Mary Anne here. Awhile back our friends at Oh Nuts! sent us a generous assortment of dried fruits and nuts, which, upon arrival, I tore into like a kid on Christmas. Thanks to my newfound bounty, I was able to address a long-standing grudge with store-bought granolas. As you’ve no doubt noticed, the price of breakfast cereal has steadily inched upwards with my most recent purchase ringing in at a whopping $5.99. That’s outrageous. Whipped into a sticker shock-induced fury, I decided to hell with Kellogg’s, I’m makin’ my own!
This granola isn’t as sickly sweet as what’s available in your grocer’s aisle AND you get 38 ounces of no-chemicals-added goodness…as opposed to the measly 15-ounce pouch they sling for $6. Need I say more? Fast and easy, I created this in under 45 minutes (that’s hands-on time). Store the granola in a sealed container and refrigerate up to 1 month…if it lasts that long, that is!

Nutty Granola with Dried Fruit
Makes 20 Servings
Note: If you don’t generally keep coconut, oats, nuts, and dried fruit in your well-stocked pantry, you’ll find that they’re well worth the investment since you’ll have plenty of leftover ingredients to make a second batch next month.
Ingredients:
4½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats (oatmeal) – $2.29
2/3 cup sliced almonds – $2.99
¾ cup unsweetened coconut – $1.75
1 cup chopped walnuts – stock
1/3 cup unsalted, roasted sunflower seeds – $1.27
2 Teaspoons cinnamon – stock
¾ Teaspoon nutmeg – stock
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced – stock
½ cup honey – stock
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar – stock
1 Teaspoon vanilla – stock
1½ cups mixed dried fruits (I used cranberries and apricots and some trail mix my son left in the house.) – $2.79 – based on a 15 oz. box of raisins
Grand Total Assuming Well-Stocked Pantry: $11.09
Total Per Serving: $0.55
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a very large, rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small saucepan over medium-low flame, slowly melt the butter with the honey and brown sugar. Stir occasionally and do not allow it to simmer. When the butter is melted remove from the flame and add the vanilla, stirring well to incorporate.
3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl combine the oats, coconut, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and spices.
4. Pour the butter mixture over the oat mixture, tossing well to combine thoroughly.
5. Spread the granola evenly in the prepared cookie pan. Bake for 35 minutes until golden brown, stirring the mixture about every 10 minutes for even browning.
6. Cool the granola pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Transfer the cereal to a large mixing bowl. Add the dried fruits and stir occasionally until completely cooled. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Sounds awesome then I scrolled down and saw your pumpkin lasagna! looks delightful!!!!!
Ooh yummy! I could eat this breakfast, lunch and dinner! Throw in a cup of tea and I am in heaven! Nothing new for one of your recipes.
🙂 Mandy
Thanks so much for your kind words, Mandy. You always make me smile! No small feat after a very long week. Cheers! M.A.
ooooh I love granola!! Especially homemade granola with all of those delicious ingredients you have listed… coconut, almonds- oh my!!
I love the warm flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg and haven’t had it in my granola yet. This one goes straight on my “To Try” list.