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Red Truck Bakery Granola

Source of Recipe

From "Red Truck Bakery Cookbook" by Brian Noyes


Recipe Introduction

"I want granola to have several layers of sweetness, a good crunch, and a real homemade taste — unlike anything available at a health food store — and it took a while to get this recipe just right. Each week, my neighbors smelled it wafting through my exhaust fan into their yards as I tried different variations (and they weighed in on their favorites after I left a bag on their doorstep as an apology). This hearty morning or snack-time favorite is packed with quick pick-me-up energy sources — chopped dates, golden raisins, dried blueberries, and cherries — as well as chunky proteins like walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds. The Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern says ours is the best granola in North America. Jane and Michael Stern of the wildly popular 'Roadfood' went one step further and called it the best anywhere in the world!"

List of Ingredients

â—¦ Nonstick cooking spray
â—¦ ¾ cup sweetened shredded coconut
â—¦ ½ cup sliced almonds
â—¦ ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
â—¦ ½ cup hulled sunflower seeds
â—¦ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
â—¦ ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
â—¦ ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
â—¦ ¼ cup canola oil
â—¦ ¾ cup pure maple syrup
â—¦ ¾ cup honey
â—¦ 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
â—¦ 4 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
â—¦ ½ cup dried blueberries
â—¦ ½ cup dried cherries
â—¦ ½ cup golden raisins
â—¦ ½ cup dark raisins
â—¦ ½ cup chopped dried dates


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 250° F. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, stir together the coconut, almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds.

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the salt, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix in the canola oil, maple syrup, honey, and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and combine thoroughly using your hands. Add the oats and combine thoroughly.

Spread the wet granola mixture over the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir. Bake for 15 minutes more and stir again. Use the bottom of a small saucepan to evenly flatten the granola. Bake for 10 minutes more, until the granola is a deep nut-brown color. Let cool completely.

Break the sheet of granola into small clusters into a large bowl. Add the dried blueberries, dried cherries, golden raisins, dark raisins, and dates and mix thoroughly, breaking up the clusters of granola into bite-size pieces. Store the granola in airtight containers or resealable bags at room temperature for up to a week.

Makes 12 cups