Christmas Spice Granola

Our usual breakfast is healthy, soaked, and raw; but every once in a while we like to have homemade granola for a treat. As much as I love our usual cinnamon crunch granola recipe, it was time for something new.  I drew inspiration for this recipe from Kathy's Homemade Holiday Granola Recipes.

CHRISTMAS SPICE GRANOLA 

[makes some to eat now, some to give away, and enough to pop in the freezer for another day!]

5 1/2 cups oats

2 cups mixed dried fruit [I use an organic Crazy Jack pack that contains sultanas, raisins, currants, mixed candied peel, and chopped apricots]

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup desiccated unsweetened coconut

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 1/2 cups chopped almonds

2 TBS mixed spice

4 TBS ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt for extra seasoning [optional]

6 TBS unrefined organic virgin coconut oil

1/2 cup organic maple syrup

2/3 cup coconut palm sugar

2 TBS natural almond or vanilla extract [almond is my favourite!]

Stir together all dry ingredients.  Melt coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut palm sugar, and almond extract over low heat and stir thoroughly into the oat and nut mixture.

Divide between two cookie tins covered in baking paper.  Bake in a warm oven at gas mark 2/300F/150C for 20-25 minutes.  Stir every ten minutes.

Allow to cool before packing away into cellophane bags for giving away, or into jars to freeze or keep. This granola freezes well! 

To serve, use about 1/4 cup granola per person.  Eat with fresh fruit [chopped bananas --mmm!] and either plain yoghurt or rice/coconut/almond milk.

For more ideas about homemade or eco-friendly things you can make or do, visit Beth's blog and follow the links on her Green Resource post: