In a medium mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients, including the nuts, excluding the dried fruit or candy.
In a separate bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until all of the dry ingredients are coated. The color of the oats will get darker.
Pour mixture out onto the baking sheet into a thin layer. Bake for 10 min at 325 degrees F.
Remove from the oven and stir.
Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 min, watch carefully to ensure granola doesn’t burn. Remove from the oven and add dried fruit if you desire.
Allow the granola to cook for a few minutes then transfer it to a large mixing bowl. At this point add any optional dried fruit.
While the granola is cooling, use the spatula to mash some of it together to make clusters. Allow the granola to cool completely before eating.
Notes
*Calories may vary based on nuts or other ingredients used.