I have been working over this past year to create a basic oats & honey granola recipe to replace our favorite boxed breakfast granola. While it was organic and healthy, the price was less than reasonable, as is the case with most organic foods. Also, it contains soy, a product I am making steps to eliminate from our diet altogether organic or otherwise.

I had already come up with a recipe that we were pleased with but it was lost when my hard drive was dropped. I was naturally distraught to have to start all over from scratch, but I think this one is better. I know I’m having to practice self control to keep from snacking on it and I’m not the only one! The crunchy clusters are just perfect for that purpose, but we also love it mixing in with some creamy homemade vanilla yogurt or drowning it in sweet raw milk.

A couple notes- I am not entirely satisfied with the amount of sugar that is necessary to please my crowd. As was the case with the yogurt, for example, I find that I’m going to have to worry about getting them adjusted to the switch from a store boughten product and then worry about weaning back on the more unhealthy ingredients gradually. Now I make “the best yogurt in the world.” Also, there may be too much salt for some palates. I heard a couple complaints to that end, but my husband thought it complimented the sweetness nicely so it will remain in the recipe because his is the belly I aim most to please.

Oats & Honey Granola

~Oats & Honey Granola~

Author Reformation Acres

Ingredients

6 cups rolled oats
½ cup brown sugar (or Sucanat)
3 Tablespoons wheat germ
3 Tablespoons whole wheat flour
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup honey
5 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon molasses
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
4 Tablespoon water

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
Using a large roasting pan, mix oats, sugars, wheat germ & flour, and salt until it's all combined.
Over medium heat, bring the honey, butter, oil, molasses, vanilla, and water to a simmer.
Pour over the oat mixture and stir well with a wooden spoon moistening most of the oats.
Should you choose to make clusters, you may want to oil your hands to help with the stickiness. Squeeze handfuls of the oats together to make clumps.
Bake for 30 minutes, stir.
Bake for another 30 minutes and stir again.
Bake for a final 30 minutes and then turn out on the counter to cool.