Honey-Glazed Bran and Coconut Granola with Dried Apricots

Honey is combined with grains and nuts, making for a thick, delicious cereal.

Servings: 8 cups
Prep and cook time: 12 minutes Cook: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

4 cups old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
3/4 cup unsweetened bran cereal
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped dried apricots

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the oats into a 9x13-inch non-stick roasting pan and bake for 5 minutes. Stir in the pan with a wooden spoon and bake another 5 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack, but do not turn off the oven.

In a small non-stick saucepan, heat together the honey and oil, mixing with a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.

In a medium bowl, combine the walnuts, bran and coconut. Stir in the oats, mixing thoroughly. Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture and stir well. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg, tossing to combine. Return to the baking pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until evenly browned.

Remove from the pan and stir in the raisins and apricots. Mix thoroughly, cool slightly and serve, or store.

Note: Granola is pretty enough to stay out on the counter when it's stored in a glass jar such as the one pictured here. This way, you can just scoop it out in the morning, using a candy-counter scooper or a measuring cup.

Gail Greco is the food editor of Carefree Cooking; a field editor for Romantic Homes magazine; and a contributor to many other publications.  She has authored more than 15 books on cooking, decorating, and home lifestyle.

Next Recipe Israeli Humus >