Homemade Granola with Organic Vanilla Extract

Spring has sprung, and I have bursts of spring cleaning energy. One of the things I did was clean out my pantry, and as a result, I had quite a few open bags of dried fruits and nuts from previous baking projects that needed to be used up. One of the best ways to use up those half-empty boxes and bags is to make your own granola.

Homemade granola is a great way to use up all the things. Granola is a recipe that is much better with adaptation and is endlessly flexible.  You can use any combination of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Or use any oil you like-coconut oil or olive oil. We had a customer on the East Coast who made their granola with butter. So delicious. Anyway. I hope I have encouraged you to make a batch of granola. The combinations are delicious and endless.

Making granola is like one of those "choose-your-own adventure books" I used to love when I was a kid, but to be honest, sometimes I would read ahead to see how it turned out before I would pick the adventure. Making granola turns out differently every time. You can endlessly experiment with it until you find what combination you like the best.

Almond +Dried Cherries

Walnuts, Chia, Dates, and Figs

See what I mean. It is a great way to use up extra coconut, too. The only non-negotiable is the vanilla. Add Vanilla Bean Project vanilla to make your granola taste great. 

The "Choose Your Own Adventure" Homemade Granola Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1 cup nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, or shelled pistachios if you are extra fancy), roughly chopped

• 1/2 cup seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, or chia)

• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey

• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or olive oil

• 1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean Project Organic Vanilla Extract

• 3/4 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, figs, dates, cherries, chopped apricots, or a combination) — added after baking

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, combine oats, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, cinnamon, and salt.

3. Whisk the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together maple syrup (or honey), melted oil, and organic vanilla extract.

4. Combine and coat. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated.

5. Spread and bake. Spread the mixture in an even layer on your baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, stirring once halfway through for even browning.

6. Cool completely. 

7. Add dried fruit. Once cooled, stir in your dried fruit of choice. If you accidentally bake the dried fruit, it will turn into tiny pebbles or stones. Definitely not delicious. 

8. Store and enjoy. Keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Tips for the Best Granola

• Don’t over-stir while baking if you like chunky granola clusters.

• Adjust sweetness by increasing or decreasing maple syrup or honey.

• Experiment with flavors like orange zest, cardamom, or even a touch of cocoa powder.

• Use high-quality vanilla—it makes a noticeable difference, obviously :-).