Healthy Holiday Granola

This makes a great healthy holiday gift wrapped in a cellophane bag and tied with a bright red ribbon.

Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

• ½ cup almonds, chopped coarsely
• 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds
• ¼ cup sunflower seeds
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup dried blueberries

Procedure

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Line a large shallow baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Place almonds on sheet pan and bake until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and place in large bowl.
5. Add all the remaining ingredients to the almonds except for dried cherries and blueberries.
6. Mix until all ingredients are lightly coated. Mixture should be slightly sticky.
7. Reduce the oven temperature to 300°F.
8. Spread the oat mixture onto parchment paper in a thin layer.
9. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, stirring often until the oats are lightly browned.
10. Remove from oven and let cool.
11. Once cool, break apart and add in dried blueberries and cranberries.

Note: Makes a great snack for kids, especially if you throw a few dark chocolate chips into the mixture.

Credit

Recipe by AccentHealth Chef Donna Brousseau.