My Favorite Granola: A Recipe — Everyday Abundant

A while back in this post I mentioned this granola recipe as being my favorite granola. But then I realized that I have made that recipe so many times from memory over the last 3 years, making little changes here and there depending on what I have or don't have in my pantry, so that now the granola I make looks almost nothing like the original recipe.

The first change I made was swapping the honey for maple syrup because I don't really like the taste of honey, but I love maple syrup. The other changes came about mostly as a result of what dried fruit and nuts I had on hand. I've tried a lot of different things. Raisins and walnuts, dried cherries and pecans, sesame seeds instead of flax seeds. You could try substituting whatever fruits and nuts you like the best. But here is my favorite granola for you, inspired by and based on 101 Cookbooks.

You will need:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Melt butter and maple syrup in a small sauce pan over low heat, stirring occasionally. When butter is melted turn off heat and set aside.

Combine all the other ingredients in a large bowl.

Drizzle melted butter-syrup mixture over the dry ingredients.

Then stir, stir, stir to combine well.

Here is Johnny playing with a bunch of tupperware lids. Our kitchen floor is always covered with lids. I am forever stepping on them. But it if keeps him busy so I can bake, then who am I to complain?