Wow, I love the idea of using coconut oil! Will be trying that.

Here's my (very rough) recipe. I think it's plenty sweet.

4 cups oats
1 1/4 cups slivered almonds (this is low on nuts, you could definitely add a few more cups of your choice of nuts/seeds)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup coconut oil (melted to liquid)
1/3 cup flax seeds
1/3 cup wheat germ
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup dried fruit of choice (raisins, currants, craisins, etc)

Mix everything together in a brownie pan except the fruit. Bake at 250 for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Add fruit.

Voila!

My recipe is fabulous! It does have maple syrup though. But the special ingredient is puffed kamut - I buy it at Glut co-op, but I'm sure they have it at any whole foods kinda store.

This makes 2 full baking pans (cookie sheets)

In your biggest bowl, mix:
5 cups oats
5 cups puffed kamut
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
1 T. cinnamon
2 t. salt
3 cups nuts (combo of sunflower seeds and walnuts works well)

In a 2 or 4 cup glass measuring cup, mix:
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup canola oil
1 T. vanilla

Pour wet mix into dry and mix well. Spread on rimmed baking sheets and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Stir. Bake for 20 more minutes. Stir. Adjust baking time for whatever it takes to get it just a little bit browned all over. When you think its done, remove from oven and sprinkle lots of raisins and dried date pieces on top. Let cool completely, and then store it in an airtight container.

A couple things I've seen in granola recipes, but not yet tried are:
1) using applesauce for some of the wet ingredient
2) using butter - yum!

16:59 here -

Sorry - I just noticed you said no added sugar/syrup.

Fabulous Granola


3 cups of oatmeal (not instant)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 cup of dried fruit (cranberries, golden raisins, cherries)
1 Cup of chopped nuts (Pecans, walnuts, almonds)
1 Cup maple syrup
1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients well and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 325 degrees for 35-45 minutes mixing once halfway through the baking

Cooks Illustrated's newest issue has granola recipes. They looked really good. I've made a barefoot contessa recipe that had about 1/2 cup honey mixed with 1/2 cup oil with about 4 cups of oats. Add your roasted nuts and fruits, whatever kind you like, after. You can also make it with coconut oil and shredded coconut...yum.

I would like to start making homemade granola, and don't want it to have much added sugar/syrups. Do you have a favorite recipe?