Nutty Olive Oil Granola

By FamilySprouts

If you’re bothering to make your own granola, then why not make a lot? In my experience, granola keeps very well. This recipe contains no dried fruit so it’s not very sweet, but you are welcome to toss some in after it’s baked: raisins, dried cherries, and chopped dried apricots are all tasty additions. You’re also welcome to substitute (liquified) organic coconut oil for the olive oil in this recipe. I enjoy homemade granola with organic milk or plain yogurt and fresh fruit.

Ingredients

• ◦6 cups organic rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats if you must avoid gluten)
• ◦1 cup organic shredded, unsweetened coconut
• ◦1 cup chopped almonds (I used roasted, sea salted almonds)
• ◦1/2 cup skinned, chopped hazelnuts
• ◦1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
• ◦1/2 cup raw sesame seeds
• ◦3/4 cup olive oil
• ◦1/2 cup honey (I used a local clover honey)
• ◦1/2 cup demerara (or other non-refined) sugar
• ◦1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ◦1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• ◦1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Details

Adapted from eatingrules.com

Preparation

Step 1

1.Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2.Place oats, nuts, and seeds in a very large bowl. Add the olive oil, honey, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt and use a wooden spoon or your (very clean) hands to mix everything together (note: if you measure and pour the olive oil before the honey, the honey will slide right out of your measuring cup).
3.Spread the granola evenly onto your parchment-lined baking sheet: you will have a thick layer. Press the granola down firmly…I think this helps it clump.
4.Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes.
5.Rotate your pan (you can stir the granola around at this point but I didn’t) and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown on top and it smells amazing.
6.Leave granola to rest in the pan for at least an hour or as long as overnight (covered tightly with foil) before breaking it up and transferring it to an air-tight container(s) for storage. I store my granola in a giant Mason jar, but smaller glass jars can be used at well; you can freeze some if you don’t think there’s any chance you’ll eat up the whole recipe in the near future.