Grandma Erickson Granola

We all have that one recipe that is nostalgic! The one that brings memories flooding back into your heart and mind. My Grandma Erickson’s granola is that recipe for me. They say the sense that is most connected to memory is smell, and the smell of Grandma’s granola baking is heavenly. This hardy recipe is the perfect mix of crunch, chew and sweetness! This recipe is quite simple and really has 3 parts that we will go over: dry, wet and fruit. You can always jump down to the recipe for the quick down and dirty but I will share some helpful tips here!

The Dry Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, measure out your dry ingredients and mix them up. I prefer pecans as my nut of choice, but really you can use your favorite or what you have on hand! Make sure to chop your nuts well so they integrate into the recipe and are easy to eat. I also recommend using unsalted sunflower seeds. I have 2 recipes that call for wheat germ, and both come from a grandma! Once you open the wheat germ, store it in the fridge so it will keep longer.

The Syrup

This part of the recipe is the binder and all the sweet flavor! It is really quite simple. Add the water, olive oil, molasses, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon into a saucepan over low heat. Stir consistently over heat until the sugar dissolves. This takes about 5 minutes. Don’t allow the mixture to boil! This syrup is very thin. You do not need the mixture to thicken. Once your sugar is dissolved you can pour it over your dry ingredients and mix well! Now spread evenly onto a large baking sheet. I use a sheet cake pan so when I mix it, I don’t make a mess. Bake for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. If you you like it extra crunchy, add another 10-15 minutes of baking time.

The Dried Fruit

The original recipe from Grandma calls for dates and raisins. But really, you can use any dried fruit. I usually switch out the raisins for dried currents and keep the dates. I also like to add dried pineapple! You can get creative! Just plan to have about 2 full cups of some sort of dried fruit! Once your oat mixture is cooled, mix in the dried fruit.

Finished Product

Your granola is ready! I love to add mine to yogurt or just eat with milk like cereal. Make sure to store in an air tight container in a cool, dry place. For me, I make one large jar for us and one small jar for my Dad. It is his favorite. I love that I can continue to give him a little reminder of his Mom with this little treat. All my love to Grandma Erickson! Check out sweet treats for more recipes you don’t want to miss!

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Grandma Erickson’s Granola

The perfect homemade granola

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Course Breakfast, brunch, Dessert

Cuisine American

Equipment

• 1 large baking sheet
• 1 Large mixing bowl
• 1 large sauce pan

Ingredients

  

• 5 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1 cup pecans
• 1 cup raisins you can substitute any dried fruit
• 1 cup copped dates
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup oil I prefer olive oil
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees
• Mix items 1-4 in a large bowl (dry ingredients)
• In large saucepan combine items 7-14. Heat until sugar is dissolved but do not boil
• Pour syrup over dry ingredients and stir until well coated
• Spread into greased baking sheet
• Bake 30-45 minutes. Stirring every 15 minutes
• Bake an extra 15 minutes for more crunch – let cool
• Add raisins, dates and other dried fruit
• Put into airtight container and store in cool, dry place

Keyword cereal, granola, homemade, topping