We were lucky enough to be gifted a jar of this granola from a friend in the Northwest last winter. I immediately reached out for the recipe because I’d never eaten homemade granola with a depth of flavor like this. I quickly learned the secret ingredient: melted butter. This unexpected addition stands in for the oil that traditionally coats the nuts and oats before baking.
Like most granola recipes, this secret ingredient granola allows for flexibility in nut and dried fruit options. Out of chopped walnuts? Substitute pecans. Running low on dried cranberries? Use raisins instead. Just be sure that your add-ins are bite-sized so they match the rest of the granola for a consistently delicious experience.
Secret Ingredient Granola
Make 8 Cups
Ingredients
4 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup shelled hemp seeds
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 cups dried sweetened cranberries
Directions
Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small saucepan, combine honey, butter, and salt. Place over low heat and cook until butter is melted, about 3 minutes, stirring to blend into a delicious slurry.
In a large bowl, combine oats and walnuts. Pour honey mixture over oat-pecan mixture, and toss to coat. Pour into rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Transfer oat mixture to large bowl, and toss with dried fruit, shredded coconut, and ground hemp seeds. Cool completely, and store in an airtight container.
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