Granola {Without Oil}

 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Yield: About 6 cups

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole oats (DON'T use quick oats)
• 1 cup sliced or slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup dried berries such as blueberries, cranberries, or raisins*, optional
• 
  

Directions

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, toss together oats and sliced almonds, set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, water, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, bring mixture to a boil stirring frequently. Once mixture reaches a boil, allow to boil for 1 minute whisking constantly. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and baking soda and whisk until mixture is foamy, about 10 seconds. Carefully pour hot sugar mixture over oat mixture and toss to evenly coat. Spread mixture into an even layer on a Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven, about 36 - 40 minutes until golden brown, removing from oven and tossing twice during baking (when tossing, I tossed the oat mixture near the edges into the center and spread the mixture in the center out to the edges for more even cooking). Remove from oven, toss in dried fruit and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container (note that granola wont be crisp until cooled).
• *I used half dried cranberries and half raisins. I just tried the Craisins infused with cherry juice in this recipe, I would highly recommend them. They are delicious and taste like a cranberry+ a cherry in one. I haven't tried the pomegranate or blueberry versions yet but I'm guessing those are also delicious