Molasses Maple Granola - Big Batch! (Can Be Reduced!)
Got a craving for blackstrap molasses...high in calcium, iron & potassium. Got to thinking about the molasses horsefeed we used to dig through to find lumps of oat & cracked corn covered molasses to knaw on ...MMMmmmmm...Therefore made this big batch up for self-serve breakfasts while travelling on contract (& to know DH will not be looking for the super saturated sugary cereals in my absence - LOL). After thoroughly cooled, I bag in gallon freezer bags & freeze until wanted - I fill bags about 1/2 full & express as much air as possible before freezing. Blackstrap is a robust taste & I am sure a lighter grade would work well but not be as nutritious. I would also increase salt to 1 teaspoon if using a lighter grade molasses. The nuts are purchased raw, not preroasted if possible. I like to use sultanas, raisins, currants, chopped dates & figs, dried blueberries or cherries, depending on what I have onhand.
INGREDIENTS
Nutrition- 13
- 3
- 3
- 3cups pumpkin seeds
- 1cup flax seed
- 2cups unsulfured blackstrap molasses
- 1 1⁄2cups maple syrup
- 1⁄3cup brown sugar
- 1⁄2cup vanilla
- 1⁄2cup peanut oil
- 1⁄4cup water
- 2tablespoons cinnamon
- 1teaspoon nutmeg
- 1⁄2teaspoon sea salt
- 3cups dried fruit, your choice
DIRECTIONS
- In a LARGE bowl, mix oats, flax, nuts & coconut.
- In a second bowl, mix all wet ingredients, including cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar & salt. Mix until blended with spatula or wooden spoon.
- Pour wet onto dry and stir thoroughly. Stir, stir & stir.
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Line cookie sheets (the sided kind) with aluminum foil & layer granola onto prepared sheets about 1/2 inch thick. Multiple sheets allow cooking to go faster.
- Toast 30 minutes, stirring once.
- Remove from oven & cool (I use another cookie sheet & put 1/2 of toasted mix on it to speed cooling.
- Repeat until granola all toasted.
- When cooled, return to original BIG mixing bowl & add dried fruit of choice & mix thoroughly. Alternatively, leave fruit out & add at serving time (harder for me to remember).
- Bag in amounts that are workable for you & freeze until used. May recrisp 5 minutes in 300 degree oven if it softens with storage.