Homemade Crunchy Granola

Recipe courtesy of Southern Living - Our Best 5-Star Recipes

Ingredients
3 1/2 cups regular oats, uncooked
1/2 cup grated coconut
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup sunflower kernels
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract 
3/4 cup raisins (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir well.
  2. Combine honey, brown sugar, and oil in a small saucepan. Cook mixture over medium heat, stirring until sugar melts and mixture is thoroughly heated. Remove from heat; add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until well blended. Drizzle over oat mixture; toss gently to coat well.
  3. Spread mixture evenly in a greased 15- x 10- x 1-inch  jellyroll pan. Bake at 250° for 50 to 60 minutes or until toasted and dry, stirring mixture gently every 20 minutes. Add raisins if desired.
  4. Let granola cool completely. Store in an airtight container. 

Yield: 8 cups

Variation:
To make granola bars, press unbaked granola mixture (without raisins) into a greased 15- x 10- x 1-inch  jellyroll pan using greased fingertips. Press mixture flat with the back of a wide metal spatula. Bake at 250° for 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 1/2 hours or until toasted. Cut granola into bars while still warm. Let cool completely in pan. Remove bars from pan, and stern an airtight container. 
Yield: 30 bars.