Perfectly Crunchy Granola Food

CRUNCHY GRANOLA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 275 degrees F.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine brown sugar and water in a 4 cup microwave proof cup.
• Microwave on high 5 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved.
• Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla and salt.
• In large mixing bowl, mix oats, nuts, and brown sugar mixture.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Spread onto cookie sheets and bake 45 minutes-1 hour until golden brown.
• When granola has cooled completely, add fruits if you wish and store in airtight container.

CRUNCHY GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and reserve.
• Combine brown sugar and water in a 4-cup microwave proof glass measuring cup or bowl. Place in microwave on high for 5 minutes and cook until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from microwave, add vanilla extract and salt.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, and brown sugar syrup mixture. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Spread the granola onto cookie sheets and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden and crunchy.
• When the mixture comes out of the oven, it is still very pliable. You may choose to add in dried fruit as a finishing touch at this time. When granola has cooled completely, store in an airtight container.

LOW FAT CRUNCHY GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275º.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine brown sugar and water in a 4-cup microwave proof glass measuring cup or bowl.
• Place in microwave on high for 5 minutes and cook until sugar is completely dissolved.
• Remove from microwave, add vanilla and salt.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, wheat bran, oat bran, wheat germ, coconut, sunflower seeds, and brown sugar syrup mixture.
• Stir until thoroughly mixed.
• Spread the granola onto cookie sheets and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden and crunchy.
• Stir every fifteen minutes.
• (I use a very large stainless steel bowl instead of a cookie sheet) After baking you may add raisins, dates, or any other dried fruit.
• Yield 14 cups (before adding fruit).

CRUNCHY GRANOLA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F.
• Mix oats, flax, wheat germ, almonds, pecans, salt and brown sugar in a large bowl. Wisk to combine the oil, honey and egg white, then pour over the oat mixture. Stir well until ingredients are evenly coated. It may seem too dry but keep stirring.
• Spray oil on a jelly roll pan and add the granola mixture. Bake 20-30 minutes, until the edges are browned and it smells toasty. To make clumps don't stir during baking. Cool and allow the granola to harden. Break into smaller pieces and add the fruit. Store airtight for two weeks.
• The dried fruit may hydrate the granola so it loses some of its crunch. If so just pop it back in a 300F oven for about 10 minutes.

PERFECT CRUNCHY GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 1. Stir together the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl or roasting pan. Substitute anything that strikes your fancy, but I aim for a total of 11 cups dry ingredients.
• 2. Mix brown sugar, water, and oil in a saucepan. Boil for 1 minute. If you prefer a sweeter granola, add up to 1 cup more brown sugar.
• 3. Remove from heat and add vanilla, caramel flavour, and salt.
• 4. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry mixture. Stir until all dry ingredients are moistened.
• 5. If using a roasting pan, place this directly in the oven, uncovered. If you don't have a roasting pan, spread the mixture out on 2 cookie sheets and bake.
• 6. Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes. Stir, scraping the bottom. Reduce oven temperature to 325 F, and continue to bake for 10 minutes intervals, stirring in between. It takes about a total of 45 minutes baking time.
• 7. Remove from oven when the granola is golden and dry. Allow to cool in the pan. Store in an airtight container for weeks. Mine never lasts that long, so I'm not sure!