Everything Granola

I love making granola… you must know that by now (Yogi's Granola, Granola Crumbles, Easy Granola, Delicious Granola). As soon as we run out of granola, I have to make a new batch. DFJ loves it just as much as I do! This granola is not much different from the other granolas that I have made before. The process is pretty much the same, but this time I added more nuts (the more, the better), used more honey (since DFJ has an incredible attraction towards anything and everything sweet), and loaded it with different kinds of dried fruit (for extra sweetness and chew).

Granola is the perfect energy booster before starting a long day or a big workout. You can enjoy it with yogurt or milk. I prefer mine with a generous dollop of plain, Greek yogurt and some fresh fruit mixed in. DFJ likes it with milk. You can also just eat this granola by the handful to stave off that afternoon hunger. If you run out of dessert, this is a great alternative… a hefty sprinkling on vanilla ice cream, yes!

This Everything Granola is very delicious… sweetened just right with so many surprises in every crunchy-chewy bite!

Everything Granola

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds
½ cup cashews, coarsely chopped
½ cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
½ cup pumpkin seeds
½ cup sweetened, flaked coconut, tightly packed
 
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup honey
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
 
½ cup chopped dates, dried and pitted
½ cup golden raisins
½ cup dried cranberries
 
 
Position an oven rack in the middle slot and preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.

Place the oats, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, cashews, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, and flaked coconut in a deep baking pan. Use your fingers to mix everything well together.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, thoroughly stir the olive oil, honey, agave nectar, vanilla extract, and salt until well mixed. Pour the wet mixture onto the dry mixture and stir, making sure that everything is well combined.

Put the granola into the oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven every 15 minutes to stir the granola for even cooking.

Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix together the dates, raisins, and cranberries. Set aside. 

After 1 hour and 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven to stir in the dried fruit mixture. Bake for another 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, stir the granola, and bake for 5 more minutes. Turn the oven off and place the pan on a cooling rack. Allow the granola to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Granola may be stored for up to a week!   

 

Enjoy!