Back when I worked as a cook in an addictions-recovery community, I made our breakfast granola from scratch. This stuff is incredible! It’s a cheap, healthy and delicious way to start off your day, not to mention the easiest recipe ever. The process of making granola also just happens to make the kitchen smell wonderful.

As usual, the portion sizes are for one or two people who desire to eat well on a low budget. My mission with recipe posts on this blog is to downsize the quantities to serve one or two people, and allow for refrigeration for later in the week.

This granola takes about 30-40 mins to make (plus cooling time), and should be refrigerated for up to 10 days once it cools.

Granola ready to be baked!

Delicious Homemade Granola

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter of your choice– PB works best)
• 4 tbsp butter (or other high-heat oil)
• 1/8-1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• Goodies of your choice! (e.g. chocolate chips, dried fruit, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, etc…)

Preheat the oven to 300F.

In a small saucepan/saucier over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the peanut butter and stir continuously until combined. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir to evenly combine, while making sure that the heat remains medium-low. You do not want the sugar to burn at the bottom.

Once the sugar has mostly melted (some visible grains are ok), remove the pan from the stove. In a heat-proof bowl, combine the oats and peanut butter mixture, making sure that all the oats are thoroughly coated.

Pour the granola into a baking pan and spread out the granola evenly. Place the baking pan into the oven and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, take out the pan and stir the mixture. If possible, “flip” the granola so that the other side can be toasted. Reinsert into the oven for another 10 minutes.

At this point, you can take out the granola and allow it to cool and harden. If you prefer a slightly toastier and nuttier flavor, stir the granola and bake for another 5-10 minutes. Be careful not to let it burn. Cool the granola to room temperature, approximately 20 minutes.

Once the granola has cooled completely, add your goodies of choice. This one has mixed nuts, dried fruit and dark chocolate chunks!