Homemade granola is the best! Crunchy, golden, and fresh. For gluten-free purchase gluten-free oats. For dried fruit options see notes below. Skip all fruit if reducing sugar.
Pre-heat the oven to 250°F. In a large bowl mix rolled oats, nuts and seeds. In a large measuring cup whisk maple syrup, oil, vanilla and cinnamon until smooth. Pour the maple mixture into the oats mixture and stir until well combined. The oats should feel uniformly heavy and well coated with no dry areas.
Bake Granola
Pour granola on to a half sheet sized rimmed baking sheet (or two quarter sheets) and bake for 1 hour, then stir and turn over the granola with metal spatula and bake 1 hour longer until dry and crunchy. It will get crunchier as it cools.
Cool and Add Fruit
Remove from the oven and cool, then stir in coconut shreds or chips and dried fruit if using. Store in a tightly covered container in the pantry.
Notes
Dried fruit options: besides dried cranberries, try dried cherries, blueberries, golden berries, apricots, goji berries, currants, pitted chopped dates, or raisins. To reduce sugar: skip the dried fruit entirely, it's still fantastic granola. To reduce sugar further, use half keto maple syrup instead of all maple syrup.