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Home » Cookbook Reviews

Make the Bread, Buy the Butter Granola

Dec 10, 2012 · Modified: Nov 6, 2019 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

Make the Bread, Buy The Butter -- Best Granola Recipe Ever

I have a long list of favorite granola recipes and recently added one more.  It’s from Jennifer Reese's book, Make the Bread, Buy the Butter: What You Should (and Shouldn't!) Cook from Scratch to Save Time and Money.

Make the Bread, Buy the Butter


For me, this book falls into the very special category of "books that get lost between the kitchen and nightstand".  It's so practical that I actually use it, but it's also entertaining enough to read at night before bed.  Jennifer's writing style and stories (my favorite is the one about raising urban chickens) are thoughtful and funny; and based on all the research she did to determine which recipes were really worth making, I'd trust her opinion on just about anything kitchen related.  Hence, this granola recipe.

granola

As much as I love the book, I didn't need much convincing that homemade granola is better than store bought.  It's a lot less expensive, you can customize your flavors, and it's simple enough for a kid to make.

Fuzz taste testing the granola

This recipe is particularly good because the measurements are easy to remember, it only requires one bowl, and it’s baked at a slow and low 250 degrees F. You don’t even have to stir!  It's also a richer, nuttier, granola worthy of gift giving, which is why Fuzz is going to bag it up and give it to her teachers for the holidays.

Kraft Sack

Now all we need are some cute labels!

Recipe

Kraft Sack

Granola Gifts for Teachers and Make the Bread Buy the Butter Review

Cookie Madness
An easy no-stir granola recipe that is perfect for gift giving.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup almonds I used a mixture of walnuts and pecans
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • ¼ cup wheat germ
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • ¾ cup sweetened flaked coconut
  • ⅓ cup light brown sugar firmly packed
  • ¼ cup melted butter or 2 T. butter and 2 T. oil
  • ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt or ⅜ if using table salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
  • Mix all the ingredients and spread on a cookie sheet. I like to line my sheet with nonstick foil.
  • Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes (but check at 45). Reese says you’ll know when it’s done because it will be crunchy and golden.
  • Remove from the oven, break apart any large clumps, and cool. Store in plastic bag or 2-quart jar. I am storing it in freezer bags and freezing it until next week, at which point I will divide it up for teachers.

Notes

If you're using regular table salt you might want to reduce it to a about ⅜ teaspoon.
If you don't want to use too much maple syrup, you can use half maple syrup and half honey. Also, make sure to check the granola after 45 minutes. The original bake time calls for 1 hour and 15 minutes, but it sometimes bakes a little faster -- especially if you halve the recipe.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Betty

    December 11, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    I'd love to get a bag of this from one of my students- it looks yummy! 🙂

  2. Katrina

    December 11, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    Love granola, homemade! (you know). Just made some yesterday and will be making two more flavors tomorrow to give as a gift to a friend. Sounds like a great book.

  3. Chewthefat

    December 11, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    What an adorable, yet professional-looking gift! That book is on my 'must read' list. I can't get over how grown-up your daughter looks in that photograph!

  4. C L

    December 11, 2012 at 3:37 pm

    5 stars
    The granola looks delicious. My friends will love this! I'm always on the lookout for a quicker, easier granola recipe. 🙂 Also, that book sounds pretty good. I'll have to see if the local library has a copy. It sounds like I have been an "urban homesteader" all along LOL 🙂

  5. Anna

    December 11, 2012 at 11:48 am

    Darlene, you can definitely make it without the coconut.

    Cindy, my copy is paperback.

    Kathy, thanks for asking! But no, it's a ratty old sweater from the clearance aisle at Target. She loves it.

    Dee, I'm positive coconut oil would be fine.

    Sue, there's one way to find out....

  6. Sue

    December 11, 2012 at 11:08 am

    I'll look for that book and I love idea of giving granola. I wonder if my neighbors like granola? Hmmmm

  7. Dee

    December 11, 2012 at 10:54 am

    Do you think you could use all oil & no butter - making it vegan? I was thinking of using coconut oil. Looks like a great recipe!

  8. Kathy

    December 11, 2012 at 9:13 am

    I made something very similar recently using walnuts, pecans, and almonds and eliminating the coconut, and it turned out very well. Is that a handknit sweater Fuzz is wearing?

  9. CindyD

    December 11, 2012 at 8:56 am

    You're right about the book! If it was out in paperback I would recommend it to my book groups.

  10. Darlene

    December 10, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Mmmmm, that looks delicious (nice and clumpy!) & I especially like the bags with the windows. Any suggestions for a substitute for the coconut, since my sons aren't fond of the texture?

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