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
Homemade Crunchy Granola
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
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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.
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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.
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Combine oats, coconut, wheat germ, brown sugar, fruit, pecans, walnuts and salt in a large bowl.
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Pour melted chocolate mixture over dry ingredients. Stir to combine (will look slightly moistened).
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Divide mixture in half and spread evenly on baking sheets.
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Bake for 60 minutes (1 hour), stirring mixture and rotating pans every 20 minutes during baking.
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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.
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
November 22, 2013 at 9:00 amYou know how much I love me some granola. This recipe looks fabulous. I always gift granola every holiday.
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:47 amI thought granola might catch your attention. I’ve seen some nice recipes for it on your blog.
Heather // girlichef says
November 22, 2013 at 9:18 amI love this, Renee – the holiday m&m’s are the perfect addition to give this crunchy granola a festive look! I could use some for breakie right now, actually…
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:46 amThanks Heather and I’m so glad you put this together. I love seeing the ideas and recipes.
Lane @ Supper for a Steal says
November 22, 2013 at 9:57 amI would choose the hot sauce bottles, I’m going to make my own this Christmas to give as gifts, hopefully!
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:45 amI like those hot sauce bottle too. Have fun making your Christmas gifts!
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
November 22, 2013 at 10:15 amThis granola sounds delicious! And I love that you tied a wooden spoon to the jar!
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:45 amI thought the spoon added a nice touch since you need a spoon for granola anyway.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
November 22, 2013 at 11:25 am1-delicious! 2-such a sweet gift!!
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:44 amThanks Kayle
Sue/the view from great island says
November 22, 2013 at 12:22 pmHow is it possible that I never thought of adding m&ms, my favorite candy, to granola? I love this!
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:44 amThanks Sue! Sometimes the easiest thing is so hard to think of and i don’t know why.
Sarah Grace says
November 22, 2013 at 3:01 pmI would choose one of the small 8oz jars so that I could make cute holiday mixes for gifts this year! Love this granola idea!
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:42 amI like the small 8oz jars too. They are nice for smaller mixes.
Holly says
November 22, 2013 at 4:49 pmI’d love to use this generous gift for mason jars or maybe the perfect container in which to make homemade vanilla extract. Thanks for the chance to win!
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:42 amHomemade vanilla extract is on my to-do list also. I need to get started on it because it takes a while to make.
Liz says
November 22, 2013 at 5:08 pmWhat a gorgeous way to give homemade granola! I would love to receive this as a holiday gift…you do have my address, don’t you? 😉
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:41 amThanks Liz and maybe someone will give you this as a gift.
Linda Montes says
November 22, 2013 at 11:25 pmMmmm, I love granola. I also like the glass spice jars. I saw on pinterest how to make dry mixes for dip and put in ornamental light bulbs, but I would think they would look nice in these glass spice jars.
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:40 amI’ll have to look up the dry mixes for dip in ornamental light bulbs on Pinterest. Sounds like a fun and unique gift idea.
MaryB says
November 23, 2013 at 12:58 amIs pick some 8 oz jars for gift mixes and maybe spice jars.
Renee says
November 23, 2013 at 6:39 amThat’s a nice selection for jars.
Stacy says
November 23, 2013 at 11:17 pmI’ve just been over to browse at the Freund Container store. Talk about a great selection! My mother is going to be thrilled because she was just telling me that she hasn’t been able to find the 1 quart Ball jars anymore – and there they are, in two shapes even.
Love that crunchy granola with M&Ms, Renee. What a wonderful gift idea!
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 4:21 pmGlad that you were able to find the jars for your mom. What a great gift it would be to give to her.
Marnee says
November 24, 2013 at 11:44 amI would pick the mason jars and fill them with cookie mix or homemade jams. Both would make quick and easy gifts. Thanks for sharing your granola recipe.
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 4:18 pmCookie mixes and homemade jams are great gifts.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
November 25, 2013 at 6:39 amThe addition of colored m&m’s is perfect for gift giving Renee! I make lists of homemade gifts to give every year, but they never materialize, lol! Will this be different? Let’s hope so.
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 4:07 pmHopefully you will have time to do homemade gifts this year. It’s been busy for you lately with your jobs and blogs and more.
Susan says
November 25, 2013 at 5:41 pmYou got me with the candy in the granola! I certainly wouldn’t mind a little of it with my morning yogurt.
Renee says
November 26, 2013 at 4:04 pmA little chocolate does wonders even in granola. What a way to start a day.
Megan says
December 12, 2013 at 8:21 pmI’ve been looking for a wooden spoon for just this exact gift for all my girlfriends this season. Where did you find this spoon?! (and I love the M&M idea.)
Renee says
December 13, 2013 at 12:55 pmThat wooden spoon was actually given to me years ago so I have no idea where it was purchased. I would look at craft fairs or stores like HomeGoods or Marshalls. I’ve seen wooden spoons there before.
Abi says
November 16, 2014 at 7:54 pmDo you think it would work to make these with Reese’s pieces? Or if I just added peanut butter into the chocolate mixture?
Renee says
November 17, 2014 at 9:23 amIt may work with Reese’s pieces or a little peanut butter. I haven’t tried it but it sounds like something to try.