Gummy Bear Granola

A crazy lady in my town once gave a friend and I a recipe she uses to make granola all the time.  She swore up and down that there was no better recipe than what she had.  We were excited to try it but disappointed when we made a batch and were let down on taste and over all appearance.  For the past year I have been searching and experimenting with different granola recipes and have come up with a FABULOUS recipe for Gummy Bear Granola!  It is so yummy and fun!  :)  I hope you all enjoy as much as my family and I do!

Gummy Bear Granola

• Butter
• 4 cups regular rolled oats
• 1 cup peanuts
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup dried cherries
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup gummy bears

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Line a 9x13 cake pan with tin foil; butter the foil.  Set aside.  In a second 9x13 cake pan combine oats and nuts.  Set aside.  In a small saucepan combine brown sugar, oil, honey, salt and cinnamon.  Heat and stir over medium heat until mixture is well combined and smooth.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour sugar mixture over oat mixture.  Stir until well coated.  

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until granola is golden brown, stirring carefully every 10 minutes.  Stir in dried fruit and gummy bears.  Spread granola onto buttered foil; cool completely.  

Store granola in air tight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 3 months.