I just have to share an inexpensive granola
recipe that I think is the BEST! The original recipe came from the HillbillyHouse Wife (almost to the bottom of the page, Raw brown Sugar Granola), years ago. I have tweaked it for my family, doubled it and have
made it using 3 different “fats”: margarine, butter or organic coconut oil. Coconut oil is my
favorite followed extremely closely by butter. I know margarine is not at all
healthy but there are times it is the only thing I can afford and I realize
others are in the same situation.
I will post the recipe 2 ways, one with butter
or margarine and the other with coconut oil.
The Best Granola 1:
- 1 cup
butter or margarine (2 sticks), coconut oil
- 1-1/2
cup brown sugar (NOT packed, just lightly spoon into measuring cup)
- 1/2
cup water
- 1/2
teaspoon sea salt
- 1-2 Tablespoons
cinnamon
- 9-10
cups rolled oats
In
a large 5 quart saucepan melt the butter or margarine, sugar, water and salt
together over medium heat. Stir it well until all the sugar is melted (2 or 3
minutes should be enough).. Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the
cinnamon until well mixed then add your oats and stir. You want to coat the
oats with the brown sugar and margarine, so keep stirring until everything is
moistened. Divide the granola onto 2 cookie sheets, the kind with sides. Bake it
at 350° for 10 -15 minutes. Check after 10 minutes, the sides should be a nice
golden brown. If it isn’t put in for another 2-5 minutes, watch carefully.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow the granola to cool right there in the
pan. In the winter, I leave it in the oven with the oven door cracked open.
This warms the house and cools the granola. When the granola is cool, break it
up into small pieces and transfer it to clean coffee can, or other type of
canister. I use a Rubbermaid container that is made to store bread. This makes 20- 1/2c servings.
The Best
Granola 2:
- 1 cup organic unrefined coconut oil
- 1 cup
PACKED brown sugar
- 1/2
cup water
- 1/2
teaspoon salt
- 2+
Tablespoons cinnamon
- 9-10
cups rolled oats
Follow the same directions as above; cooking
time may be a little longer. For both recipes, the granola will be soft when
warm; it hardens when cooled.
The granola I make uses a lot more cinnamon
than the original recipe called for and less brown sugar. I have used both
quick oats and old fashioned with great success. They each have a different taste
and texture. Since I also make my own yogurt and strain it, I have quite a bit
of whey in the refrigerator and freezer. In place of the 1/2c water I have
substituted 1/2c whey and no one has noticed. You can always add 1 cup nuts and or 1 cup raisins to the cooled granola, but I’ve
never found a need to do so.
This granola is cheaper than store bought and
my kids prefer it. Most the ingredients I get at Aldi’s: Oats (42 oz) $2.19,
brown sugar (2#) $1.29, and cinnamon (4.25 oz) $1.00. I buy Kroger’s Value margarine
(1#) $.65 and I buy my butter at whatever store has it on sale for around $2.00
a pound. The cheapest place I have found for Coconut Oil is Amazon. I don’t
have a Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or something similar to compare their prices.
My favorite brand of Coconut Oil is Nutiva and I usually pay $.50 an oz.
Approximate cost
for 20 (2 oz) servings: $2.20 or $.11 serv. (margarine), $3.00 or $.15 serv. (Butter), $6.00 or $.30 serv. (coconut oil). Even with
the expensive coconut oil the granola is cheaper than most granola cereals,
unless you buy on sale with coupons. Plus you control the ingredients.
If you try this,
let me know how you like it and any changes you make.
