CROCK POT GRANOLA

⋅ brunch, kiddos, slow cooker, vegetarian ⋅ , , , , ⋅ 2 comments

•Well, I didn’t think this was even possible.  I was rockin the crock pot lifestyle this past winter and while looking up ideas for roasts and soups I couldn’t believe it when I came across some recipes for granola.  Oh what this plug in pot of wonder can’t make.  To accommodate the crowd I was making this for, it’s nut-free and makes a ton. You can adjust the quantity (easily half the batch) try different kinds of fruits and add nuts, flax seeds, peanut butter, or chocolate chips (after cooled) to create the perfect mix for you.  You need to set aside 3ish hours to babysit and stir every 20-30 min.  This turns out like granola cereal that you can eat with milk or sprinkle over some yogurt.  If you like more of a clumpy granola add more honey. 

1 gallon oats (16 cups) that’s the big container-not quick cook or steel cut
1/2 cup quinoa-uncooked
6 oz bag of dried apricots-roughly chopped
6 oz bag of tart or sour cherries
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup raisins
2 sticks unsalted butter (16 tbls)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup honey
1 tsp kosher salt
zest from 1 orange
 
Serves a big crowd and can be saved in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or give away to friends.
prep, cooking and cooling time 4-4 1/2 hours
need a 4 quart crock pot to make this size recipe
 

In your crock pot, add the oats, quinoa, and, dried fruit.

Mix together.

 

In a small sauce pan, melt the butter on a med low heat.  Add the sugar, salt and honey.  Turn off heat and stir.

Add the orange zest-stir.

Pour the butter mixture over the oats and stir well making sure to coat everything.

Turn your crock pot to low.  Place the lid on making sure to vent it open with a wooden spoon or chopsticks to avoid soggy granola. 

 Set a timer for 30 min-stir.  Set for another 30 min-stir.  After the first hour set timer, and stir every 20 min.  Keep doing this for 3-3 1/2 hours depending on your crock pot.  If you have a burnt section, just remove and move on.  When done, spread out on a couple of sheet pans to cool for at least a hour before you pack it up.  It will crisp up a bit more while cooling.  Especially delicious over greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey and some fresh berries♥Enjoy

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