Slightly sweet, slightly salty, and super cinnamony (which really should be a word), this easy homemade granola is a perfect way to start your day.
I used to babysit three sweet little toddlers when I was in college, and their mother was a fantastic baker. She always had homemade treats around when I came to watch the kids, and her cranberry granola was one of my favorites. For me, this granola brings back warm and fuzzy memories of tricycles zipping around the family room, swinging on the swing set, and reading bedtime stories.
Cranberry-Nut Granola
Servings: About 5 cups of granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups steel cut oats
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 3 TBL neutral oil (vegetable, canola, melted coconut oil, or light olive oil work well)
- 3 TBL honey or maple syrup
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice (can be omitted if you don’t have it)
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp allspice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F
- Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray, then spread the oats, nuts and cranberries evenly across the sheet
- Stir together the remaining ingredients, and pour over the mixture on the baking sheet. Gently stir to coat the oats, nuts and cranberries evenly
- Bake for about 30 minutes, giving it a good stir every 10 minutes. The granola will be ready when the oats and nuts are light golden brown and slightly crunchy
- Remove from the oven and cool completely on the baking sheet. Can be stored in a zip-top bag or sealed container for up to a week