homemade granola with apricots + cherries.

Once you learn how easy it is to make your own granola, you may never want to buy it from the box again.

I should let you know that this week, I’m cheating the Project Pastry Queen rules a bit. You see, when I first saw that Rebeca had picked breakfast granola for last week’s selection, I wasn’t excited in the least. As most of you know by now, I’m a dessert girl. Rich, luscious cakes filled with layer-upon-layer of chocolate truffle filling. Towering cheesecakes filled with pumpkin and spice and-everything-nice. That’s what I’m about. Granola? Breakfast granola?

Hmph.

But then I got to thinking – how exactly does one make granola? I checked out the recipe and the second I saw coconut, I was sold. It looked so easy to make, and since Daniel eats granola and yogurt almost daily for breakfast, I figured it was a sure bet.

I was right.

So, I had to break the rules a little. Instead of the orange muffins everyone else made today, I’m bringing you last week’s pick. It’s just that good.

Here’s how it all goes down… For the base, you’ll need some old-fashioned rolled oats, coconut, sliced almonds, honey, canola oil, brown sugar, vanilla, and a touch of salt.

First, you mix the oats with the almonds and coconut. If you wanted to use some other nuts, you could – and you could also omit the coconut if that’s not your thing. Next, you throw some oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt into a pot, and cook over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Pour this hot mess over your oat mixture, and mix it all together. Spread this over a couple of sheet pans, bake it in the oven for about 20 minutes, and you’re almost there.

Now for the fun part. After it cools, you can add whatever delicious fixin’s you’d like. I went with dried apricots and cherries, as recommended in the original recipe – but really, the options are endless. You could add chocolate chips, any dried fruit of your choice, or any type of toasted nut. I love the addition of the coconut to the granola base, and I think adding more would be a brilliant idea. Oh, yes – some extra coconut, along with a few chocolate chips, and now you’ve got yourself some “Almond Joy” granola. I’m in.

Click here for the full recipe!