Homemade Granola Clusters

7 cups Old Fashioned whole grain rolled oats

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup dried berries (I use a mix of cherries, blueberries and raisins)

¹⁄₂ cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon honey

¹⁄₄- ¹⁄₂ cup salted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¹⁄₂ cup water

1 tablespoon ginger powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 overripe banana (thinly sliced)

1 tablespoon cacao nibs

2 tablespoons dark chocolate pieces

1 tablespoon ancient grains (I use a mix of millets, red quinoa, amaranth, chia and flax seeds)

Preheat oven to 400˚F.

Grind about ¹⁄₃-¹⁄₂ of the oats (about 3 cups) in a blender to a flour like consistency. This will help in binding the granola clusters together. If you not like granola chunks or clusters, you can skip this.

In a large bowl, mix the oats (whole as well as the ground), ginger powder and cinnamon.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine maple syrup, honey, butter and water. Heat until the butter has completely melted. Add vanilla extract.

Pour this over the oats and stir to mix well. Let stand about 5-10 minutes.

Spread the mixture over a large baking sheet. Spread thinly sliced banana evenly over the mixture.

Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, mash the bananas to help dissolve and the break the clusters into smaller clumps. Bake for another 15-20 minutes.

Remove from oven. Stir to mix. Spread nuts, berries on top of the mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Remove from oven, the granola should be nice and golden brown. Sprinkle the seed mix, cacao nibs and dark chocolate morsels. Let cool completely and store in a covered container at room temperature.