Honey Vanilla Granola

I made a batch of this granola tonight, and realized that I have never shared the recipe on this blog. Forgive my neglect in not posting one of my favorite, yet simplest, recipes!

Honey Vanilla Granola

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup honey (or molasses or maple syrup, or any combination)
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
dash salt
4 cups whole oats
1/2 cup additional add-ins (shredded coconut, wheat germ, flax seed, slivered almonds, sunflower seeds)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In small saucepan melt the butter and honey together. Stir in cinnamon, vanilla and salt until thoroughly mixed. I like to bring the mixture to a boil for one minute to be sure it is thoroughly mixed, and to help it harden as it bakes. In separate bowl, stir together oats and any add-ins. Pour butter mixture over oats and mix well. Spread coated oats in a thin even layer on a greased cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Bake for 9-10 minutes, remove from oven and stir thoroughly. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes. The granola needs to be lightly golden. It will darken and harden as it cools. You may have to adjust baking times and temperatures--if the granola is brown, it will have a burnt taste.

This inexpensive, homemade granola is perfect over yogurt with berries for breakfast, or mixed with dried fruit for a snack. It is not clumpy or terribly crunchy, but you could play with the ingredients to make it that way (probably adding oil and mixing it with your hands to make clumps). The version I made tonight includes flax seed and sunflower seeds, but many times we just eat it with oats only! Enjoy!