The easy way to make homemade granola bars

How to save money all year round is as easy as making gifts to give. Homemade granola is a unique gift idea that is fun to make, give, and receive.

Homemade granola makes a wonderfully personal gift. Packaged in decorative old-fashioned canning jars or in plain canning jars with a pretty themed fabric swatch cover, these beautiful homemade gifts show how much you care.

Another really inexpensive way of dressing up homemade Granola gifts is to package them in gorgeous paper bags like those where seasonal and party goods are sold. You can make it look perfect for Valentine’s for example buy wrapping in a bag covered in hearts!

Easy homemade granola recipes are delicious, nutritious high-fibre cereals that taste good on their own, with milk, or sprinkled on yoghurt and ice cream. Whether given away as gifts or kept for bed-time snacking right out of the bag or jar, homemade granola is always a special treat.

Basic Granola Recipe

Ingredients:

This recipe is so easy you don’t even need scales!

• 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut, flaked or shredded (sweetened may be substituted if necessary)
• ¾ cup wheat germ
• ¾ cup almonds, sliced
• 2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• ½ cup dry skimmed milk
• ¼ cup of vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup honey

Instructions:

1. Prepare a roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray or vegetable shortening and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 160°C/ 325°F.
3. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the first six ingredients.
4. Add the oil and honey to the bowl by first measuring the oil and swirling it around in the cup. This will allow the honey, measured in the same cup, to pour easily out of the cup.
5. Stir ingredients again so that the oil and honey are thoroughly distributed.
6. Evenly spread the granola mixture in the roasting pan.
7. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven, stirring every five minutes.
8. Granola will be done when golden and nicely toasted; in about 15 to 20 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before storing in jars or other air-tight containers.

Basic Granola Variations

Many healthy variations of the basic granola recipe can be made by adding any favourite fruits, nuts, and spices. Some tasty examples are offered below.

Apple-Cinnamon Granola Recipe

When preparing dry ingredients, mix in 1½ cups chopped dried apples and 6½ teaspoons cinnamon.

Nutty Buddy Granola Recipe

Reduce oats by 1¾ cups. Add 1 cup peanuts or almonds, ¼ cup sesame seeds, and ½ cup toasted sunflower seeds to the dry ingredients.

Tutti Frutti Granola Recipe

Mix in 1½ cups of any combination of favorite dried fruits to the basic recipe’s dry ingredients. Consider additions such as chopped pitted dates, apricots, raisins, currants, cherries, and cranberries.

Maple Granola Recipe

Substitute maple syrup for the honey.

Super Deluxe Granola Recipe

Reduce oats by 1½ cups, and add 1½ cups of a favorite dried fruit, plus a total of 1½ cups of any combination of the following:

• Cashew Halves and Pieces
• Chopped Filberts or Hazelnuts
• Chopped Pecans
• Chopped Walnuts
• Peanuts
• Sesame Seeds
• Sunflower Seeds