G R A N O L A(including a pumpkin spice variation!)

Over the past several months, I have gotten into the habit of making granola on a regular basis. It's a delicious breakfast that both my husband and I enjoy served with milk or over greek yogurt. I have shared in my instagram stories about making it, and had some people asked for the recipe. Well, ask and you shall receive! Here's my standard granola recipe, followed by a scrumptious pumpkin spice variation to celebrate autumn.

// G R A N O L A //

// INGREDIENTS //

4 cups oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1 cup almonds

1 cup pecans

1/2 cup honey

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (Fahrenheit). Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

Meanwhile, in a microwave safe container, warm the honey and coconut oil for 45 seconds in the microwave. Mix well. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and stir until combined.

Pour the warmed honey mixture over the granola and stir until the oats mixture is well-coated.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread mixture evenly onto the lined baking sheet.

Bake the granola in your preheated oven for 7 minutes. Remove the baking sheet and gently toss the granola to ensure even baking. Return the baking sheet to the oven for another 7 minutes or until the granola is golden brown.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Allow the granola to cool completely before storing it in an air-tight container.

Serve with your favorite milk or top a bowl of yogurt with a few generous spoonfuls. We enjoy adding dried cranberries to ours - delicious! Fresh fruit would be yummy, too.

As for my pumpkin spice variation...

// PUMPKIN SPICE GRANOLA INGREDIENTS //

4 cups oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

3 Tablespoons flaxseed

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup honey

2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon pumpkin spice

Otherwise, simply follow the instructions as directed above. On a cool autumn morning, a bowl of this granola with a cup of warm coffee is enough to make me smile. Hope it will make you + yours smile, too.

Enjoy!