How to make honey nut cluster cereal at home from scratch

There are certain items that even the most dedicated home cook rarely, if ever, attempts to make. Cereal is definitely counted among those items. The ease of which you can purchase one of the hundreds of varieties of pre-made cereals coupled with the mistaken impression of it being a laborious task to prepare cereal from scratch have made this an unfortunate fact. I'm here to convince you it doesn't need to be this way.
First, let's address the aisles packed with cereal at your local supermarket. Sure, those are the easiest choice. But are they the best choice? Most are loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, excess sodium and artificial colors. Certainly not the most nutritious way to start your day. There are a few organic and natural cereals available today but most of those are expensive and heavy on sugar and/or refined grains. When you make your own cereal from scratch you gain complete control over the ingredients. You decide what to use and how much. And taking control of your food is the first step to taking control of your health.
Second is the issue of time and aggravation. Sure, it will take more effort and time to make your own cereal instead of buying it but it's likely not as involved as you think. The simple recipe below takes about 20 minutes. This recipe is for a single serving, but it is just as easy to make a large batch. Just multiply by the amount of servings you need.
There is another great reason to make your own cereal: taste. Homemade cereal will always be fresher and taste better than boxed ones. Period.
I always make my homemade cereal in my toaster oven. I find the close proximity of the heating elements in the toaster oven make this the perfect cooking environment for the cereal. If you don't have a toaster oven, you can make it in regular oven; just add another 25 degrees to the cooking temperature and keep a close eye on it.
Ingredients for One Serving of homemade honey nut cluster cereal
1/4 cup of rolled oats (not instant)
1 tablespoon of sliced almonds
1 tablespoon of honey
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground mace
1/4 teaspoon of ground tonka bean
Directions
Heat your toaster oven to 400 degrees F.
Evenly spread the rolled oats and sliced almonds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake until very lightly golden, this should take between 8 to 12 minutes depending on how close your toaster oven heating elements are to the pan.
Meanwhile, mix together the honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. If it is thick, warm slightly (I normally use raw honey, which is sometimes so thick it's almost solid.)
Mix the oats and almonds together with the honey mixture. Flatten into a thin layer and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Let cool, then break into clusters.
This cereal is great served cold with plenty of milk or perfect to eat by itself as a snack on the go.