Homemade Granola

I tried making a healthy granola bar per Steve's request but it didn't stick like it was supposed to but it turned out to be his favorite cereal ever. My mom likes it, too!! I enjoy it with my yogurt. Check out the original recipe here.

Ingredients

• 11/2 cups quick oats
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 2/3 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
• 3 tbsp light brown sugar
• 11/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1-2 cup puffed rice cereal
• 1/4 cup raisins or crasins
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.
2. Spread the oats, walnuts and almonds onto prepared baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 7 minutes. Add coconut and toss well, then place back in the oven to cook about 6-8 minutes more. Keep an eye on it towards the end; you want the coconut to turn golden but not burn.
3. In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir with a whisk until the brown sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat and set aside.
4. Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees. Combine the the oat mixture, honey mixture and rice cereal in a large bowl and toss well. (Reserve aluminum foil.)
5. Use the reserved foil to line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, then spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Turn granola bar mixture out into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly, being careful not to press down too hard. Bake for 20 minutes (be sure heat is reduced to 300 degrees). Remove from the oven and cool completely, about 1-1½ hours. 

If you used only 1 cup of cereal it may become more of a granola bar. I use more so it's more of a granola for cereal. The last time I made it, I had to break it apart a bit but still had the same great taste!