1Tbsp coconut oil or a neutral flavored vegetable oil
1/4cuppeanut butter or other nut butteroptional
Touch of Sweetness
2tspmaple syrup or honey optional
Dried fruit (cranberries, apricots, blueberries, raisins, cherries, mango, etc.)optional
Seasonings
Pinch of sea salt
Generous sprinkle of cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using your hands, mix all of the ingredients on the baking sheet, making sure to coat the oats well with the oil or nut butter.
Spread out in an even layer on the baking sheet. You want the oats to stick to themselves to create nice clusters, but you don't want it so thick that they can't brown or get crunchy.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the granola is lightly browned and sticking together. It will harden as it cools, so take it out just a bit earlier than seems intuitive.
Don't touch the granola for at least an hour after removing it from the oven. Letting it sit undisturbed while it cools is what creates good crunch and nice clusters.
Notes
Oats are a gluten-free grain, but they are sometimes processed with products containing gluten and this contamination can be enough to trigger an immune response in those with high gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. If you are concerned about this, be sure to buy certified gluten-free oats.