Caramel Walnut Chocolate Chunk Granola

My friend, who I frequently talk to about food and am trying to encourage to start a food blog, was telling me about this very delicious sounding caramel walnut chocolate chunk granola in a cookbook she has (The New Whole Grain Cookbook). How could I not immediately want to make it after hearing the recipe name?? She very kindly typed it out and sent it to me. I made it, and ate it and ate it and ate it. It was very addictive. Crunchy and sweet with yummy chocolate bits. The walnuts can be replaced with your favourite nut - I might try pecans next time. I usually eat my granola with yogurt or milk but this granola I just ate out of a bowl. It's a perfect snacky type granola.

If this sounds good, you might like:
Low-Fat Winter Fruit Granola
Sunny Jungle Bars
Banana Crunch Muffins
No Fail Granola

Caramel Walnut Chocolate Chunk Granola
Adapted from The New Whole Grain Cookbook

Makes about 9 cups.

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup walnuts, broken into large pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, sliced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 300F. In a large bowl, mix the oats, nuts, and salt. In a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together the water and sugar. Over high heat, bring to a boil, moving the pan to keep it mixed (don't stir). Cook until the syrup turns a medium amber, then take it off the heat and add the butter carefully - it will foam and bubble. Stir in the butter with a heat-safe spatula, and then stir in the vanilla. Scrape into the oat mixture and stir immediately. The caramel mixture will start to harden and clump, but it will melt while baking and disperse.

Scrape the oat mixture onto the prepared pans, and spread it out into rough chunks. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir well. The caramel will be liquefied and soaking into the oats more evenly. Bake for 15 minutes more.

Remove to cooling racks. When cool, break the granola into chunks and mix with the chocolate chunks.