Homemade Granola

I am making much more from scratch at the moment, so that I know exactly what is in everything. Searching for a granola that I could eat, unsuccessfully, meant that this was the next on my list.

The recipe makes quite a lot, so you might want to halve it if you are the only one who eats granola in your household. It also really needs to be made on a day when you are pottering about in the house anyway, as it needs regular turning whilst in the oven. It makes the whole house smell great though!

The recipe is adapted from one on Gluten-Free Girl, who in turn adapted it from Orangette (both worth a visit).

3 cups of oats (I used Jumbo)
½ cup chopped walnuts (substitute any kind of nuts you like, or a mixture)
½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup plain flour (I used Doves gluten-free)
¾ tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp ground ginger
¾ cup maple syrup
½ cup cranberry juice
1 tbsp vanilla
2 tsp sunflower oil
1 cup raisins (or other dried fruit – I think dried cranberries would be good)

Turn on the oven to 120C, and oil a baking sheet. A non-stick one probably makes your life easier, but is not compulsory.

Combine the oats, nuts, seeds and flour and stir well until everything is coated in flour. Add the cinnamon, spice and ginger and mix again.

In a jug whisk together the maple syrup, juice, vanilla and oil until combined. Pour over the dry ingredients and then stir carefully to combine. Mine looked like there was not going to be enough of the wet ingredients, but keep going as eventually it all looked wet.

Put the mixture onto the baking sheet and press down with the back of a wooden spoon, or the back of your hand! Bake for about 2 hours, turning it every 15 minutes or so, making sure that any large pieces are broken up. It should be dry rather than sticky when it is done.

Leave to cool, then add the raisins and put in an airtight container.

I have been enjoying this with fresh fruit and plain yogurt, and I swear I have been walking to work quicker so that I can get to my breakfast sooner!