Honey-Baked Chunky Granola

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup almonds whole
• 0.5 cup brown sugar light packed
• 0.5 cup butter 
• 0.8 cup coconut flakes dried organic
• 1 cup apricot dried chopped
• 1 cup cherries dried
• 1 cup cranberries dried
• 0.5 cup flaxseeds 
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 
• 0.5 cup honey 
• 4 cups rolled oats uncooked
• 1 tablespoon orange zest grated
• 1 cup sunflower seeds raw
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 0.5 cup walnut pieces coarsely chopped
• 0.5 cup wheat germ toasted

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• oven

Directions

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Remove from heat; stir in orange rind, cinnamon, and vanilla.
3. While syrup cooks, toss together oats and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl until blended.
4. Pour syrup over oat mixture, and stir until coated. Using hands coated with butter-flavored cooking spray, very firmly press oat mixture into a large lightly greased rimmed baking sheet.
5. Bake at 275 for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until toasted and browned (do not stir).
6. Let cool completely in pan.
7. Toss together cherries and next 3 ingredients in large bowl. When granola is cool, break apart into chunks, and gently stir into dried fruit and coconut. Store granola in airtight jars up to 5 days.