Until I tasted homemade granola, I didn’t realize how much better it would taste than store-bought granola! Nothing is easier than making granola, it literally just takes a few minutes of measuring ingredients and putting it in the oven. The best thing is that you get to customize it to your taste! This is really more of a basic formula than a recipe, you can switch or add ingredients as much as you like. I like to make it with raw, natural honey instead of sugar for a healthier option, and I don’t like it too sweet. You can adjust that to your taste. I like the flavour of butter but you can adapt it to your specific dietary needs and substitute with coconut oil or even another vegetable oil.

You can add dried fruit after baking, but personally I prefer to cut fresh fruit into my cereal just before eating for added crunch, flavour and nutrition!

Granola

3 cups large flaked oats
2 tbsp wheat germ, optional
1 cup raw walnuts – or any other kind of nut
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1/4 cup butter, or any fat you like
1/3 cup honey, or maple syrup or sugar
inside of 1 vanilla bean
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup dried fruit, optional

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

In a large pot or frying pan, combine the butter and honey and the inside of the vanilla bean and melt over low heat. If your honey is already liquid and you use oil, you can omit this step.

Add the rest of the ingredients except the fruit, if using, to the butter and honey and toss together. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the mixture on it. Bake for about 20-30 minutes or until browned, watching and stirring in between to get an even colour.

Each oven is different, so watch closely, you don’t want it too dark. If you use dried fruits, add them after baking. Let cool completely on the tray and store in an airtight container.