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Oatmeal Cookie Granola with Two Variations

I'm almost cheating, because of course granola can taste like oatmeal cookies.  It's already oatmeal, after all.  The rest is just details.  But details matter.  I've often said that the world can be divided into two kinds of people based on what they choose first when faced with both a chocolate chip cookie and an oatmeal raisin cookie.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Granola

Which side are you on?  Do you like the chewy sweetness of raisins in your cookies, or do you think it's not a cookie without some chocolate chips? Cookie love is serious business. Some people even wear shirts declaring their allegiance.  Like the chunky vs. smooth peanut butter battle, this issue can divide households.  

This granola recipe is here to help.  Whether you're a raisin household, a chocolate chip household, or a mixed marriage, this will work for you.  Unless you don't like cookies, in which case I can't help you.

Ingredients: 
8 cups oatmeal
4 cups walnuts
12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 cups raisins OR 2 cups chocolate chips

Method:
Preheat oven to 325 Fahrenheit

Combine butter, sugars and salt in a medium microwave safe bowl and microwave 1 minute  at a time until butter melted and begins to bubble.

Chop or crush the walnuts.  I like to leave them in fairly large so the sugar can catch in the wrinkles of the nuts and make crunch sweet nuggets.  In your largest bowl combine the oats and walnuts.  Add the butter and sugars and stir to combine.

Distribute the oat mixture over two cookie sheets and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every fifteen minutes.

Chocolate Chip Variation:
Remove granola from the oven. Immediately one cup of chocolate chips over each sheet of granola.  The chips will melt slightly.  Allow to cool thoroughly, then stir to combine.  

Raisin Variation:
Remove granola from the oven and allow to cool.  Return granola to largest bowl and add raisins.  Stir to combine.

If you live in a mixed household you can easily make one pan of chocolate chip and one pan of raisin, and then everyone will be happy.  And if you decide you want chocolate chips and raisins?  Well, it's your granola, you can do what you want.

Comments

  1. MaudDecember 3, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    I think I like chocolate chips in my cookies (no surprise there) but raisins in my granola. I'm just weird. But I prefer craisins. Will you have a craisin version?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jennifer ThorsonDecember 3, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    You could just use craisins instead of raisins here. I don't know of any cookies that are craisin specific. Do you have one?

    ReplyDelete

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