Cherry Almond Granola

Cherry Almond Granola

Skim milk turns this crunchy snack into a healthy breakfast cereal, while a dollop of low-fat yogurt makes it a delicious dessert. Try adding a little baking cocoa to the brown sugar for a flavor twist. Recipe created by Deborah Purdue of Freeland, MI. Recipe from Taste of Home's Light & Tasty Annual Recipes 2002, ©2002 by Reiman Publications, LLC.

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup unsweetened apple juice concentrate
• 2 Tbsp canola oil
• 3 tsp almond extract
• 6 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1-1/2 cups dried cherries or cranberries
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• Fat-free vanilla yogurt, optional

In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, milk powder, honey, apple juice concentrate and oil. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved; stir in extract.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, cherries, and almonds. Drizzle with sugar mixture and mix well.

Spread in a thin layer in two 15- x 10- x 1-inch baking pans coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Cool completely. Serve with yogurt, if desired. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 3 Quarts.

Per (1/2 cup) Serving without yogurt: 222 Cal; 5 g Total Fat (1 g Sat Fat); 38 g Carb; Trace Cholesterol; 15 mg Sodium; 5 g Protein; 3 g Fiber. Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit; 1 Starch; 1 Fat.

Cherry Almond Granola