Homemade Granola

A quick note about this recipe...the type of oats you use will make a big difference in how the granola turns out.  Quick Oats do not clump together as well and they also cook faster so I'd recommend decreasing the cooking temperature/time.  Old Fashioned Oats clump very well especially if you let them cool on the pan and then break them apart once cooled.  Also note it is important not to add the dried fruit until the last round of baking or the fruit will harden.

Ingredients

• 3 cups oats*
• 1 cup coconut flakes
• 3/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup dried fruit (I use a mixture of raisins, craisins and dried cherries)

*Gluten free dieters: make sure your oats and spices (cinnamon, vanilla) do not contain gluten.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. In large mixing bowl: combine oats, coconut and almonds. In a separate bowl: mix honey, oil, brown sugar and cinnamon and heat until boiling (on stove or about 30 sec in microwave). Stir in vanilla to mixture. Pour over oat mixture and coat evenly. Transfer the mixture into a large jelly roll pan (or any large pan with sides) by squeezing handfuls of it into clumps. Bake 15 minutes. Remove pan and mix granola. Bake another 15 minutes. Remove pan and add 1 cup dried fruit. Mix granola and bake another 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Let cool in pan and break apart mixture if clumps are too large.