Apple Cinnamon Granola

My breakfast rotation has just received a shake up. Welcoming to the lineup Apple Cinnamon Granola served over a big bowl of plain yogurt. We all know plain yogurt is crap healthy for us and this just adds a whole other layer of healthiness and makes choking down eating plain yogurt that much more rewarding to your waist line and your taste buds.

If you want to torture yourself you can do what I did. I had this toasting up in the oven while I broke a sweat on the treadmill jumping off only long enough to wash my hands and stir the granola every half hour. The aroma of cinnamon filled the air and the oven warmed our tiny apartment making the aroma that much more intense. I planned my workout and shower to end right about the time the granola finally had a chance to fully cool down so I could eat it afterward. Such a rewarding treat!

This was my first time making granola and this came out perfectly crunchy and sweet. The best part were the walnuts with some of the oats stuck to the outside from the applesauce and brown sugar. For this being my first granola recipe I can happily say I'd be happy if this becomes the only one I make. Sure, that would be boring so I could see how swapping the applesauce for other fruit purees could work and switching up the dried fruits as well would prevent this granola rotation from becoming tiresome. Whatever floats your boat! Make yourself and your taste buds happy. It's such a versatile recipe so make it your own.

Making homemade granola is much lighter on the budget than purchasing premade mixes. It is also simple to prepare with easy cleanup. What more could you ask for in a recipe? The fact that it is a Cooking Light recipe should be a perk as well.

Apples and cinnamon are a winning combination and you can't beat that nutty-apple cinnamon taste on a cold winter's day.

Apple Cinnamon Granola

MyRecipes.com and Cooking Light, November 2005

Makes 6 cups (Serving size = 1/2 cup)



Stars of the Show:

• 3 cups regular oats
• 1 cup Cheerios
• 1/3 cup oat bran cereal
• 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• cooking spray
• 1 cup chopped dried apples

And Action:

Preheat the oven to 250°.

Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl and stir well to combine.

Melt 2 tbsp butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the applesauce, honey, and brown sugar to the pan and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute stirrinf frequently. Pour the applesauce mixture over the oat mixture stirring to coat. Spread mixture evenly over a baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake at 250° for 1 1/2 hours stirring every 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely. Stir in the chopped dried apples.

Store the Apple Cinnamon Granola in an airtight container for up to one week.

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 196 (27% from fat)

Fat: 5.8g (sat 1.4g,mono 1.6g,poly 2.2g)

Protein: 4.4g

Carbohydrate: 35g

Fiber: 4g

Cholesterol: 5mg

Iron: 2.2mg

Sodium: 128mg

Calcium: 28mg