Basic Granola

Hey Everyone!

I hope the start of your new year has been awesome so far! Today, I want to share with you a simple and basic granola recipe that I found from tree hugger. I really liked this recipe because it uses apple juice in it, which I had never seen before. What's so great about this recipe, and granola in general, is that you can be very creative with it. Just follow a basic recipe and add in your own nuts, seeds, fruits, and other flavors and textures. Granola is a great healthy snack or a healthy breakfast. It can be eaten by itself, put on top of yogurt or oatmeal, or enjoyed with milk. And not to mention that your house will smell amazing, too!

Granola Recipe

• 3 cups rolled oats (not quick or instant)
• 1 1/2 cup of nuts and seeds ( a mixture of your favorites work perfectly; I used almonds and pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup of honey (use maple syrup for vegans)
• 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 tbs vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 cup of dried fruit, optional

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Combine the oats, nuts, and seeds in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. In a small sauce pan, combine the apple juice, honey, oil, vanilla, and spices over low heat until the honey has softened and all is well combined. Remove from the heat and pour over the oat mixture. Stir everything until it is well combined.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread a single layer of your oat mixture on it. Try not to have too much over lapping so it can cook evenly and get crunchy.
5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until evenly golden brown, stirring every 12 to 15 minutes. When its done, remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
6. After cooled completely, stir in your dried fruit, if you're using it.

Notes:

• Store in an air tight container. It should last up to several weeks.
• If you plan on eating fresh fruit with your granola, you may want to skip using dried fruit, as a way to cut down on sugar.
• Feel free to play around with the oats, nut/seed, and dried fruit measurements, as these don't need to be exact.

I hope you give this recipe a try and enjoy it! Stay happy and healthy :)