When the holiday season rolls around each year, I’m always looking for a yummy treat to give to friends and family and the other dearhearts who give so much to me throughout the year. This year I decided to try something different, something I’ve never made before. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making granola so when Planters offered to send me some of their nuts to try in a recipe, I was totally on board.
After a little research I decided to go with a recipe I found at the National Peanut Board website. It sounded really good and not too complicated. I followed the recipe pretty closely, making only a few minor changes which I’ll share below. You’ll also find a printable copy of the recipe at the end of this post.
I gathered all my ingredients together; only thing missing in this photo is the apple juice which was still chillin’ in the freezer.
To start, preheat your oven to 250 degrees fahrenheit. Coat a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, mix together 2 cups of rolled oats and 1 cup of wheat flakes.
Next add 1/4 cup of thawed, apple juice concentrate, 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of peanut oil. (Thawed apple juice, brown sugar and cinnamon pictured below.)
After adding in all the above ingredients including the peanut oil, stir mixture well until oats and wheat flakes are evenly coated.
Spread your granola mixture on your cookie sheet and pop it into your preheated oven. Bake the mixture stirring and turning it over every 10-15 minutes. Stirring will help it brown more evenly. While the wheat flakes and oats are baking, chop up all the dried fruits into small, bite-size pieces. I had them all ready by the time the granola was done baking. From left to right below are: Planters nuts, dried figs, dried apricots and dried apple rings.
Here’s how the oat/wheat mixture looked after browning for approximately 55 minutes. The cooking spray worked well and nothing stuck to the pan.
The recipe called for peanuts and I did use some, but I mainly used Planters mixed nuts and cashews. They contain all of my favorites: cashews, almonds, pecans and pistachios.
Once the wheat/oat mixture was completely cooled, I stirred in my fruits and nuts. I chopped up the larger nuts like the almonds and brazil nuts into smaller pieces before adding those in.
After giving my granola a thorough taste test or five, 😉 I filled some cute little jars found in my local dollar store. With a little added ribbon or embellishment, these would make great hostess gifts, teacher’s gifts or gifts for neighbors or co-workers.
This recipe would also be great served as an appetizer for a party or as a snack anytime. It’s always nice to have something healthy around to snack on when you’re rushing during the holidays. Granola and nuts are definitely some of my fave go-to snacks since they are loaded with the good fats, great fiber and vitamins.
The little ramekins are from the dollar store and were packaged in sets of 3 for $1. I thought they would be so cute for serving this granola at a party or holiday gathering? This is such an easy way to have something ready for guests to munch on when they first arrive for a holiday party.
The recipe didn’t specify how many servings it made but it appeared to be around 10 snack-size servings.
One tip: The recipe says to bake the wheat and oat mixture for 45-60 minutes. At 45 minutes, mine didn’t look that brown, but 10 minutes later it was quite brown. So the last 15 minutes of the cooking time is when you need to really be keeping a close watch.
Below you’ll find the recipe for this granola and the only change I made was using Planters mixed nuts in addition to peanuts. I think the mixed nuts really take this recipe up a notch or two! #GoNuts
Fruit and Nut Granola
Ingredients
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup wheat flakes
- 1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate thawed
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons peanut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup chopped dried figs
- 1/4 cup chopped dried apple rings
- 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
- 1 cup peanuts mixed nuts or cashews
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250-degrees F.
- Coat a cookie sheet or jelly-roll pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine the oats, wheat flakes, apple juice concentrate, brown sugar, oil and cinnamon.
- Mix well.
- Spread the oat mixture out onto the prepared pan.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Check on granola often during last 15 minutes of baking; granola is done when golden brown.
- Let mixture completely cool.
- Once mixture has cooled stir in the figs, apples, apricots and nuts.
- Granola will keep for up to two weeks when stored in an air-tight container.
Have you ever made your own granola? Do you have a favorite recipe you especially love?
I have been selected by Kraft Foods to try their Planters Nuts in a recipe of my choosing. While I have been compensated for my time, my opinions are all my own.
Who wouldn’t want a pretty jar of your granola. I would put that in a fancy glass with some yogurt and have it for breakfast.
That sounds so good right now, Madonna! 🙂
I always give some type of food to friends at Christmas: fudge, cookies, seasoned crackers, etc. This sounds like a good choice for this year. Your decorated jars are adorable and a good buy. Plus, this recipe sounds good and easy. You’re the champ!
Thanks, Linda!
I love granola and yes, of course I make it! Let me know if you’d like my favorite recipe. A chef at the Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC shared his recipe with me…seriously! I’d been staying at the hotel and couldn’t get enough of the granola. I kept inquiring about buying some to take home but it wasn’t package for sale. One of the hotel managers took my name and address. One week later I got a package with a bag of granola and the chef’s recipe! Happy to share it if you like it.
