Cranberry Nut Granola

Granola is one of my favorite snacks.  Crunchy, sweet, addictive.  And notice how I said favorite snack and not favorite breakfast.  Granola is the perfect breakfast item, but it has so much more potential!  You can eat it with milk, have it with honey, yogurt and berries, add it to pancake batter for a unique texture, top off banana bread for an added crunch, use it as a topping for ice cream, or simply eat it straight.  It is a versatile, healthy snack that can be transported easily and can satisfy a sweet tooth.  The only danger of this granola recipe is that you can sit in front of the TV with a full bowl and suddenly have your spoon hit the bottom.  It is mildly addictive.  But trust me, it's worth it.

Here is one of my favorite granola recipes.  Enjoy!

Cranberry Nut Granola

You will need:
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/4 cups shredded coconut
3/4 cup chopped almonds
3/4 cup chopped cashews
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

How to make it:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, coconut, almonds, cashews, cranberries, salt and cinnamon.

Heat brown sugar, coconut oil, honey, and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium-low heat for 3 - 5 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved.  Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.  Pour oil mixture over the oats and stir to fully coat.  Spread oats on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet.  Bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.