Homemade Granola (3 Ways!)

Ingredients

• 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup raw whole almonds
• ½ cup raw pecan halves
• ¾ cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (light and fruity)
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup dried fruit (chopped if large, such as cranberries, cherries, or apricots)
• 1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (add to recipe)
• ½ cup dried cherries (use in place of the 1 cup dried fruit above)
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips or chunks (add to recipe)
• 1 cup raw walnut or pecan halves (use in place of the nuts above)
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (use in place of 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon above)
• 1 cup chopped dried apples

Steps

1. 1

   Place a rack in the upper third of your oven and preheat it to 300°F. Line a 9×13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, pecans, coconut, cinnamon, and salt (plus cocoa powder and additional cinnamon if you are making one of the variations.

3. 3

   In a medium saucepan, combine the olive oil, light brown sugar, and honey. Stir over medium heat, until sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

4. 4

   Pour the warm olive oil mixture over the oat mixture. With a wooden spoon, gently scoop and fold, coating the oats, nuts, and spices, until fairly evenly moistened. Spoon the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, press down gently with the back of a wooden spoon, then place in the oven.

5. 5

   Bake for 30 minutes, removing from oven and stirring once every 10 minutes. When finished baking, the granola will be slightly toasted around the edges and smell amazing.

6. 6

   Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Stir in dried fruit and chocolate (if using).