I love granola, but, as the mom of a kid with nut allergies, most packaged brands are off-limits.  This is an easy recipe which, even if your household is allergy-free, is a much cheaper, healthier option than most of what you can find in your supermarket’s cereal aisle.

Note: Some people who are allergic to tree nuts also cannot have coconut, in this case you can easily substitute canola or other mild vegetable oil.  Likewise, any seeds which pose an allergy risk can also be omitted. If you are cooking for someone with a severe allergy, check packages to make sure that the oats, seeds and dried fruit you have purchased have not been packaged on a line with nuts.

Seedy Granola

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)

1 cup hemp seeds

1/4 cup chia seeds

2 Tbsp brown sugar

pinch salt

1/4 cup honey

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup coconut oil (if the oil has solidified, place the jar in a cup of warm water until it has liquified before you measure)

1 cup dried currants, blueberries or raisins (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Mix together oats and seeds.

3. Combine oil, honey, sugar, salt and vanilla extract.  Pour over oat and seed mixture and mix well.

4. Spread onto cookie sheet–patting it down evenly.

5. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times to make sure it doesn’t burn.

6. Cool on tray and mix in optional fruit.

7. Store in a tightly closed container.