Maple Granola

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (like soy, peanut or corn)
• 2/3 cup dark amber maple syrup (grade a or b)
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup green pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• 1/2 cup cashews, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup whole almond, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup mixed dried fruit (such as currants, diced pears, dice apricots, cranberries, raisins, blueberries or chopped dates)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 225 degrees f.
• 2 in a small saucepan, combine the oil and syrup and heat, stirring, over low heat. remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract.
• 3 in a large bowl, toss together the wheat germ, sesame seeds, coconut, oats, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and almonds.
• 4 add the syrup mixture and stir to coat evenly.
• 5 spread the granola mixture out on a baking sheet.
• 6 bake until golden brown, about an 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• 7 stir the mixture occasionally while baking so it toasts evenly.
• 8 transfer the warm toasted granola to a large bowl and stir in the dried fruits and let cool.
• 9 store in a tightly sealed container a room temperature for 2 weeks or freeze for up to 2 months.