Homemade Crunchy Granola

The holiday gift giving season has arrived. Stores are packed with items hoping you will purchase them to give to your family and friends. Mailboxes are overflowing with offers. While buying gifts is nice, making homemade ones is better. Something is very special about a gift someone took time to make. It is a thoughtful expression of appreciation to those on the receiving end. One easy gift to make and give is homemade crunchy granola.

How to gift wrap granola? Put it in mason jars, tie a ribbon around the tops and you are done. You can also tie a small decorative or wooden spoon to it as an extra gift. Another idea is to put the jar in a pretty small bowl and cover it with clear cellophane wrap. Gather the wrap at the top and tie with a ribbon. The great thing about mason jars is they have so many uses beyond canning. Here are a few:

• Storage for small items such a buttons
• Pen and pencil holder
• Flower vase
• Drinking glasses
• Storage for food (pantry or leftovers)

How is the homemade crunchy granola? Well, it’s crunchy. It’s filled with oats, wheat germ, coconut, dried fruits, nuts, and chocolate covered candies. Using seasonal colored candies makes it great for the holidays. The small amount of melted chocolate candies in the mix adds an extra heavenly smell when it is baking. The flavor from it is subtle. It is a great snack and can also be used as a topping for yogurt or ice cream.

Do you make homemade gifts? I’ve made many over the years including Monster Cookies Mix, Rocky Road, Tiger Butter, Spiced Pecans, and Fantastic Fudge. All of them can be packaged or stored in mason jars. You can also find some more fabulous recipes and gift ideas by talented bloggers below. We have come together to thanks to Heather at girlichef, our host for this Handcrafted Holidays event featuring Freund Container products. Take a look and get ready to be inspired:

Handcrafted Holiday ideas for making gifts from your kitchen using products from Freund Container:

• Candy Cookies in a Jar from Alida’s Kitchen
• Chai Tea Blend from Curious Cuisiniere
• Flavored Sea Salts {DIY} from girlichef
• Homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Homemade Coffee Liqueur from Cooking for My Peace of Mind
• Homemade Crunchy Granola from Magnolia Days
• Homemade Flavored Simple Syrups from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• Homemade Mexican Hot Sauce from Juanita’s Cocina
• Homemade Steak Sauce from The View from Great Island

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Homemade Crunchy Granola

A recipe for homemade crunchy granola made with oats, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate covered candies.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings 10 cups

Author Renee

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 2 1/2 cups candy coated chocolates like M&M's, divided
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 1/2 cups wheat germ
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup dried fruit
• 1/2 cup choppped pecans
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Arrange oven racks to upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Lightly grease two 13- X 18- X 1-inch baking sheets.
2. Add coconut oil, 1/2 cup chocolates, and water to a small saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until coconut oil and chocolates are melted. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
3. Combine oats, coconut, wheat germ, brown sugar, fruit, pecans, walnuts and salt in a large bowl.
4. Pour melted chocolate mixture over dry ingredients. Stir to combine (will look slightly moistened).
5. Divide mixture in half and spread evenly on baking sheets.
6. Bake for 60 minutes (1 hour), stirring mixture and rotating pans every 20 minutes during baking.
7. Cool granola completely in the pans. Once cooled, stir in remaining 2 cups chocolates. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

A recipe for homemade crunchy granola made with oats, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate covered candies.

Recipe adapted from Southern Living 1984 Annual Recipes cookbook (out of print).

Freund Container & Supply has been helping build businesses since 1938 as the largest distributor of glass bottles, containers and wholesale packaging supplies online. Freund offers over 5,000 items in stock every day, 98% same day shipping and low-price guarantees. Take a look at Freund’s wide selection of jars, tins, bottles and vials for all your crafting and food related needs!

Disclosure: I received a case of jars for making this project from Freund Container at no charge. I was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated or contained within a guest post.