Basic Granola

Have you ever looked for a granola recipe online and found a list of ingredients so long and obscure you turn and run to the store and buy a box a granola? They call for things like flax meal, sesame seeds, coconut flakes and unsweetened wheat germ. Its enough to make your head spin.

This recipe was given to me at a baby shower it is the most basic of basic, any other ingredient is just extra for flavor or health benefit. This is the recipe to start with to create your ideal granola by adding the kinds of things you like in store bought granola. In these pictures I made apple cinnamon flavor by using an Alpine Apple Cider Mix packet half mixed in with the honey and oil mix and half sprinkled over the granola as it baked.

Basic Granola

Heat together:
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Once everything is mixed well and dissolved add 4 cups rolled oats and stir until well coated. Spread out onto a cookie sheet and bake at 250 for an hour stirring every 15 minutes or so.

Turn the oven off but let the granola and the oven cool down together stirring one more time. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

I haven't tried this yet but I am sure if you pressed the granola down tightly into a 9X13 pan and baked it at 300 for 30 min cut into bars while still hot then letting it cool down before breaking apart you would have homemade granola bars.
I will try this soon and report back it would be a great snack for work (or school lunches.) If you try it let post a comment to tell me how it turns out.