Goodness Granola

I love granola. I am a sucker for yogurt and berries and granola, or granola and milk, and I will eat these at all times of day, which includes night. Want a healthy breakfast? Granola. Time for lunch! Maybe I'll just make it easy and have granola. Uh oh, I'm hungry but it's not quite time for dinner... granola. Dinner? Granola. You get the picture... of me eating granola for dessert. 

Yeah, granola is an anytime food for me. This recipe is simple, but has all the notes of honey, coconut, cinnamon and vanilla that makes granola so irresistible. Those sweet flavors also make it forgivable to hold off on some the sweetener and still enjoy treating yourself to its yummy goodness throughout the day... and night. 

This recipe is also flexible, which means you can add the nuts you prefer, and even add special things like chia seeds or flaxseeds to up your omega 3s, or chocolate chips or dried fruits like dried blueberries, raisins, chopped dates, etc. You can also omit the coconut if you have some terrible tastebud disorder that causes you to not absolutely LOVE it like I clearly do. You can even half the honey to 1/4 cup and it still tastes delicious. 

Goodness Granola

4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cups nuts (chopped almonds, pecan halves, walnuts, macadamia nuts, etc)
1/2 cup flaked coconut (I use unsweetened)
1/2 cup coconut oil melted
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oats, nuts, and coconut in a large mixing bowl. Pour in melted coconut, honey, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir to combine. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the granola over the sheet. Put in the oven for 10 minutes, then pull out and gently stir. Return to over for another 5 to 10 minutes until golden brown. Serve when cool. If adding dried fruit or chocolate chips add once it has cooled.

Yield 5 cups