Granola is one of those versatile foods that you should always have on hand. It's also quite healthy, but only when it is done right. Store bought granola is filled with fat and unhealthy sugars. It's much better to make your own, that way you can have complete control over the ingredients.

This is a good recipe to use, but you can also feel free to experiment. For example, you can change the types of nuts you use, or use dried cranberries or blueberries instead of raisins. Consider using honey instead of maple syrup. As long as the proportions remain similar, you can take some creative license. Consider following this recipe as it is written the first time, though.

Ingredients for Homemade Granola:

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup shaved, unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup lightly crushed cashews
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup flaxseeds
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup raw cane sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup oil of choice, such as light olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup raisins

Instructions on How to Make Homemade Granola:

Preheat the oven to 250 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Add the rolled oats, coconut, cashews, almonds, wheat germ, and flaxseeds to a large bowl. Stir gently to distribute all the ingredients.

In another bowl, add the water, sugar, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla extract. Drizzle over the dry ingredients and stir gently with a wooden spoon to distribute the ingredients.

Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the granola mixture in a single layer on the sheet. Place in the oven and bake until the oats turn golden brown. This should take anywhere from 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. If not eating it right away, let the granola cool completely on the counter before storing it in airtight containers.

There's so much you can do with granola! It tastes great as a topping for yogurt, pudding, or ice cream. You can also sprinkle it into your cereal, or even pour some in a bowl and eat it is as cereal! These are just a few examples.