Cherry & Cashew Granola

Yesterday was a new batch of granola time. We had lots of cashews, so thought they would be the star, along with dried cherries. Which I love! This is a very hearty version, that is quite pretty too. 

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dried cherries 

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup hemp seeds

1/2 cup cashews 

Oven to 300 degrees with the rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl add the oil, syrup, vanilla and salt. Mix together. Then add in the oats. With a wooden spoon mix all together until the oats are thoroughly coated. I chopped half the cashews and left the other half whole. Put in the chopped up cashews first. (Then the whole cashews at the 15 minute mark of baking.) Mix in all the seeds and half of the cherries. Spread out evenly on the parchment paper. Put in oven for 15 minutes. Take out and mix around and put in for another 15 minutes. This is when I added the other half of the cherries and the whole cashews. Cooking time is 30 minutes total. It will all continue to cook once you take it out and let the entire lot cool. Break up and put into jars or baggies once cooled.