Yesterday was my soon to be sister in law’s bridal shower. If things had gone like planned my mother would’ve driven the entire way to and from central Jersey because I was about ready to lose my mind if I had to drive one more minute in traffic after the last couple of weeks and this would’ve been homemade apple butter.
All of the bridesmaids started talking about the shower months ago and since I’m the only one not nearby to help out with the setup of the location, I was given the task of making homemade (food) gifts for the winners of the games we were going to play. I thought, ok, perfect. I can do food. This should be simple enough. Apple butter was what was mentioned and while I’d never made it, a quick google search told me it was only about 4 ingredients and it could be made in a slow cooker. I could handle that.
Then, life got in the way, I ended up with one weekend at home in the past month and a half and apple butter started sounding more and more like a giant pain in the butt because peeling and coring enough apples for 20 cups of it just isn’t my idea of a party.
So 2 days before the shower, apple butter became granola and my mom ended up in the hospital with a really badly thrown out back. It runs in the family.
Not quite as planned.
Luckily, pain shots work wonders, homemade granola tastes even better than apple butter and surprised soon-to-be brides don’t know any better (until they read this of course).
This was my first time making granola and it’s definitely one of those things that once you realize how simple (and cheap!) it is to do yourself, you immediately start regretting the hundreds (thousands?) of dollars you’ve spent buying it prepackaged all these years.
If you can pour things in a bowl and mix, you can make granola. There’s really no excuse for $10 16oz. bags anymore.
For my first go ‘round, I let someone else do the leg work on the recipe creation. Mostly because I made this at 10:30pm on Friday, not because I was scared to experiment with ingredients. The only changes I made were eliminating the coconut extract and adding almond extract instead, halving the oil and subbing it with applesauce and adding chia seeds.
See how the jars aren’t quite full? I couldn’t quite get my hand out of the tray while it was cooling. It’s that good.
And now that the shower’s done, on to the bachelorette! Liquor > apple butter.
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I have a coconut granola scheduled to go up this month too!! I love coconut!! Isn’t it great that wednesday’s recipe involves coconut too?! haha, coconut on the brain…how many times will I say coconut in a comment?? The bridal shower looked fun, I like the toilet paper wedding dress haha, would save a lot of money
hope your mom is doing ok!!
I saw that granola recipe and tagged it too – I thought I should probably take a stab at making my own versus buying it all the time. The gifts look gorgeous and your photography is beautiful too. (your photography is always beautiful!)
I bet it was a really fun party, but yes the bachelorette will probably be even easier, just need to provide booze hah. I’ve only made granola once, it came out clumpy and burnt so I didn’t gift it as I had planned and was stuck with cups and cups of the stuff and forced myself to not waste it. Never made it again.
I hadn’t made a batch since last year and ended up making a batch inspired by Sonia over at The Healthy Foodie! It’s grain free. Definitely one to try!
Coconut granola.. so simple and yet, so delicious! I’ve made a slew of granolas, but have yet to add coconut. And I agree, if you can stir and turn on the oven, you can make granola. I haven’t bought granola in over 10 years because making my own is SO simple and SOO cheap.
Yum! I have totally been on a granola kick lately. Must make this!
I’d take granola over apple butter any day! Beautiful pictures– looks like fun!
That granola looks awesome! I’ll have to make this some time in the fall.
I love granola. It’s one of those snacks I started to make about a year ago and ever since than I never buy it at the store. Nothing like the taste of fresh granola. I love how crunchy it is. Great job and you picked a good one to make, love coconut and almonds. Your photos are gorgeous and I need to make one of those boards!!!
Looks wonderful! I’d have a hard time keeping my hands out of it too!
Homemade granola is so much better than store bought, especially when it contains coconut!
you can’t go wrong with almond, coconut, and granola all mixed into one!
your photos are so good, I love them!
YUM! Your photos turned out beautiful. I also like your simple math. Math should be that simple and while I love all fruit butters…liquor is always > fruit butters
Have I told you lately that I love your turquoise photoboard?
And that granola looks pretty snazzy too. Great “gift” idea! I’m thinking Christmas.
Granola for 20…wow girly…just when I think I’m a busy person, here you are cranking out 20 jars worth of awesome granola! Nicely done! Looks like the shower was tons of fun.
Haha, yeah nothing like finishing up 20 cups of it at midnight on a Friday!
I am such a big fan of homemade granola. And I LOVE adding coconut. What is weird is that I don’t typically like coconut, but added with other granola flavors it is just perfect. Awesome shots of this!
I am loving this!! So hard! Becuase anything with coconut pretty much rules my world.
I bet your house smelled amazing while this was baking! YUM!!! And hope your mom’s back is better and good choice about the recipe change-up
I think this looks great!! I haven’t made granola. I just, am not a huge fan. But this looks really good! And cute. I love mason jars!
I never used to get the “hype” about granola either to be honest. My husband has always loved it though so we had it on hand. I’ve grown to like it. Still not love though
I love making my own granola… it’s like a ritual on weekends when we run out of them. I used to buy granola from the grocery store (still do every now and then). Then I started going to farmer’s markets and tasted a really delicious homemade granola… but they were selling it for $10 a pound. That’s RIDICULOUS! So, that was my turning point… I told myself I can make it at home and it’s going to be just as good but 10 times cheaper. Love your presentation of the granola and what a fun bridal shower giveaway!
Granola is my favorite breakfast on the go, and makes great gifts! Love the flavor combination!
This is such a great idea for a bridal shower gift, I might have to steal it for my best friend’s! You can never have too many granola recipes, love the almond in this too.
What a lovely gift. For what it’s worth, I would much prefer granola over apple butter! This reminds me that I haven’t made any in a while, I think I need to make some granola this week
Thanks for the inspiration!
You can’t beat homemade granola. This looks great!
a: the recipe looks great. b: your future sister in law is pretty hot.
haha, I think my brother would agree with you
I would take granola any day over apple butter. Except I’m not a huge fan of coconut. But I don’t see huge chunks of it so I’m sure I could manage to choke it down.
I hope your mom is OK and I’m dying over your photo collage.
I went through a phase last year where I was making giant batches of homemade granola every week to keep up with my husband’s cereal addiction (he was spending $$$ at the WF bulk bins). I really need to get back on the granola-making bandwagon. It’s so simple and so much better than most of the pre-made stuff.
P.S. I absolutely LOVE the turquoise wood backdrop you made. I need to make one for myself!
it’s so easy, I hope you do!
I had all the ingredients and made this IMMEDIATELY. So delicious, so sweet, I can’t wait to try it with some fruit and greek yogurt. YUM.
I’ve never made homemade granola before! Looks delicious
I love homemade granola (and coconut!) and this makes a seriously adorable and delicious gift. Honestly, I’d rather receive this than apple butter, especially in the summer. I hope your mom is feeling better
Love granola! My husband eats it almost every morning. Mostly because he thinks cooking oatmeal, even in the microwave, takes too long
I love homemade granola and don’t make it (or eat it) often enough! I would’ve been thrilled to win this at a shower
just pinned to my pinterest board! thanks for sharing!
I think granola is perfect for that kind of thing! Then again I might be biased.. I’m quite literally obsessed with granola. I have to stop myself before I even think about making it because it gets eaten way too fast. Coconut is one of my favorite flavors to add into granola too… yummy
Glad you liked the granola!
I am addicted to coconut granola! So healthy and so yummy. I love that you added chia seeds— I haven’t experimented that much yet but think this should be on the list!
I did find a great way to add clusters to the granola which takes it to a whole new level: http://familysponge.com/food/yummy-treats/coconut-granola/
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