Two Healthy Granola Recipes

No, granola isn't a dessert, but it is useful in a lot of desserts. A number of the dessert recipes here call for granola, so I thought it'd be a good idea to offer some healthy granola recipes. Here are two of my favorite.

Granola 1:
3 c. rolled oats
1 c. wheat germ
1-2 c. dried fruit
1/2 c. coconut
2 oz. sesame seeds
1/2 c. nuts
1/2 c. hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 c. olive or vegetable oil
1/2 c. honey or molasses
1 Tbsp. vanilla

Directions:
1. Throughly mix all ingredients except the fruits and nuts.

2. Spread evenly on a rimmed cookie sheet and toast for 1 hour in a 350 degree oven, stirring every 15 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and add fruit and nuts. Stir periodically while it sets up.

4. Store in an airtight container.


Granola 2:
1 1/2 c. rolled oats
1 c. coconut
1/2 c. hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 c. raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 c. wheat germ
3/4 c. whole, raw almonds
1/4 c. whole flax seeds
4 Tbsp. natural peanut butter
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. maple syrup or molasses
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. dried cranberries

Directions:
1. Mix together the oats through flax seeds on a rimmed cookie sheet and toast for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven, stirring every 15 minutes.

2. While the oat mixture is toasting, melt the PB, honey, and maple syrup/molasses in a pot. ONce the mixture is nicely melted, bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the vanilla.

3. Remove the oat mxture from teh oven and leave the oven on. In a large bowl, mix oat mixture wiht the PBmixture and stir to coat. Stir in cranberries and then spread the granola mixture onto the same cookie sheet so that it isn't completely touching.

4. Put back in the oven and bake for 15 minutes (less for gooier granola, more for crunchier). Remove from the oven and cool.

*Note: You can add any seed or nut you want, this is just my favorite combination. Dark chocloate chunks are sometimes fun to add also.