Squirrel Hill Granola

Squirrel Hill Granola

This recipe is one that has been adapted from the Silver Palate ladies and with friends Bruce and Denise in New York. It is really good and not hard to make – Trader Joes is a good spot to buy ingredients. Also I find that it is best stored in an airtight jar vs. a plastic Ziploc bag.

4 cups uncooked ruff cut, not steel cut, oats (try not to use 1 minute or instant oats)
1 cup each whole raw almonds, whole raw cashews, raw walnut pieces
1/3 cup roasted flax seeds
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup mixed dried fruit – i.e. cranberries, blueberries, cherries, dates, apricots etc)
1 tablespoon real vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup pure (grade B) maple syrup
½ teaspoon sea salt

Mix all of the above together in a large bowl.

Transfer onto a large jellyroll or cookie sheet pan – sprayed with some non-stick stuff

Mash it all down so it’s solid

Bake at 325 for at least one hour - check it to make sure it is all melted and firm, if not, turn oven down to 300 and finish off but watch it so it does not get tooooooo browned.

Allow it to cool in the cooking pan

Once cool, break into large chunks and store in airtight jar