Granola with Nuts and Fruit

Store bought granola often has preservatives, artificial flavors, excessive vegetable oil and loads of sugar.  Also, most companies add sulfuric acid or sulfur dioxide to help preserve the dried fruit’s vibrant color.  We prefer to use unsulfured, unsweetened dried fruit; cranberries are an exception to the unsweetened rule as they are bitter without being sweetened.  Homemade granola is one of our favorite impromptu gifts for friends or to send home with guests when they leave The Meadow.

Makes 9 cups
Prep Time: 25-30 minutes
Cook Time: 90 minutes
Freezes Well

3 ½ cups rolled oats (I like Bob’s Red Mill)
½ cup dried, flaked unsweetened coconut
1 cup pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 cup almonds, sliced
½ cup salted sunflower seeds, raw or toasted
¼ cup whole flax seeds
¼ cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon orange zest
¼ cup coconut oil, liquified
¼ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup dried apricots, diced
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried cherries

1. Preheat the oven to 250ºF. Lightly grease 2 large sheet pans or line with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, mix the apricots, cranberries and cherries. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, nuts, seeds and orange zest; mix well and set aside.
4. In a small bowl,whisk the coconut oil, salt, syrup and vanilla.
5. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture, stirring until everything is well combined.
6. Spread the granola on to the baking sheets.  Pat it gently with a spatula to make it lay flat and even across the pan.
7. Bake the granola for about 90 minutes, stirring the mixture with a spatula every 15 minutes.  Switch the sheet pans from top to bottom each time you stir.
8. When the granola is a light golden brown, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.
9. When cool, transfer the granola to a large bowl and mix in the dried fruit.

STORAGE: Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, granola keeps for 1 week; glass canning jars work well so the granola doesn’t pick up any plastic odor.
Frozen in an airtight container, granola will last up to 3 months.  Defrost at room temperature.