Dana's Homemade Granola

I've adjusted this recipe over and over and I thinks it's just about perfect.  This is so versatile and easy to make. 

Update 1/4/2025 - Today I made the Grain-Free version found below the original recipe.  I found some at Costco that my diet allowed and is very addicting but extremely spendy so I adjusted my recipe below according to the ingredient list on the bag from Costco.  It was a success on the first try!  A couple week later I made a few small adjustments.

Recipe:

1/2 cup oil
6 tablespoons whey or water
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup sucanut or dark brown sugar or a little more
6 cups rolled grain, any type or a mix
4 cups nuts and seeds (sesame, sunflower, almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.)
2 tablespoons whole grain flour, any type
2 tablespoons raw wheat germ
2 tablespoons wheat bran
1 cup flaked coconut, any kind
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 cups dried fruit (optional)

Blend honey and oil in saucepan. Heat on low to dissolve honey, add whey and whisk to combine. Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl and mix. Pour syrup over ingredients in bowl and stir thoroughly. Spread granola out on two half sheets. Bake 225°F for 1 1/4 hours, alternating pans on middle shelf and shelf just above half way through and stirring every 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave pans in oven until cool for a few hours. You can add the fruit after you remove it from the oven.  Makes approximately 12 cups.

Dana's Grain-Free Version:

32 grams (about 2 tablespoons) coconut oil

30 grams (about 2 tablespoons) water

150 grams (about 1/2 cup) honey

300 grams (about 2 cups) very finely processed almonds (not quite to flour)

30 grams almond flour

250 grams (about 2 cups) finely processed pecans (tiny chunks)

120 grams (less than 1 cup) whole sunflower seeds

50 grams (about 1/2 cup) medium coconut flakes

30 grams hemp hearts (optional)

1/2 + 1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

30 grams (about 1/2 cup) x-large flaked coconut

Dried fruit (optional), stirred in after it's baked and cooled

Combine oil, water and honey together in saucepan and heat over low just until melted.  Combine everything else together well except vanilla, x-large coconut and dried fruit. Stir vanilla into the melted oil and honey and then stir it all into the dry ingredients until well combined.  Carefully stir in x-large coconut. Spread onto two parchment-lined sheet pans and bake at 225°F for 1 hour (don't stir), switching pans after 45 minutes. Turn oven off but leave pans in oven until cool.  Stir in dried fruit if using.  (Makes approximately 6 cups)