healthy homemade granola

i've always loved trying new flavors of granola at the grocery store. but what's even better, i've had fun experimenting in the kitchen and making flavor combinations of my own. 

not only is homemade granola so easy to make, but i can control the amount of sugar and additives that go into it. i've slimmed down on the sugar with this recipe by adding just a touch of maple syrup and brown sugar. most of the sweetness comes from the dried fruit.

healthy homemade granola

ingredients:

• 3 cups rolled oats [not quick oats]
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, raw
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, raw
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, grade a
• 1/4 cup canola oil 
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1/4 cup dried goji berries

preheat the oven to 350 F. line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. combine the first 7 ingredients in a bowl. in a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients and sugar - maple syrup, vanilla extract, canola oil, and brown sugar. mix to fully incorporate. pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix to fully coat. pour the granola mixture onto the parchment paper and spread out across the cookie sheet. bake in the oven for 24 minutes, until golden brown. flip and stir half-way through the cooking.

remove and let cool. the granola will harden as it cools. once cooled, transfer to an airtight container and fold in all the dried fruit. enjoy!