The BEST granola E-V-E-R!

When Jenna posted about the amazing granola that she had at Miraval this summer I knew that I wanted to make it but I never remembered to get all of the ingredients while I was at the store. Today I decided that I was in a baking mood and made sure to look at the ingredients and add them to my grocery list.

Everything that you’ll need to make Miraval’s housemade granola

Ingredients: makes 11 cups (read: a boatload of granola!)

— 6 c. rolled oats
— 3 c. oat bran
— 1/4 c. pumpkin seeds
— 1/4 c. sunflower seeds
— 1 c. honey
— 1 vanilla bean, split in half with seeds scraped out
— 3 c. unsweetened apple juice
— 1/3 c. golden raisins
— 1/3 c. dried cherries
— 1/3 c. dried blueberries
— 1/3 c. chopped dried dates  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Mix the rolled oats and oat bran together in a large bowl and them spread them out evenly on two baking sheets. Toast for 5-8 minutes, or until golden.

2. On another baking sheet, spread out the pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Toast for five minutes, or until lightly browned.

3. In a small sauce pot, simmer the honey and vanilla seeds over low heat for five to seven minutes. Don’t know how to work with a vanilla bean? Check out my post on how to get the seeds out.

4. In another sauce pot, combine the apple juice and dried fruit for about five minutes or until soft. Drain.

5. In a large bowl, combine the oat mixture, seeds and dried fruit.

6. Stir in the warm honey and stir to coat as evenly as possible. Try not to spill the oats all over the table. Good luck.

7. Spread the oat mixture evenly onto two baking sheets and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every two minutes to prevent burning.

8. Cool granola completely and store in an airtight container.

Each pan fills up one whole quart jar – with plenty left over. I decided to try and freeze some of the granola. Fingers crossed that it’s good in a few weeks!