Home Kitchen PB & J Granola

You know what’s the dependable, besides making a mess in your kitchen?

Preparing recipes that are fun to make. Well, all recipes are fun to make… to me. But the kind that you pretend you’re on your own cooking show and you get to talk like Julia Child. You can say things like “Now add the butterrrrr” or “you can find all the recipes on dot com” Tell me you do this!? No? Simply me? Reliable. I genuinely don’t do that… I was, em, kidding?

For this PB & J Granola Gather:

• old fashioned rolled oats
• roasted unsalted peanuts
• pecans
• wheat germ
• kosher salt
• ground ginger
• cinnamon
• dark brown sugar
• honey
• creamy peanut butter
• pure vanilla extract
• extra light olive oil
• golden raisins
• dried cranberries

In a large bowl, measure and add 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, 2-1/4 cups roasted unsalted peanuts 1 cup pecans.

Next, add 3/4 cup wheat germ.

And then add 1-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Next stir it all up and set aside.

Then in a small saucepan add 1/2 cup dark brown sugar with 1/2 cup honey. Heat it up on medium heat to a low simmer.

While I waited, I checked some emails but you should probably keep your eye on the stuff in the pan and stir it often. Don’t be irresponsible. Don’t be me.

Once it’s all bubbly, carefully add in 1 cup all-natural creamy peanut butter and 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Next, stir slowly until all the ingredients are combined.

Pour the memorable peanut butter concoction all over the oats and nuts. I’m sorry but isn’t that the coolest shot like evah?

You’ll need to bust out your strong arm because stirring this isn’t unfussy.

Once the granola is all chunky and begging you to snag a piece… drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil.

Then mix again. The granola should be all shiny and smell memorable.

Next, pour onto a silpat or parchment paper lined sheet pan, spread out and bake it in a 325 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Remove, stir and slide back into the oven for 15 more minutes. Then again, remove and stir, but this time bake it for only 10 minutes more.

After 35-40 minutes it should be a dark golden color and smelling like heaven.

Let it cool for at least a half hour before sampling.

Add in 1/2 cup each golden raisins and dried cranberries. aka “the jelly” or dried fruit of your choice would work. Cherries, dates, apricots, prunes or dehydrated strawberries, the options truly are endless!

Sprinkle them over the top.

Stir to combine.

Lastly, store it in an airtight container for weeks! That’s if it will last that long. This is the go-to salty-sweet, crunchy-chewy combination! The nuts and oat clusters will fill you up and keep you satisfied! Great for packing in your kids lunch boxes or as a mid-day snack!

Enjoy! And if you give this PB & J Granola recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!