Homemade No Added Sugar Granola

Why I like this:

Most store-bought granolas contain added sugar. With this granola, there is no added sugar - just the sugar naturally occurring in the dried fruit. This recipe also contains less salt than most store-bought brands and other homemade recipes.

Homemade No Added Sugar Granola

Ingredients:

4 cups of old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup of unsalted, raw almond slices

1/4 cup of unsalted, raw cashews

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/3 cup of coconut oil (melted)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup of chopped pitted dates

5 dried apricots chopped

Steps:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients (exclude the fruit) well.

3) Add the liquids (the coconut oil and vanilla extract) and mix well to coat.

4) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the mixture onto the parchment paper, press down on it to even it out.

5) Bake for 20 minutes. Stir the mixture. Press down on the mixture again to even it out and bake for an additional 10 minutes until it is light brown on top.

6) Cool the granola for about 45 minutes and then add the dried fruit.

Different dried fruits, nuts, and seeds may be used. The coconut oil adds a little coconut flavor, but not much. If you want that flavor, add dried coconut flakes or shredded coconut the last 10 minutes of baking. If you don’t want that flavor, or if you want to use less saturated fat, substitute olive oil for the coconut oil. Store in an air tight container in the pantry for 7-10 days, or divide into individual snack size portions and freeze for up to 3 months. If frozen, let the granola sit out at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes so the dried fruit can thaw.