Recipe: Homemade Grape Nuts Cereal (copycat recipe)

I haven't made this but I do love using Grape Nuts in recipes so I thought it was pretty fun to find this awhile back. I'd probably make it as written first, then try substituting applesauce for most or all of the shortening to see if it works. The glory of Grape Nuts is that they're so low-fat. I *LOVE* the idea of making my own. I'd probably grind some barley, too, to sub for some of the flour since the Grape Nuts box says wheat, malted barley, yeast and salt. Hmmm .. yeast .. now *that's* interesting ... hmmmmmm .....Enjoy, Janet

HOMEMADE GRAPE NUTS

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or graham flour
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup molasses
3 Tbsp. shortening
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Spoon into 9x13-inch baking pan.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with a towel to cool.

When cooled, crumble with hands. Return to oven.

Bake at 200 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until dry and crisp. Store in a tightly covered container.