Classic Granola
My dad loves granola, so for his birthday I decided to make him a few batches and send it to him through the mail (since he lives several states away).
I decided on a Classic Granola recipe from Cookbook Catchall that looked delicious and I knew my dad would love because it was packed with dried fruit and nuts.
I also came across a French Chocolate Granola originally from Orangette on the Picky Apple’s site that I knew I had to make. Both turned out amazing!
The classic granola was hearty and wholesome and I loved the addition of the flax seeds. The flavors were simple but very delicious.
And the chocolate granola – oh my, after snitching some, I realized I could eat the entire batch myself (sorry there is no picture of this one, I was in a rush to get it in the mail before I ate it all!).
It also had simple flavors – nothing extravagant, but that is what I loved about it. The best news is that my dad loved and devoured both batches, so I would say they were a success!
I’ve been eating the classic granola (yes, I saved some for myself) on yogurt with fresh fruit every morning for the past few weeks and it is the perfect breakfast. I know I will make both of these time and time again. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 6.5 cups old fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)
- 2.5 cups unsweetened, desiccated coconut (I used basic sweetened coconut because I had it on hand)
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups sliced almonds (or whole, chopped, slivered or a combination - I used slivered)
- 1 1/4 cups pecans (whole or chopped to the size you like)
- 1/2 cup high-quality honey
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup flax seeds
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well to distribute oil and honey evenly. Spread a thin layer of mixture on two rimmed baking sheets (half sheet pans) lined with parchment paper (I used my silpat liners).
- Bake for 15-20 minutes stirring mixture and rotating sheets half way through until mixture is an even golden brown. Be careful to watch granola: it will quickly turn from golden to burnt and will continue to cook as it cools when you take it out of the oven. Mixture will be moist when it comes out of the oven but will crisp and clump as it cools. Keeps for 1-2 weeks.
Notes
Variations: • Substitute any of the nuts for other nuts such as cashews, walnuts or peanuts (it's nice to leave some of the nuts whole as it varies the texture) • Add additional dried fruit such as apricots or dates • Add 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract • For extra-nutty granola increase proportion of nuts
Recipe Source: from Cookbook Catchall
Hi mel, i am a big fan of your blog, tried several of ur recipes already, and now i am excited about granola, r those pecan and almond raw? Thanks in advance
I don’t think so but you could definitely use raw nuts.
Could you substitute coconut oil in this recipe?
Yes.
Um, so as I went to add the oil, I realized that I only have vegetable oil. Is that going to make it taste funny? I have to run to the store later today anyway…should I wait or will the vegetable oil be fine?
Can’t say for sure but as long as the oil doesn’t have a strong taste, it should be ok.
Hey, just wondering if you can make this without the canola oil?
Meg – It has a tendency to burn without the oil so I recommend some type of fat or oil.
I was hunting for a simple, easy granola so that my hubby could have “crunchy stuff” on his yogurt- lol. The French Chocolate one is a winner! I used sweetened coconut, so I cut out most of the white sugar. I left it without chocolate for hubby, but I throw in mini chocolate chips with mine- YUM! Will be making this again for sure.
Ok- starting making the chocolate granola with the kids- and then got distracted and began following the classic granola recipe by accident. . oops. Was alerted to this when 5 year shrieked in horror when I added sunflower seeds and flax that ‘he was not eating that birdseed’. So added a few tbsp of dutch process cocoa to the mix when he was not looking (hiding all the ‘birdseed’ nicely) and viola- double chocolate granola!!- HIT of the century! Final result was your chocolate granola recipe + the cranberries, flax and sunflower seeds from the first recipe (+ few tbsp cocoa) . Kids now devouring every morning on top of vanilla yogurt and have even thrown some in the freezer for when school starts as a fun morning breakfast. Birdseed never tasted so good… thanks Mel!
Just made the classic granola — so tasty that I’m eating it warm out of the oven (I can’t wait for it too cool!!). Delicious!
I just made the classic granola yesterday and it was fabulous. FABULOUS! I was so happy to wake up this morning and eat it for breakfast! (It helped that baby girl slept for 8 hours straight!)
Wondering if you have ever come across a fab granola bar for kids that is peanut free – so able to go in kids lunches/after school bags?? (or is one on here and I just have missed it?) Our daughter’s school is nut-free and we are so sick of the lame granola bars on the market with yuck chemicals and we are going poor from buying the organic ones online? Would love a homemade one we can make and freeze for lunchboxes. . .help help!
ps Fruit pizza a crazy success today (at party today, noone had ever heard of such a thing and was asked 6 times for your recipe- hurrah!) and not a soul believed that your hummus recipe was not store-bought! Wheeee!!
I’ve made the classic granola recipe twice now and it has been great both times! I liked the addition of vanilla from the variations suggested at the end. Granola is now a staple breakfast food at our house.
Thanks, Kat!
I just love homemade granola! I will give these recipes a try! Thanks! Yum!
almonds, cranberries, coconut, and (golden) raisins are <>exactly<> what i like in my granola, and homemade is far and away superior to what can be bought at the store. i like that you included the flax seed too–that’s powerful stuff. your pop’s one lucky fella! 🙂
Homemade granola is so much better than store bought. Your recipes both look great.
The French Chocolate Granola look so yummy. Haven’t had much luck with store bought granola, so I look forward to making some myself.
I love, love, love Orangette’s granola! I just ran out, and I need to make another batch today. The other granola recipe you posted looks yummy too. I love dried cranberries!
I have wanted to try making homemade granola for a while now but just never get around to it. These both look great! Thanks for the recipes!
We do love to make homemade granola. Thanks for the idea!