Perfect Granola

originally posted May 4, 2011

I'll always love the Peanut Butter Banana Granola and the Crunchy Almond Granola, but I have to say this is really the *perfect* granola recipe. It goes together SO quickly with so few ingredients--all of which you're likely to have on hand (you can easily swap for other nuts or mix-ins.) It has NO oil, butter, syrup, honey or peanut butter. The small amount of brown sugar mixed with the water becomes the binding syrup, leaving you with an ultra-low-sugar and low-fat granola recipe.

Plus, the low baking temperature means you don't have to keep on a hawk-eye on the granola while it bakes, and stirring is totally optional. The granola comes out beautifully crisped--not burnt, not soggy. It's amazing. 

It's *perfect.* 

Perfect Granola 

recipe from Tasty Kitchen

Makes 8+ servings (6 cups total. 138 calories per 1/4 cup)

Ingredients

4 cups old fashioned oats

1/2 cups chopped pecans

3/4 cup chopped almonds
1/2-1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup water

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

In a large bowl toss together oats,
 nuts, and cinnamon.

In a glass measuring cup measure the water. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Microwave for 2 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved and the mixture has become a syrup.

Pour liquids over the oat/nut mixture and toss, toss, toss, stir, stir, stir until  and the oats and nuts are evenly coated. Pour granola onto the baking sheet and spread evenly.

Bake for 30 minutes, stir gently. Bake another 15 minutes until granola is crispy and golden.

Cool completely and stir an an airtight container.

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