My second favorite recipe (and I don’t have it but wish I did), is from Homeboy Industries Bakery in LA. Homeboy Industries is an organization that helps former gang members transform their lives and the bakery helps provide much needed employment. The granola (and other baked goods) can be found at specialty stores all around LA. Unbelievably good and for a good cause!
I would definitely love the recipe, Cheryl! Thanks so much for offering to share it. What a great hotel to send that to you after you had left…so rare to see that level of service these days.
What’s the recipe?? I loved their granola!!!
Susan,
I love granola! Actually, it is my daily breakfast meal!
(Sundays excepted, when I eat a whole-grain roll and a boiled egg…) 🙂
So healthy and fiber-rich!
I, too, mix my “own” granola by adding dried fruits, hazelnuts, seeds (especially roasted pumpkin seeds which help to prevent cystitis) and raisins to wheatflakes and rolled oats in a bowl of semi skimmed milk.
Plus, I always have a müsli bar in my handbag! So much healthier than fast food! 😉
~Hugs to you~
Cecilia
That sounds delicious, Cecilia! I’ve been adding this granola to a little milk for breakfast and love it that way, too.
Yum! That sounds good! I never thought of using wheat flakes, what a good idea. I make granola occasionally, too. My recipe uses the same baking method, time and temperature as yours. I like to add my nuts before baking so they are also toasted. I mostly used sliced almonds, but now I want to try it with mixed nuts. At first, I wondered if the softer nuts, like cashews, would be overdone, but I remembered that I use them in Chex Mix (with the same cooking method) and they’re just fine. Recently, I made the recipe with coconut oil and it gave the granola a very mild taste of coconut in the background. We liked it. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I always love picking up new ideas from you!
Renee, I love the idea of adding the nuts in at the beginning and letting them get toasted…that sounds so good! I’m definitely trying that next time. Thanks for the tip about the coconut oil. I really like coconut in desserts so I know I would like some of that flavor in the granola, as well. Love all these great ideas and tips!
Looks so yummy! The toasted nuts do it for me. Such a nice and delicious gift.
Thanks, Peggy! Yeah, I love that, too. 🙂
Susan, this is a great recipe–it’s healthy and easy. Also thanks to the readers for the toasted nuts and the yogurt topping ideas.
It was easy to make, thanks M!
Yum! That sounds like something I’d like to try~after all, I live about 20 miles from the town that hosts the National Peanut Festival! At times, I can smell the processing plant that makes peanut oil…when the wind is right.
I do love me some granola and this would make a great Christmas gift for hubby’s coworkers. Hmmm…
Denise, what state do you live in? Georgia is known for peanuts too…well, that and peaches.
Ah yes, Jimmy Carter, Georgia yep. Love dem peaches! I live in Alabama 20 miles from Dothan which has a National Peanut Festival every year (just finished up with that not too long ago). It’s kinda like a state fair, music, fairgrounds, food (they have a cooking contest also, featuring peanuts of course!) arts and crafts, show livestock, etc.
One of the fun things they have are caricatures of peanuts scattered around town dressed up in various costumes. Some are quite creative and very amusing~~I think I saw an Elvis the other day. Pretty sure I did. I wasn’t drinking or anything, honest! LOL!
That’s so funny about the caricatures! lol That would make a funny post, showing all the different peanuts. 🙂
Well now, you’ve thrown down the gauntlet! I’ll hafta get my kids to help me, cuz I’m hopeless with anything to do with tech skills…luckily my kids are purty smart. Must take after their Dad~~
🙂 Can’t wait to see it!
I most likely would use the Planters Healthy Nuts and leave the peanuts out. Time to get those recipes out.
Dearest Susan,
Your recipe sounds tasty! You always make your photos so warm and inviting, it’s as if we are standing in your kitchen helping you make this. Love seeing the step by step process and the charming end products! Festive napkins and all.
I want to share with you one of my favorite granola recipes.
3 cups uncooked regular oats
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Preheat oven to 350°. Toss together oats, peanuts, and coconut in a large bowl. Cook peanut butter, brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat 3 minutes or until smooth. Stir peanut butter mixture into oat mixture until blended. Spread mixture in a single layer on a lightly greased, aluminum foil-lined 17- x 12-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly golden, stirring after 10 minutes. Transfer to wax paper, and cool completely (about 20 minutes). Sprinkle raisins and chocolate morsels into the mixture. Serve with yogurt.
Hope you will try this one too… enjoy the holidays!
Lisa
Thanks so much for the recipe, Lisa. It sounds really yummy, especially with the chocolate addition! 🙂
I love making granola and using add some almond milk to it and make a warm cereal. The addition of the whole wheat flakes is very different and I will try this recipe the next time I make some. Thank you!
That sounds really good, Sandra…having it with almond milk. Yum!
Delish dish!!! franki