Crunch a Bunch o' Munch

While perusing my copy of The Old Farmer’s Almanac Everyday Cookbook, I came upon Popcorn Granola Munch. All of the ingredients were already in my cupboards, so I gave it a try. Not only did my son gobble up this fiber- and protein-intensive snack, but my husband and I enjoyed it as well.

Popcorn Granola Munch Recipe

• 8 cups popped corn
• 1 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons honey

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Grease a 15x10-inch jelly-roll pan or any large baking pan with high sides. After popping about ½ cup of popcorn kernels to get the required 8 cups of popcorn, simply combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl: popcorn, wheat germ, shredded coconut (I used unsweetened), quick-cooking oats (I used old-fashioned rolled oats), and sesame seeds.

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine creamy peanut butter, vegetable oil (I used canola oil), water, molasses, and honey. When this mixture is completely melted, drizzle it over the popcorn mixture. Stir well to coat. Spread the “munch” in the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

We thoroughly enjoyed this snack for days. The next time I make it (and there will be a next time), I will add unsalted peanuts in place of the sesame seeds and a little less wheat germ (quite a bit of it ended up at the bottom of the container).

Give it a try and tell us what you think!