Gingerbread Granola Mix (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

01 - 3 cups rolled oats, old-fashioned style (270g)
02 - 1 1/2 cups of a nut blend (150g), like hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, and almonds
03 - 2 tablespoons gingerbread spice OR a mix of 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, 3/4 tsp allspice, 3/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/2 tsp cloves
04 - 1/3 cup packed brown sugar (70g)
05 - Grated zest from 1 orange (optional)
06 - 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup
07 - 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses (not blackstrap; swap it with more sugar and maple syrup if needed)
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla
09 - 1/4 teaspoon almond flavoring
10 - Dash of salt (1/4 teaspoon)
11 - 1/2 cup of coconut oil
12 - 1/2 cup large, unsweetened coconut chips (untoasted)
13 - 1/2 cup dried cranberry pieces
14 - 1/2 cup of chocolate (chopped or chips, a mix of milk and dark works great)

# Instructions:

01 - Set the oven to 325°F (160°C) and get a big baking sheet lined with parchment paper ready.
02 - Roughly chop up the nuts into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a big mixing bowl, whisk together coconut oil, molasses, maple syrup, almond extract, and vanilla extract.
04 - Toss the oats, sugar, orange zest, spices, and chopped nuts into the bowl. Stir everything until they're nicely coated.
05 - Spread the mixture over your prepared baking sheet, making sure it's an even layer.
06 - Pop it in the oven for 10 minutes. Take it out later to stir the granola, re-spread it evenly, and bake it for another 10 minutes.
07 - Stir the coconut chips into the partially baked granola, then bake for an extra 10 minutes.
08 - Keep your eyes on the granola's color—it should turn a nice golden brown without browning too much. Stir occasionally to keep it evenly cooked. You'll need about 30 minutes in total.
09 - Once it's out of the oven, mix in the dried cranberries and let it cool completely.
10 - After the granola's cooled down, fold in the chocolate pieces or chips.

# Notes:

01 - Keep granola fresh for about a week in a sealed tin or airtight container.
02 - If using toasted coconut or shredded coconut, wait to add it 3-4 minutes before the baking's done so it doesn't burn.
03 - The granola might still be soft when hot but turns crisp as it cools.