Homemade Granola

I love granola and until recently have always bought it at Costco. I didn't realize how easy it was to make your own; until my friend Gayle shared her recipe with me!

Homemade Granola

I am happy to pass on the recipe to you! Here's my version of her recipe:

3 cups old fashion oats
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup *each walnuts, almonds, pecans, dried tart cherries
1/2 cup butter
1/2 1/4 cup canola oil or coconut oil
1/2 to 3/4 to 1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup golden syrup (you can make your own if you can't find it at your specialty grocer)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)
1 tsp. orange zest (optional)

Combine oats, flaked coconut, and nuts in bowl and mix well and set aside.

In small saucepan melt, oil, brown sugar, golden syrup, maple syrup, molasses, honey, and cinnamon and bring to boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour syrup mixture over oatmeal mixture and mix well until incorporated. Spread on parchment lined cookie sheet (you may need two cookie sheets) and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from oven add dried fruit and orange zest and let cool. Granola will clump as it cools down.

* Use any combination of nuts and/or dried fruit according to individual taste.

Recipe modified to reduce butter and sugar. Enjoy!