know the granola is ready when it no longer the mixture is golden brown.

5. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the cookie sheet. When the mixture is at room-temperature, mix in the add-in mix-ins.

6. Store in an airtight jar. Use on yogurt, ice cream, on top of a smoothie bowl, as a snack: however you want!

   Enjoy!

Yogurt parfait with granola