Top Acres Farm Granola

This recipe comes from our Vermont friends at Top Acres Farm where the very best maple syrup is made every March!

Prep Time: 15 minutes    Bake Time: 30 minutes

WHAT YOU NEED:

4 cups old fashioned rolled oats (ie, 5-minute variety)

1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

½ cup sesame seeds

½ cup unsalted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

1 cup unsalted nuts, coarsely chopped (walnuts, pecans, almonds)

1 tsp. sea salt or Kosher salt

3 Tbsp. finely diced fresh ginger root

1½ tsp. ground ginger

½ cup pure maple syrup (dark/robust preferred)

½ cup vegetable oil (eg, canola, sunflower, coconut oil etc)

Stir-Ins: after baking add about ½ cup each: diced candied ginger; dried fruit (eg, raisins, dried cranberries, diced dried apricots etc), shredded/flaked unsweetened coconut

MAKING IT:

Heat oven to 300°F.  Combine first 8 ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir well; set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat maple syrup and oil over high heat just until mixture bubbles. Carefully pour warm maple syrup mixture over oat mixture. Stir until everything is well coated.

Spread onto baking sheet so mixture is in an even layer. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring after about 15 minutes (re-spread evenly in pan after stirring). After removing from oven, let mixture cool before adding in any Stir-Ins.  Store at room temperature in an airtight container.  Makes about 8 cups.

NUTRITION:

Nutrition Information per serving (about 1/3 cup): 240 Calories; 15g Total Fat; (2.5g Sat Fat; 0g Trans Fat); 0mg Chol; 85mg Sodium; 22g Total Carb; (3g Fiber; 10g Total Sugars; 6g Added Sugars); 5g Protein; 10% DV Iron