Granola

I debated on whether to call this post Heavenly Granola, Darn Good Granola, The Best Granola I've Ever Eaten, or some other superlative name. Why the focus on granola? Well, I'm giving a demonstration to a group of women in our church next week on making granola. So I've been trying different granola recipes, seeking one that was more than just OK or even pretty good. I think I've found it. The recipe is adapted from David Lebovitz who adapted it from Feast by Nigella Lawson.

5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sliced almonds or chopped pecans
2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup oat bran
1 cup toasted wheat germ
1 cup whole wheat flour (freshly ground)
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup untoasted sesame seeds
1/2 cup golden flax seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 325F.

1. Put rolled oats in a large baking pan and bake for 20 minutes while assembling the other ingredients.

2. In a large bowl, combine nuts, coconut, oat bran, wheat germ whole wheat flour, brown sugar, sesame seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon and kosher salt.

3. In a small saucepan, heat the applesauce, syrup, honey, and vegetable oil until warm.

4. Add oats to other dry ingredients and mix well.

5. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until thoroughly dispersed. The mixture should clump a bit. If it seems too dry, add warm water 1 tablespoon at a time (shouldn't need to add more than 2 tablespoons), and mix.

6. Spray two large baking sheets with cooking spray, then divide mixture evenly between the two pans. Spread out the mixture to an even layer.

7. Bake the granola for 45-60 minutes, stirring and rotating pans every 10 minutes, until the granola is a deep golden brown.

8. Remove from oven and cool in pans. The granola gets crunchy as it cools. Store granola in a large, airtight container.

Add raisins, dates, dried apples, dried cherries, or dried cranberries when you serve the granola. Enjoy!