Coconut Crunch Granola

I have been on the search for the "perfect" granola....not loaded with oil and sugar, but still nice and crunchy with lovely clusters.  I have tried several recipes, and think I have found a winner!  This one is a combination of My Bizzy Kitchen's Coconut Crunch Granola and PreventionRD's Sweet & Salty Olive Oil Granola Clusters.    This granola was so good, that I only have ONE picture to show for it!

This particular morning I enjoyed my granola with almond milk; other mornings I mixed it with my yogurt.  Not to mention all the times I just grabbed a handful while in the kitchen!

This is another recipe using coconut oil too.  The last few hours of the giveaway are going on right now!

Coconut Crunch Granola adapted from Biz & Nicole.  Thanks ladies!

Dry Ingredients - 

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup nuts (a mixture of almonds, pecans and walnuts)
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 2/3 cup mixed dried fruit (I used cranberries, cherries and blueberries)

Wet Ingredients - 

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup coconut oil 
• 1/2 cup sugar free pancake syrup
• 1/3 cup loose packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 300.  Put the dry ingredients in a large bowl (I did not add my fruit until the end).  Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl, making sure the brown sugar is incorporated.  Mix the two together and stir until well coated.

Line a baking sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking spray (or parchment paper can be used). Spread the granola mixture out in an even layer. Nicole baked hers for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, to get evenly browned. Biz cooked hers for 60 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes.  So I decided to cook mine for 55 minutes stirring every 15 minutes :)  However, 50 minutes was probably long enough since I almost overcooked mine! My nuts got a little singed.  (yes, I just said that. hahaha)  Keep in mind too, that it will crisp up as it cools.  I didn't have many clusters in mine, but I think the problem is that I used to large of a sheet pan, so everything was very spread out.  When I make this again, possible today! I am going to use a smaller pan to get all those nice clusters.  After my granola was finished and cooled slightly, I added my dried fruit.

Store granola in an airtight container and enjoy on your yogurt, ice cream, with milk...or just plain!  How do you like your granola?

I'm linking up this recipe at Homemaker on a Dime, Delightfully Dowling, Skip to my Lou, The Girl Creative,   Making the World Cuter