Nutty Granola with Dried Fruit

 Print This Recipe

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.