Forgotten Molasses Granola

Make and forget about this granola for a wonderful surprise in the morning!

Serves: 5 cups

Prep Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 45 min

Total:  55 min, plus overnight

Ingredients

3 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup ground flax
1/2 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1 tbsp. vanilla
1-2 tsp. oil
1 cup mixed dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, cherries, blueberries)
1/2 cup toasted nuts and seeds (slivered or whole almonds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, unsalted cashews, pecans, walnuts)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together oats, flax, chia seeds, coconut flakes, dried fruit, toasted nuts and seeds, and spices.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together molasses, sugar, juice, vanilla and oil.
3. Pour wet mixture into the dry mixture, and stir to combine.
4. Spread granola on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes in a preheated oven set to 275 F.   Every 15 minutes, stir granola.
5. After 45 minutes, turn the oven off and "forget" the granola in the oven.  It will dry out over night.
6. Serve with milk or yogurt, garnished with fresh fruit and shredded coconut.

Lightly adapted from professionalpalate.squarespace.com