Spiced Vanilla Granola

This is based on a recipe from The Big Book of Vegetarian. I've been playing around with it to make it "chunkier" and more like a snack and less like a cereal. And I use whatever nuts, seeds or dried fruit I've got in the house.



4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup dried fruit (currants, cranberries, apricots, cherries)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 300F. Grease a large baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix the oats, nuts, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a small saucepan, combine the oil, maple syrup, and honey. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and dried fruit. Pour over the hot oat mixture; stir well. Toss the mixture until thoroughly combined.

Spread in the prepared baking pan. Bake, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the pan to a rack and let cool completely.

Makes about 9 cups.