Homemade Granola

This recipe is incredibly forgiving and is open to many variations, so don't be afraid to experiment with ratios/ingredients until you find your favorite combination! This is a wonderful healthy breakfast that stays with you MUCH longer than typical cold cereals. I also like to switch the recipe up sometimes just for a change. See possible variations below.

My Favorite Basic Combo:
Preheat oven to 350. On a large 11x 17 cookie sheet mix the following:
4 cups whole oats
2 cups unsweetened coconut (can use sweetened too, just not as healthy and only use 1 cup)
1 1/2 cups nuts (slivered almonds, chopped pecans, etc)
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
2 tsp cinnamon (or more depending on preference)
1/2 cup light olive oil (can also use grapeseed oil)
1/2 cup honey, warmed
-Mix all ingredients together well. Spread out evenly on cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and re-stir and re-spread. Bake another 10 minutes. Re-stir and re-spread and bake another 5-10 minutes (for a total of 25-30min). Immediately transfer to storing container because if you let it cool too long, it is hard to get off the cookie sheet!

Feel free to also add:
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/8 cup Flax seeds or ground flax flour
1 cup spelt (so three cups oats and 1 cup spelt)
1/2-1 cup dried fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raisins, papaya, mango, pineapple, etc.)

Maple Nut Granola:
Use pure maple syrup instead of honey
Coconut Granola:
Add to basic recipe 2 tsp coconut flavoring
Pumpkin Spice Granola:
Add 1 TBS pumpkin spice
Honey Bunches of Oats Granola:
Use maple syrup in place of honey and then add 3 cups of cornflakes after baking basic recipe.
Vanilla Oat Granola:
add 2 tsp vanilla to oil/honey mixture use 5 cups oats and no coconut