Remember when a few weeks ago we got some organic oats from our CSA? I’ve been debating what to make with them – cookies? Energy bites? Oatmeal? These awesome oatmeal caramel cookie bars? But when our CSA this week gave us some organic yogurt, I knew exactly what I’d be making – homemade granola.

I looooove homemade granola. My mom makes a fresh batch of it nearly every week (probably more when my brother and I were home) and this is the recipe she used when I was growing up. I will warn you – it’s addicting. My brother and I could probably eat the whole recipe in one sitting! With or without yogurt.

The Best Homemade Granola (my mom’s recipe, with a few of my own twists)

Here’s what you need: 

• 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, or organic oats
• 1/2 cup flaxseed (my mom doesn’t always add this but I did)
• 1 cup your favorite dried fruit (you can use any combination of dried fruit – I used dried blueberries, dried cranberries and dried cherries)
• 1 cup your favorite nut, loosely chopped (I used almonds this time – my mom has used pecans and slivered almonds as well and they are AWESOME)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 3/4 – 1 cup maple syrup (I used about 1 c. of what we had on hand which was pure maple syrup from Canada!)

Here’s what you do:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl – oats, flaxseed, nuts, dried fruit, cinnamon and brown sugar.
3. Add in vanilla and maple syrup. Mix well until everything is well combined and dry ingredients are coated.
4. Pour out onto a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake for about 40 minutes, checking and stirring at about halfway through.  Your house will smell amazing. I LOVED waking up to the smell of homemade granola cooking in the oven!
6. Let cool and enjoy!  Serve with yogurt, cottage cheese, mix with other cereals or just enjoy on its own!

all the ingredients before mixing