No Stir Simple Granola

Happy August! I have always heard about granola. "It's amazing! What do you mean you don't eat it?" The things is, I never really cared for the really hard bits of not very sweet oats and nuts. I used to like Honey Bunches of Oats (way back when I bought processed food) and those had little tiny bunches of granola type clusters but they weren't the same. But I guess they were. When I got pregnant with L2, I tried a sample of locally made granola and was absolutely blown away. It was definitely not the granola I remember from high school. It was crunchy but not hard. Sweet but not sickly sweet and tasted like sweetened nuts. What had I been missing? To make a long story short, I realized I would have to learn to make it. I found lots of recipes but most seemed relatively time consuming. Then one of my best friends came to my rescue with a recipe that didn't require any stirring. It takes maybe 5-10 minutes to throw together and then you don't need to do anything until it is ready to eat, an hour and 40 minutes later. Seriously, unless you buy it already made, there is no easier way to make it that I have found.

No Stir Simple Granola
1/3-1/2 c. organic oil (I use coconut)*
1/3 c. maple syrup or packed organic brown sugar
1/3 c. maple syrup or honey
1-4 t. organic vanilla extract (or almond) depending on other flavors
1/2 t. salt
5 c. old fashioned oats
2 c. of nuts or other dry flavors such as seeds or coconut**
spices***
2 c. dried additions

1. Preheat oven to 325°C.
2. Mix oil and sweeteners. Whip in mixer while getting dry ingredients together.

3. Mix nuts, oats, salt and seasonings together in a bowl.
4. Add dry ingredients to oil/syrup mixture and combine.
5. Add vanilla.
6. Line pan with Parchment Baking Paper if desired (I do, then I compost it.)

6a. Press into a baking sheet evenly.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes****
8. Remove tray from oven and allow to cool (DO NOT TOUCH!) for 1 hour.
9. Break up the granola and add whatever fruit or chocolate you want.

Notes
* I use 1/2 c. of oil because I use extra thick oats, however when I have regular old fashioned oats on hand, I tend to use 1/3 c. Both are delicious.
** I almost always use 1 c. nuts and 1 c. shredded, unsweetened organic coconut.
*** I use a number of spice options:
-1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. cardamom, 1/2 tsp. ginger
-1 1/2 tsp. cardamom
the possibilities are endless, these are just he ones I use most.
**** I usually only need 40 minutes in my convection oven. That said, a number of times I have needed to go somewhere and have cooked the granola for 25-30 minutes, then turned the oven off. I leave the granola in the oven with the door closed. When I return it is usually done and cooled. This is also something I do if it is hot outside.

This is our favorite recipe. I love it with milk in the morning. The kids love to munch it all day. I promise one of my most used phrases is "Get your hands out of the granola jars!" It is the perfect snack to have on hand and the easiest breakfast I have found.

Enjoy!

Shared on The Homestead Blog Hop. Modest Mom