Healthy Homemade Granola

Healthy Homemade Granola (adapted from The Amateur Gourmet)

2 cups rolled oats

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons unsweetened coconut

2 tablespoons ground flax seeds

3 teaspoons vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup almonds (whole, chopped, or slivered)

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup raisins

In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon, salt, coconut and ground flax seeds.  In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined.

Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and use your hands to combine them: Gather up some of the mixture in each hand and make a fist. Repeat until all of the oats are coated with the honey mixture. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture.

Bake for 10 minutes at 325, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the almonds over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola.

Let cool completely. Sprinkle the raisins and cranberries over the granola and store in an air-tight container. Granola will keep for 1 week.

Makes 5 cups.

Nutrional Information (1/4 cup serving)

142 calories

19 g carbs

7 g fat

3 g protein

2 g fibre