Before I get into the recipe, I want to be clear about something. When I say that something is “the best” on this page, that’s what it is. I have no dog in this fight. I have no reason to lie to you about this. It’s not my recipe, I’m not hawking anything, I don’t get a discount on anything, etc. This granola just happens to be the best one.

This recipe is adapted from Jenny Rosenstrach’s “A Better Granola” found in Bon Appetit. I’ve made it for a couple of years now and have tweaked it to my tastes. As I’ve said before, we have it waiting in the suite for the guests when they arrive and it is always the thing that is raved about most during their stay. (Usually in a text within 5 minutes of their arrival. AirBnBers are always so hungry!) For less waste purposes, buying the ingredients from bulk bins, where possible, is the best option but if not, I understand. I will warn you that there will appear to be a lot of ingredients. Don’t let this deter you. You probably have most of them in your cupboards already. And another warning, the nuts and seeds can be a bit pricey. I usually buy about a cup of each, mix them all together and keep them in a big jar so when it says 1.5 cups of nuts/seeds, I’ve already got my mix ready to go. Somehow, this takes away the sting of the price. I don’t know why but it does.

The Best Granola
(12+ servings)
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1.5 cups chopped nuts/seeds (I like almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and pistachios)
1.5 cups coconut shavings
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup warmed coconut oil
2 tablespoons light brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup dried cranberries (or dried cherries if you are wealthy)Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Mix everything together EXCEPT FOR the cranberries. Spread it all out on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake the granola for 40-45 minutes. (The original recipe says to stir every 10 minutes but one time I forgot and the end result was a crispy, toasted top and soft underneath and I LOVED IT! So that’s how I make it every time now, And it’s easier because you can just leave it and don’t have to worry about doing something to it every 10 minutes.) Stir it after you take it out and leave it on the pan to cool. When it has cooled add the dried fruit.http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/a-better-granola

These make great host/hostess gifts as well as holiday gifts.

Enjoy!