Twentysomething and the City: Mom's Famous Homemade Granola

Sweet Treats

Granola is addicting, plain and simple. It's healthy when sprinkled on yogurt and eaten in moderation, but that is easier said than done. Good granola is very delicious and my mom's homemade granola recipe is goood granola. You're lucky enough to get the recipe today!

Almond granola with dried cherries and (optional) white chocolate chips!

Granola-gredients:

Dry Ingredients

6 cups of Rolled Oats (or Old Fashion Oats - NOT Quick Cooking Oats)
2 cups roasted, salted whole almonds
2.5 cups of roasted slivered almonds
1 cup shredded coconut
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup maple syrup (I use sugar free maple syrup to cut calories)
3/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add-Ins

1 bag dried cherries
White chocolate chips (how ever much you want)

All from Trader Joe's

Recipe:

-Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.

-Mix together all the wet ingredients in a smaller bowl. Pour the wet ingredients mix into the bowl with the dry ingredients.

-Mix until evenly combined.

-Spread onto baking pans (I use 2 baking sheets). Bake at 225 degrees for 2 hours. Move the granola around the sheet every 20 minutes to cook evenly and prevent burning.

After the two hours, remove from the oven and let the granola cool for about 10 minutes. Then, scoop into a bag or container and let cool for at least one more hour before adding dried cherries and (optional) white chocolate chips.

Makes a great gift in cute bags or mason jars!

While were on this topic, you want to know where you can buy the most AMAZING granola? It's called Hippie Crack from Baked & Wired Bakery in Georgetown (Washington, DC)...