granola

granola2

I know what you’re thinking, “How good could granola possibly be?” Well let me tell you this: it can be good. Really frickin’ good. You don’t even know how good it can be until you’ve had this granola. This granola will blow your mind. It’s that good.

I first had this granola last December, at a wonderful little place in Wyoming called Togwotee Mountain Lodge. There was a lot of snow, and a lot of snowmobiling, so I will admit I was cold, and I was hungry. And there was really nowhere else to eat but at the lodge. But please, oh please, don’t let that detract from how good this granola really is.

Like I said, a LOT of snow…

Oh, and it’s super easy to make. Just sayin’.

I hate coconut. Hate hate HATE coconut. I despise it. But I left it in, because the original granola had coconut in it, and I ate it. I ate it like I was going to die if I didn’t get to the bottom of the bowl. It was almost gone before I stopped and realized that there was shaved coconut in my bowl. So clearly, the coconut is OK.

I did pick out the raisins…. stupid raisins.

This recipe isn’t exact to the one I enjoyed at Togwotee but, like any granola recipe, it is infinitely adaptable. Add or remove whatever you like, make it more “healthful” if you must, but good god… just make it. Unless, of course, you can go to Wyoming and eat it yourself.

Granola

[ Printable Recipe ]

  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ to ¾ cup brown sugar, depending on desired sweetness
  • 3 Tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup dried fruit
  • ¼-½  cup shredded coconut and/or chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F

1. Toast oats on a flat baking sheet for 8 – 10 minutes, tossing halfway through.

2. In a large bowl, combine vegetable oil, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well.

3. Toss toasted oats in honey mixture until coated, then add your mix-ins. Pour into an even layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 – 15 minutes. It may turn into a gooey mess, don’t worry. If you have a silicone spatula, feel free to stir it about halfway through. If you don’t have a silicone spatula, forget it.

4. Cool granola completely, then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container. Eat on its own, with milk, or over mixed into yogurt. Enjoy 🙂

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