My Favorite Granola

While living in Los Angeles I grew to love granola...ok maybe became obsessed. Over the years it has continued to grow and I love when I have the time to make it for myself at home.  I have tried different variations but found this to be my favorite. Modify the ingredients to your liking, the base for the oats and sweetness is dead on to compliment any flavor combination.

2 cups of rolled quick oats

1/2 cup of honey

1/4 cup of maple syrup

1 tbsp almond extract

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp coconut oil

Canola Oil to Spray

2 cups of mixed dried fruits and nuts. I used dried cherries, cranberries and shredder coconut (all unsweetened).  For nuts, hazelnuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds.

Preheat oven to 275º.  Combine, honey, maple syrup, almond extract, coconut oil, salt and cinnamon.  Toss oats into wet mixture and spread evenly on a piece of parchment paper. Spray oats with canola oil. Place in oven and bake for 15 minutes. Combine nuts into a food processor and pulse a couple of times to break up or rough chop with a knife. Add shredded coconut and dried fruit.  

Remove oats from oven and stir again, spread evenly and bake for 15 more minutes.  Remove from oven and add nuts, fruits and stir.  Spread evenly again and bake for ten more minutes.  Be careful to watch the mixture so the nuts don't burn. Remove from oven and let cool for one hour. break into pieces and store in airtight containers.