Honey Baked Granola

By Texaschef11

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups uncooked regular oats
• 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/2 cup whole natural almonds
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup flax seeds
• Butter-flavored cooking spray
• 1 cup dried cherries
• 1 cup dried cranberries or blueberries
• 1 cup chopped dried apricots
• 3/4 cup dried organic coconut flakes

Preparation

Step 1

Combine first 4 ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in orange rind, cinnamon, and vanilla.
While syrup cooks, toss together oats and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl until blended. Pour syrup over oat mixture, and stir until coated. Using hands coated with butter-flavored cooking spray, very firmly press oat mixture into a large lightly greased rimmed baking sheet.
Bake at 275° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until toasted and browned (do not stir). Let cool completely in pan.
Toss together cherries and next 3 ingredients in large bowl. When granola is cool, break apart into chunks, and gently stir into dried fruit and coconut. Store granola in airtight jars up to 5 days.