Homemade Granola: delicious, nutritious, economical as well as fun and easy to make!
If you are looking for a super sweet, clumpy, “cookie-like” snacking kind of granola, this is not it. I have made it that way, and it is absolutely delicious – but I think misses the point. If you want to make that kind of granola, double the oil, triple the honey, and add some brown sugar into the liquid mixture, ensuring it dissolves. Cinnamon is a nice addition with this kind of snack….
But, in my own lifetime, that kind of “prairie in a bowl” would have been absolutely unheard of prior to the past 20 years. Cereal in a box was standard for the children of my generation, and we were the first. However, in the winter, homemade porridge was a constant in any Alberta home: urban, or rural. Granola was a product of the “hippy generation” in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Our parents never made it, but we did. It was a statement about getting back to the basics and about living an active lifestyle and eating healthy food. It was a movement away from commercialism and toward the ability to be an independent consumer, able to produce one’s own food – or as much of it as humanly possible. And I still like the idea of that.
Valerie's 1970's Canadian Homemade Granola
My Canadian Alberta Prairie in a Bowl! This recipe has been revised to add hemp hearts, etc, but the base is my 1970's Granola Recipe from University days!
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- 2/3 cup canola oil
- 12 cups of slow cooking rolled oats
- 2 cups of sliced almonds , bark on
- ½ cup poppy seeds
- ½ cup sesame seeds
- 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
- 2 cups raw sunflower seeds
- ½ cup freshly ground flax seed
- ½ cup wheat germ
- ½ cup bran
- ½ to 1 cup hemp hearts
- 2 cups unsweetened , dried cranberries
- 2 cups unsweetened , dried blueberries
- 1 cup unsweetened , dried cherries
- 1 cup dried apricots , chopped
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 200F and use convection, if possible
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Heat the ½ cup honey; combine thoroughly with oil
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Place next 10 ingredients (all but fruit) into very large bowl; toss with warm liquid until well coated
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Use parchment or silpat on three large cookie sheets; spread 1/3 of mixture evenly on each sheet
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Place each into one oven on three racks; rotate rack position and recombine (mix) ingredients on each tray every 20 to 30 minutes
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After 2 hours, oil and honey mixture should be dried onto ingredients and small seeds stuck to bigger morsels; place baked ingredients back into very large bowl
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Add all dried fruit; gently combine to mix together
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Pack into containers that seal well; date and label to use as needed
Recipe Notes
This will keep well for several months (at minimum three). I eat 1/4 cup each morning with a healthy dollop of homemade yogurt for the perfect day starter.
In the early 1970’s, granola was introduced commercially in Alberta. I learned how to make this when I was a student at the University of Alberta and it has been an integral part of our family early mornings ever since. We never tire of it, though the hemp hearts are certainly a new addition… and certain parts of the recipe has changed over time as I have learned how to make it healthier (blueberries instead of raisons…no more coconut, my own homemade dried fruit etc.).
It is elevated both nutrition-wise, flavour-wise, and texture-wise with homemade yogurt!
I do believe I did not mention how scrumptious it is with homemade vanilla ice cream! If you make it, I want to hear about it. Do tell! Chime in.
so i want to make this since you brought me the dried fruit… but i just need to go buy the seeds etc. i copied and pasted the above recipe and hope I get to it.
Oh yeah Valerie!!!
This looks like a good one!
I do not know if I have a container large enough for 12 cups of oats!
Kelly – I figure if I am going to make it, make it big. Mom and dad love it, and so does my daughter – so I usually share. But, you get the idea if you compare it to your 6 cup recipe and divide everything else in half. 🙂
I am making this on the weekend – Thanksgiving granola 🙂
i am going to try it NOW…i love how i wanted to try in 2009 and never did. i am a slacker. mercedes suggested homemade granola in cute gift bags as thank you gifts for the bridal shower. one question: for steps 7) Place all ingredients back into a large bowl, and all all of the fruit, and 8) Combine to mix together, and let cook do i put the total mixture back on the cookie sheets and into the oven, or let cook just in the bowl that i mixed them together in?
Lauren!
Thanks for noticing my error!
You only cook the first part – once you add the fruit and the remainder of the seeds and nuts you do not cook anymore.
🙂
momsey
XO
i did it! i made it! and it is wonderful!
Congratulations, Lauren!
Did you write about it on your site?
🙂
XO
Momsey
I can’t wait to try this! My daughter and I both love granola and I’m sure homemade will be much tastier than many we’ve tried from a box. She is getting married in June and I love the idea of the granola in gift bags for the bridesmaids!
Oh, Rhonda – this is a family staple – tried and true and made a thousand times a thousand – not at all sweet – but if you like the sweet chunky kind – add more honey or some brown sugar.
🙂
V
Hi there,
Just wondering what you mean with ‘turning in the oven’. Do you mean switching around cookie sheets or stirring the mixture? Thanks!
Hi WM!
3 sheets on three racks, rotate, and turn from front to back, and stirring too! For sure! Let me know how it goes. We love this. It is not clumpy and sugary sweet, but toasty, tasty and healthy!
🙂
Valerie