Patty's Classic Granola & Delightful Variations
Patty
1/2 c coconut oil
*3/4 c sucanat or brown sugar (1/2 c if you like it less sweet)
1/2 c apple juice (or white grape)
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp sea salt
4 c old fashioned rolled oats (for gluten-free use gluten-free oats)
Grind (easy to do in a blender or coffee grinder):
1/4 c flax seeds (or use 1/3 c pre-ground flax)
3/4 c oats (or use 3/4 c oat flour)
Put coconut oil, sucanat/sugar, juice, vanilla, and salt into a large pot over low heat, and stir until sucanat/sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in flax and ground oats - mix until well incorporated. Add the 4c of oats and mix well.
Line one or two large jelly roll pans with silicone mats of parchment paper. Spread granola evenly onto pan/s. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 325 for about 30 - 45 minutes, stirring about every 10-15 minutes, until evenly toasted and golden. Keep your eye on the granola as it browns fast. Allow to cool to room temperature, then store in an air-tight container. Enjoy!
*If using all brown sugar, the granola will be slightly sweeter and crisper than with sucanat (which is a bit less sweet, and earthier tasting, as it's unrefined). I like using half and half.
Toasted Coconut Granola
Make Patty's Classic Granola recipe, and mix in 1c shredded unsweetened coconut before baking. Yummy!
More Delightful Variations
Make Patty's Classic Granola recipe, then add one or more into the mixture before baking:
1 - 2 c chopped pecans, walnuts, cashews and/or almonds
1/2 - 1 c shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 - 1/2 c pepitas and/or sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp - 1/4 c sesame seeds
1 - 2 tsp cinnamon
Right when you pull your granola out of the oven, while it's still hot, mix in:
1 - 2 c chopped pitted dates and/or other dried fruits: figs, raisins, apple...
1/4 c finely chopped candied ginger
Allow to cool to room temperature.
For a total treat add 1/2 - 1c chopped dark chocolate (or dark chocolate chips) to the granola once it has cooled completely.
Store in an air-tight container. Enjoy you original creation!
Simply delicious, crunchy and aromatic granola - so good, I had to put my name on it! ;-) The variation with toasted coconut is particularly yummy. You can make your own delightful variations from this basic recipe.