Homemade Granola

Who doesn’t love granola?! I usually buy the store-bought stuff even though there aren’t a lot of decent options out there. I guess I never realized how easy it is to make your own! When my amazing friend Liz (we’ve known each other since junior high!) posted this simple easy and super yummy granola recipe on her blog, I decided we needed to give them a try! Here is her recipe below. We didn’t have any coconut butter on hand so used vegan earth balance butter. We also added dried cranberries and some cinnamon.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw, whole rolled oats (aka old fashion oats)
• ½ cup sliced raw almonds
• ¼ cup raw sunflower seeds
• 2 tbsp maple syrup (100% maple syrup, preferably grade b)
• 1 tbsp raw agave nectar (or raw honey)
• 1 tbsp + 1 tsp coconut oil (aka coconut butter)
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large pinch sea salt

Recipe:

Preheat the oven to 300º. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and use your clean hands to mix and toss to coat. The coconut oil might be liquid or solid depending on the temperature of the room you are in (it has a melting point of about 75ºF.) Your hands will warm it up and melt it into the mixture if it's solid. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, until very lightly toasted. Cool before serving or storing.

Note of caution: It is very easy to over cook this granola. Don't let it get too toasted brown - it will taste like burnt popcorn. Take it out after 10-12 minutes, it will come together more as it cools.

This granola can be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks. Even better, put it in an airtight mason jar with a fun card and ribbon and give it as a gift!