The Best Homemade Granola

In my quest for a healthy lifestyle I am trying to incorporate less processed foods into my diet. I really love granola, and decided that it was time to learn how to make my own so I added it to my List of 30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30. I am not sure this is the most low fat/low calorie recipe out there, but it's definitely one of the best granolas I've ever eaten and I consider myself a granola enthusiast. My favorite store bought granola is Nature's Path Organic Pumpkin Flax Granola. If you like granola and have never tried it, I whole heartedly recommend you pick a box up sometime.

I searched and searched for a good granola recipe and ended up choosing this one from Kiss My Spatula.com. With a blog name like that, I knew this recipe would be good. (I also chose this recipe because it is tweaked from Barefoot Contessa, and it contains brown sugar and flax seed - the brown sugar because I knew it would be sweeter, and the flax seed because the Nature's Path Granola that I adore has flax seeds.)

This granola is very easy to make and it made a huge batch - about 7 cups!! I decided to use low calorie apple juice and added in two tablespoons of Trader Joe's flax seed oil because I have it on hand and forget to take it! Why the kick for flax seeds? This article about flax seeds on webmd.com states that flax seeds may fight everything from heart disease, to diabetes and breast cancer. They contain Omega-3, Lignans, and Fiber. Basically, they're really good for you! Eat them!!

Another thing I loved about this recipe is that it made my home smell like apple crisp while it was baking. I didn't add in any dried fruit because I wanted to top the granola with fresh fruit instead. Note to Margaret: go make this granola!!! And please let me know when you do!

Best Homemade Granola

from Kiss My Spatula

Ingredients

4 cups organic rolled oats

1/2 cup chopped or slivered almonds

1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts (not a big fan of these, so I omitted them)

2 tablespoons flax seeds (I used ground)

1 cup shredded coconut

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable or olive oild

1/3 cup good honey

1/3 cup apple juice or apple cider

1 cup dried cranberries or your favorite dried, chopped fruit

Directions: 

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl stir together the nuts, oats, flax seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk the oil, honey, and apple juice in a measuring cup.

Pour the liquid mixture over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until all the oats and nuts are coated. Spread onto a large sheet pan. Bake, stirring occasionally with a spatula, until the mixture forms a nice, even golden brown, abound 30 minutes, depending on oven.

Remove granola from the oven and allow to cool completely, stirring occasionally. Add the dried fruit. Store granola in an airtight container. 

Note: The Best Homemade Granola + Oikos Greek Yogurt + Fresh Blackberries = Snack of bliss after working out!