[SollysMom]

I'd like to try making my own granola, and there are THOUSANDS of recipes on the internet, even if I google "basic granola recipe". I'd like to try a very basic recipe with the fewest possible ingredients, that I can then add or substitute ingredients to meet my mood. If anyone has a recipe that would fit the bill, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[SaraCate]

Here's about as basic as you can get:<br><br>
8-10 cups "Stuff" total (oasts, wheat germ, founrd flax, dried fruits, coconut, nuts...whatever you want)<br><br>
1-2 cups liquid (if you use honey, molasses, syrups include that in this measure) (1/4-1/2 fat, i.e., oil)<br><br>
dry sweetener, vanilla, and/or spices to taste<br><br>
Mix all together till dry ingredients are thouroughly coated. Spread on baking trays - this quantity should take at least two. Bake at ~300F for an hour or so, stirring every 10-20 minutes and watching carefully for burning/overbrowning.<br><br><br>
If you're someone who does better with a 'real recipe' here goes:<br><br>
~9 c. oats (sub whatever granola ingredients you like to total 9 c.)<br>
1/2 c. water<br>
1/2 c. oil of choice<br>
1/3 c. honey<br>
spice to taste (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom are suggestions)<br><br>
Bake as above.<br><br>
Hope this helps!<br><br>
Note: You want your oats/other ingredients thoroughly moist, but not 'wet' or sticking together too much, if that makes sense.<br><br>
ETA: D'oh! Add raisins or other dried fruit AFTER baking!

 

[cristeen]

These are my favorites:<br><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Maple-Apricot-Granola-107776" target="_blank">Maple Apricot with Ginger</a><br><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Golden-Granola-107695" target="_blank">Golden Granola</a> (I don't use the corn syrup.)<br><br>
They both seem to have long ingredient lists, but break it down this way:<br>
Oats<br>
Added stuff for baking (nuts/seeds) - just add all the amounts together and use what you have<br>
Added stuff after baking (fruits) - same here, although I always add the ginger, which is excellent in granola<br>
Liquid (which I mostly do 50/50 maple/oil)<br><br>
It never turns out the same twice, because I just use what I have on hand to make up the approximate amount. Sometimes that means I have 2 kinds of nuts/seeds and 1 fruit. Sometimes I have 8 nuts/seeds and 4 fruits.

 

[Arianwen1174]

<a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Stovetop-Granola/Detail.aspx" target="_blank">This</a> is my favorite granola recipe. I adjust it however I want or need when I make it.

 

[SollysMom]

Thanks so much for the replies! I can't wait to try some of these recipes!

 

[SollysMom]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>SaraCate</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15406224"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">If you're someone who does better with a 'real recipe' here goes:<br><br>
~9 c. oats (sub whatever granola ingredients you like to total 9 c.)<br>
1/2 c. water<br>
1/2 c. oil of choice<br>
1/3 c. honey<br>
spice to taste (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom are suggestions)<br><br>
Bake as above.<br><br>
Hope this helps!<br><br>
Note: You want your oats/other ingredients thoroughly moist, but not 'wet' or sticking together too much, if that makes sense.<br><br>
ETA: D'oh! Add raisins or other dried fruit AFTER baking!</div>
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</tr></table></div>
<br>
So I did this, but halved it for my first try. So I did 3 cups oats, 1/2 cup flax seed meal, 1/2 cup almonds (I had slivered almonds so I pulsed them in my magic bullet a few times, but some still stayed in slivers), 1/2 cup dried cranberries (added after baking), 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup canola oil, and halving the recipe would have been just under 3 tbsp honey but I did 1/4 cup. I also added 1/2 tsp vanilla, some cinnamon, and a dash of salt. I haven't tried it in yogurt yet which will be the real test, but I tried it plain and it's not quite sweet enough for my taste. Maybe next time I'll use more honey or maple syrup. I assume it's too late to add anything to this batch? I can't add some brown sugar and shake it all up can I?

 

[Arianwen1174]

I don't think it would hurt to try adding in some brown sugar. Maybe just try a little to see how it sticks to the granola. I'd do it! I think I'd warm the granola up a bit in a skillet or the oven first.

 

[aprons_and_acorns]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Arianwen1174</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15421287"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I don't think it would hurt to try adding in some brown sugar. Maybe just try a little to see how it sticks to the granola. I'd do it! I think I'd warm the granola up a bit in a skillet or the oven first.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that"> That sounds like it would work just fine.<br><br>
I've been making granola for years and years and I never used water in any of my recipes. I'm intrigued!! Does the water work to sort of "stretch" the oil so you don't have to add as much?<br><br>
I mix everthing up in my stand mixer on low and it does a great job. The first time I thought the granola might get kind of wild in there and end up all over my kitchen but it works perfectly.