Christmas Granola Recipe

First of all, I can’t take any credit for this delicious recipe – I owe it all to Ina. This granola recipe has been a Christmas staple in our house for years and it is my favorite gift to give to neighbors and friends, but is also my first to-do on Christmas morning! There is something so special about homemade granola. So cozy and warm and it kind of feels like a big hug.

I don’t know about you but I loveee granola. I am really picky when it comes to the texture and taste {no soggy granola here!} and the elements of this recipe are the perfect compliment to the season. We pair ours with greek yogurt and honey on Christmas morning, but you can usually catch me eating handfuls throughout the day. The coconut gets so toasty and the tart cherries are the perfect sweetness. Honestly, make this tomorrow morning to enjoy through the weakend and then make it on Christmas morning with your family. It will make your entire home smell like Christmas and is so easy. Here’s what you’ll need:

4 cups of rolled oats
2 cups of sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups of dried cherries, chopped
2 cups of sweetened shredded coconut {I prefer large shreds!}
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup of good honey
2 tablespoons of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, toss together the oats, almonds, cherries, and coconut. Pour the canola oil and the honey over the oat mixture. Add the cinnamon and mix all of the ingredients together with a wooden spoon until the oat mixture is evenly coated! I sometimes like to add about 1 more teaspoon of cinnamon at this point. Pour onto a sheet pan and pat down until even. Cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally with a spatula {I usually do this every 10 minutes} until the mixture is a nice golden brown color. You’ll start to smell the toasted coconut and the sweet cherries mixed with the cinnamon – yum! Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Enjoy!

*Note: If you buy these items in bulk from a specialty store, this will cost you nearly nothing!