Cranberry Granola Clusters

Ingredients

Yield:

1 kg

• • 1lb old fashioned oats
  • 3 cups coarsely chopped raw nuts and / or seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups homemade dried cranberries (link to recipe below)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

Difficulty:

Easy

Time:

30 MinutesPreparation

Total Time:

20 MinutesCooking

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
   2. In a food processor, grind half of the oats to a fine powder, as this is the trick to getting the clusters to hold together
   3. In a large bowl, combine the whole oats, ground oats, nuts and seeds, spices, and dried cranberries
   4. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, honey, butter, maple syrup, and water
   5. Heat until the mixture starts to bubble
   6. Stir in salt and vanilla
   7. Pour contents of saucepan over the dry contents of the bowl
   8. The resulting mixture should be moist. If not, stir in a teaspoon or two of water
   9. Let stand for about 10 minutes
   10. Spread the mixture out on a large baking sheet and firmly press it down until it is packed nicely into the pan
   11. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown
   12. Remove from the oven and let cool
   13. Gently break up the mixture into medium-sized clumps
   14. Put back into the oven for another 10 minutes
   15. When the granola comes out of the oven, it should be golden brown, extra crunchy on the outside, and just slightly soft and chewy on the inside
   16. Let cool completely, then break it up into clusters and store in a covered container at room temperature