Easy Homemade Granola

Preheat the oven to 300F.In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, salt, coconut flakes*, nuts or seeds, and spices. Set aside.In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, heat the honey and butter. Carefully watch and stir the honey and butter mixture, allowing it to come to a boil. Once boiling, remove the honey and butter from the heat and add the vanilla extract (stand back as the alcohol in the vanilla extract will cause a rapid boil). Pour the honey mixture over the oat mixture, and stir until well combined.Spread the granola over a baking sheet (covered in parchment paper for easy cleaning). Bake the granola for 35-45 minutes on the middle shelf of the oven, until golden brown. Halfway through baking (the 18-20 minute mark), carefully stir the granola so the sides don't burn. Watch the granola carefully towards the end of the cooking time as every oven cooks a bit differently. Granola can quickly turn from golden brown to burnt. Once the granola is golden and has a toasted aroma, it's ready to pull out of the oven. Golden brown and toasted aroma are the key words to remember when making granola!Remove the granola from the oven to cool. If you'd like to add dried fruit to the granola, add the raisins or dried cranberries now and quickly stir them into the warm granola. As the granola cools, the granola will harden creating a crispy granola that's perfect for yogurt or snacking. Store the cooled granola in an air-tight container on the counter for a few days (I let my granola sit for about 7 days) or in the freezer for several months.