Makes: About 5 cups
Time: About 1 hour, largely unattended
If your favorite part of boxed cereal is the crunchy little clusters, this is the breakfast for you. Think of it as part granola, part cereal, and feel free to fool around with the flavors—use a different spice, use nut butter in place of the oil, or add some seeds—until it’s just how you like it. Eat it on its own or stir into Bran Flakes.
1. Heat the oven to 325°F and grease 2 baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
2. Use a food processor to grind 1½ cups of the oats into a flour. In a large bowl, combine the ground oats with the honey, oil, the cinnamon if you’re using it, and ¼ cup water. Stir in the remaining 4½ cups oats until they’re coated and the mixture is sticky; if it looks too dry, stir in a bit more honey. Spread the mixture evenly over the prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake, stirring occasionally to break the clumps apart and cook them evenly, until the oat clusters are crisp and dry, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely before serving or storing. These will keep in an airtight container for 2 weeks.
GRAIN CLUSTERS Another good way to use leftovers: Combine 1 cup wheat germ with the honey, oil, and cinnamon. Stir in 6 cups of any cooked grain, like bulgur or wheat berries; if necessary, add water 2 tablespoons at a time until the grains are coated in the honey mixture. Bake as directed.