Crunchy Granola

Homemade is so much better than commercially made.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Yields: 6 cups

Ingredients

• 3  cups old fashioned oats
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced almonds
• 1⁄2 cup wheat germ
• 1⁄4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1⁄4 cup  oat bran
• 3 -4  tablespoons  packed light brown sugar or 3 -4  tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  freshly ground nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄2 cup  unsweetened apple juice or 1⁄2 cup apple cider
• 3 -4  tablespoons honey, warmed
• 1  tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°; butter or oil a baking sheet.
2. In a bowl, mix the first 10 ingredients together.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the apple juice, honey, vanilla, and butter together.
4. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients; toss well to mix.
5. Spread granola on the baking sheet; bake for approximately 45 minutes, stirring the granola well every 15 minutes, until it is a shade browner than it started and dry to the touch (it will become crisper as it cools).
6. Cool on the baking sheet, break up any large pieces; store in an airtight container.