Crockpot Granola

Granola in the crockpot?  Did you know that was even possible?  The idea never even occurred to me until I saw this recipe for crockpot granola on Pinterest.  And then, I had to try it!  Here's what I did:

Crockpot Granola

Ingredients:

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups wheat flakes
• 1 T flax seeds, ground
• 2 T raw sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup coconut (plus a bit more)
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries (can use other dried fruits like raisins or dried apples or a combination)

Directions:

1. Mix dry ingredients in 5 qt. crockpot.
2. Add melted butter and honey and mix well.
3. Cover, but vent with a chopstick. Cook on high for 3-4 hours, stirring every so often - every half hour or whenever you smell the granola cooking.  Cook until granola is browned nicely the way you like it.
4. Scoop out onto a cookie sheet to cool.  Stirring occasionally while it cools.
5. Store in air-tight container.
6. Enjoy!

I have a couple other granola recipes, both are supposed to be baked in the over, but I think I will be trying them in the crockpot.  I think any combination of ingredients you like in your granola will work in the crockpot.  The granola really does cook and brown nicely!  But you don't have to worry about burning it. 

If you like clumps in your granola, you'll need to add more honey or butter or both - or maybe peanut butter like some of the commenters suggested on the other recipe.  I might try the peanut butter next time, but this is very good! 

Another change I'll probably make next time is to either add the dried fruit halfway through the cooking time or even at the end.  The cranberries are still good, but they dried out a bit more than I'd like.