Good granola is a great foodie experience. The best granola I have ever had is from the kitchens of moms, dads, and college students. Homemade granola just tastes REAL. You can taste the nuts, the oats, the fruit, and the spices. All the ingredients are not overpowered by added sugar (or dried fruit with added sugar). For a more decadent treat, you can drizzle agave over the granola, or add shredded coconut, currants and other dried fruit to the top. This can be served as a dessert!
Granola
- 2 cups almonds
- 1 cup macadamia nuts
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Place nuts and seeds in a large bowl, cover with water and soak overnight
- Place raisins in a separate bowl, cover with (½ to 1 cup) water and soak overnight
- Place the raisins, along with their soaking water in a food processor and puree until smooth
- In a fine mesh metal strainer, drain and rinse the nuts and seeds and discard the soaking water
- Add nuts and seeds to raisin puree in food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped, to the consistency of granola, then add vanilla, cinnamon and salt and pulse briefly to incorporate these final ingredients
- Transfer mixture onto two large parchment lined baking sheets
- Bake 45 minutes in the oven at 250°
- Serve