Our Mom's Granola

Some of us grew up eating this. It is the best granola on the planet and it's easy to make. Our family of "tasters" prefer it to any store bought granola we have come across.


10 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup wheat germ
3 cups chopped nuts, walnuts or almonds or whatever nut your family likes
½ lb shredded coconut
1 cup sesame seeds
1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 ½ cups oil
½ c molasses
2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 ½ cups water
½ cup honey
1 ½ t salt
3 t vanilla

Raisins or other dried fruit if desired.Preheat oven to 300⁰F. Mix dry ingredients in a big bowl. Set aside. Combine sugar, oil, molasses, cinnamon, water, honey, salt and vanilla in a heavy pot on the stove. Turn heat on low and stir until everything is melted and warm. Do not boil. Remove from heat and pour the syrup mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir gently until everything is covered. Spread wet mixture into 9x13 pans or onto jelly roll pans. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes. Stir the pans periodically to ensure even drying. This recipes makes enough granola for 5, 9x13 pans or 3 large jelly roll pans.