We pour milk over this homemade granola for a heart-smart breakfast, and we also sprinkle it over yogurt and ice cream for dessert. It’s also wonderful to snack on right from the storage container!
—SUSAN LAJEUNESSE COLCHESTER, VT
PREP: 20 MIN. • BAKE: 1 1/4 HOURS + COOLING • MAKES: 10 1/2 CUPS
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup water
4 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups bran flakes
1 jar (12 ounces) toasted wheat germ
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1. In a large saucepan, bring brown sugar and water to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the oats, bran flakes, wheat germ, flour and salt. Stir oil and vanilla into sugar mixture; pour over oat mixture and toss to coat.
2. Transfer to two 15x10x1-in. baking pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 250° for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until dry and lightly browned, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.
PER SERVING 1/2 cup equals 202 cal., 6 g fat (1 g sat. fat), 0 chol., 118 mg sodium, 32 g carb., 4 g fiber, 8 g pro. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.