Everyday Granola

Don't get me wrong, I love my original granola recipe.  It's versatile and with a bit of nut and/or dried fruit change you can have it your way.  After having a bag full of a fellow Iowa blogger's granola treasure I knew I had to try and come up with a recipe that tasted like her granola. 

She had salt sprinkled in her granola and while I thought it was odd at first and a bit too much for me, I couldn't keep out of it.  I've lowered the salt taste a little in mine but the flavor is still there and it's so yummy! Each salt has a different texture and size so start off with the least amount and see what you like. She also had mini chocolate chips so you can add them too if you like. I didn't have them on hand at the time I made the granola so I skipped it.  Add them after your granola has cooked and cooled or you will have a chocolate mess.

I named this recipe "Everyday Granola."  Why?  Because I could eat this everyday!  I think this is the fastest we've ever eaten a batch of granola.  I'll need to double it for sure next time. 

Everyday Granola                                                                                 Printable Recipe

8 cups old fashioned oats
1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup olive oil
1 cup pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts pieces
1 cup pecan pieces
1 cup plain flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix together oats, salt and cinnamon.

In glass measuring cup, mix together olive oil, maple syrup and vanilla. It thickened as I stirred but then I remembered it is due to the cold syrup causing the olive oil to firm up some.

Pour all but 2 to 3 Tablespoons of the mixture into the oats.  Bake for 25 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. 

While the oats are baking, dump the rest of the syrup mixture into the coconut and nut mixture.

Stir to coat.

When oats are done cooking at 25 minutes, stir in nut mixture.  Return to oven for 7-10 minutes, stirring part way through.  Careful to watch so your coconut doesn't burn. 

Remove from the oven and cool.  Store in plastic gallon bag or other airtight container.  If you make a double batch you can freeze the cooled granola to enjoy later.