⅓ cup Maple Syrup

⅓ cup packed Light Brown Sugar

4 tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Salt

½ cup Peanut Oil

5 cups Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats (NOT Instant)

2 cups raw Almonds, coarsely chopped by hand

2 cups Raisins, Cranberries or chopped Apricots (to be added after baking the granola)

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 325º. Adjust rack to middle of the oven.
2. Whisk syrup, sugar, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in oil. Fold in oats and almonds until throughly coated.
3. Dump mixture onto baking sheet. Spread mixture into a thin even layer. Use a stuff spatula to compress the mixture until very compact. Bake until lightly browned – about 30 to 35 minutes. Check it near the end of baking to make sure it doesn’t brown too much!
4. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Break cooled granola into pieces and stir in dried fruit.