Gourmet Granola - Baking Secrets

Where do I begin writing about the secrets of baking gourmet granola?

This is a struggle for me. I want to share the wealth per se (of knowledge) about what makes a truly wholesome and healthy granola but at the same there's that lurking thought of not wanting to give away all the secrets gleaned from many in kitchen experiences and years of living. Oh what the heck, let's go for it.

So what does make a truly great granola? For sure, it's the flavour. And how does one get a full-bodied gourmet flavour from granola? Of primary importance in the process is how it is baked. You will want to bake your granola in a medium to slow oven. For purposes of clarification, a medium oven is 350 degrees F while a slow oven would be 250 to 300 degrees. Personally I bake at 350, however this takes constant vigilance so the granola does not burn. 30 minutes of total bake time with stirring at 10 minute intervals will ensure even browning. If using a slower oven, then the stirring intervals may be stretched out along with the total bake time as well.

The second secret in developing the flavour of your finished gourmet granola is the caramelization of the sugars present in the mix. That's why you must be careful to not let it overbrown or overbake. This will result in a burnt sugar taste to your end product, definitely not what you are seeking.

A third and equally important secret in making gourmet granola is premium quality ingredients. This will include recently milled grains, nuts and seeds of ultimate freshness, fresh crop honey (not overly processed) and good quality vegetable oil. Unless your living in the boonies, all of these ingredients should be readily available from a local farmer's market or bulk food or dry grocer's store.

To recap, that's baking time, taking care to ensure even browning and using the freshest ingredients. Put all three of these secrets together and you too will excel in your granola baking venture.

Rod Sider is an accomplished although retired chef. One of his food passions is gourmet granola, which he has been creating for nearly 40 years. Check out his blog at [http://www.gourmetgranola.org/] for the latest info on everything granola and for the latest insider secret.