Crunchy California Granola


Californians are known for eating healthy, exercising, and always on the go. I found a simple recipe for homemade granola in an old magazine and adapted it to just the right ratio of spice, crunch, and dried fruit. My friend and neighbors love this and I often make it for teacher gifts. Enjoy!

Crunchy California Granola

4 cups of rolled oats 
1 cup of wheat germ or wheat bran
1 cup of slivered almonds
1/2 cup of sesame seeds 
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon  (or even pumpkin pie spice)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
1/3 cup honey
1/6 cup maple syrup
1/6 cup water
8 oz. dried cranberries
8 oz. raisins

Pre-eat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking spray, then set aside. In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats, wheat germ, nuts, sesame seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice), and salt.


Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the oil, honey, maple syrup and water. Toss the mixture until the ingredients are well combined, then spread evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake the granola for 40 minutes or until lightly browned, making sure to stir every 10 minutes!

When done, take baking sheet out of the oven and let granola cool completely. Then in a large bowl, stir in baked granola and add dried fruit.
Keep in air-tight containers...get creative!




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