This easy homemade Granola Recipe with is full of easy to find ingredients, and has lots of variations. It is a crunchy granola recipe that is going to feel like such a healthy start to the day.
We have been in some breakfast ruts around here lately. It’s so easy to get there, don’t you think? Let’s get that breakfast joy back with some delicious granola. From the moment I created this recipe a few years ago, it is become one of my favorites. I love eating this homemade granola dry by the handful as snack and I adore it in a bowl with some milk and fresh fruit as granola cereal.
It tasted just like store bought granola! My family loves it! They usually don’t care for my homemade granola – delicious!
Granola Ingredients
This is a pretty standard formula that is easy to follow and easy to customize to what you are craving. It makes the best granola recipe.
- Old Fashioned Oats: Make sure you buy old fashioned oats not quick cooking, read more on this below.
- Honey: Not only does this bring some sweetness to the recipes, it also helps hold the granola together.
- Vegetable Oil: This is what helps crisp up the granola as it bakes and gives it that great crunch. See the note in the recipe card about lessening the oil. I haven’t tried this with other oils, but given the low cooking temperature here, they should work fine.
- Nuts: These help add protein to the granola and you can use so many different varieties. I prefer pecans or almonds. If you are serving someone with a nut allergy, consider swapping these to seeds like pumpkin or sunflower.
- Dried Fruit: Add this after baking. Raisins, dried cranberries, and dried pineapple are all great choices!
- Seasonings: For added flavor, I like to add cinnamon and vanilla extract. You could try other great flavor combinations though, like a little less cinnamon mixed with a pinch of ginger and allspice! Or swapping the vanilla for almond extract.
How to Make Granola
This is a brief overview on how to make this delicious and easy granola recipe. For the full recipe with all of the ingredients, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Combine the wet ingredients with the seasonings. Mix the sugar, oil, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla together.
- Add in the dry ingredients. Fold in the oats and whatever nuts you’ve chosen.
- Bake the granola. As mentioned in the recipe card, watch the granola closely after flipping it half way through. The timing in the recipe card is perfect for my oven, but oven temperatures can vary greatly.
- Let it cool. After baking, you let the granola cool for an hour at room temperature.
- Finish it off. The granola will be in large chunks from baking. So break it apart and then stir in the dried fruit.
Nordic Ware Baking Sheets
Granola Variations and Substitutions
There are so many great things that you can do with granola and so many flavor combinations that you can bring in.
- Swap the honey. You can replace the honey with agave nectar or maple syrup.
- Reduce or swap the oil. Instead of vegetable oil, you can use grape seed or coconut oil. Again see the note in the recipe card about cutting back on the oil.
- Swap out the pecans for other nuts. Use the one you like the most! Peanuts, cashews, pistachios, and walnut slices all are great options for granola.
- Trade out half the nuts for seeds. I like adding pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to my granola.
- Add in chia seeds or flax seeds. Both are a great source of fatty acids and protein.
- Replace the dried cranberries. Any dried fruit would be fantastic in this. Raisins, dried pineapple, dried cherries, and dried apricots would all be delicious.
- Add in some chocolate. Leave out half of the fruit and after the granola has completely cooled, throw in half a cup of mini chocolate chips for an extra special granola.
Eating Granola
While I am most often found eating granola by the handful in the quiet of my pantry, there are so many great ways to enjoy this recipe.
- Over yogurt: A small handful of granola over yogurt makes for a great breakfast.
- Parfaits: Typically made with layers of granola, yogurt, and fresh berries, a yogurt parfait is a great way to start the day.
- Smoothie Bowl: Just what it sounds like, a smoothie bowl is a smoothie served in a bowl often topped with fresh fruit and enjoyed with a pop of granola.
- With milk: The most common way to enjoy this great recipe, it makes for an easy breakfast.
Storing and Freezing
This recipe for granola makes 9 cups and will last in an air tight container in your pantry for up to two weeks. As with any recipe, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.
This granola recipe is also great for freezing. I suggest freezing it in single servings so that you can pull out just the amount you plan on eating. Store it in plastic bags, squeezing out as much air as you can, and allow it to thaw on the counter top overnight before eating.
Other Healthy Breakfast Ideas
If you make this granola or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Homemade Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey 78.86 ml (or agave or maple syrup)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil 118.29 ml (see note 1)
- 1/3 cup brown sugar 71 grams (packed)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 5 cups old fashioned oats 445 grams (not quick cooking oats, see note 2)
- 2 cups chopped pecans 228 grams (any roughly chopped nut would be great here – especially walnuts or almonds)
- 1 cup dried cranberries 114 grams (or any dried fruit)
- 1 cup raisins 149 grams (or any dried fruit, not packed)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a large rimmed sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together honey, oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and cinnamon.1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon table salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- Gently fold in the oats and the nuts. Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes rotating the baking sheet half way though baking.5 cups old fashioned oats, 2 cups chopped pecans
- Starting from when you rotate the pan (around 18 minutes), keep a very close eye on your granola. Check on it every few minutes, especially as you start to smell it more. It can burn very quickly. As it starts to turn golden around the edges, it will need only a few minutes more.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Allow to cool for an hour. Break apart the granola and mix in the dried fruit. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.1 cup raisins, 1 cup dried cranberries
Notes
- I tried this without the oil and it was also very delicious, but obviously not as crisp. If you are looking to lessen the calories, you could cut back on the oil or eliminate it completely. You could also use coconut or grape seed oil.
- Oats are naturally gluten free. That being said, it is always wise to ensure that your oats are verified gluten free before serving this to someone with a gluten allergy.
Susan says
I was looking for an easy granola recipe to replace purchasing the Costco granola that has pumpkin seeds and flax seeds, this recipe looked like the easiest to tweak for that. I didn’t have flax seeds but I did have unsweetened coconut so I added that for additional texture. I doubled the vanilla, subbed pumpkin seeds for the nuts, and used dried cranberries after the granola baked. This is a keeper recipe, it’s so easy to make, absolutely delicious, and much less expensive than store bought granola. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I’m so happy you liked it!
Cristina says
Will using quick cooking oats ruin the recipe? (That’s what I have in the pantry)
I’m worried that quick cooking won’t form those clumps of granola you are looking for and/or they will burn.
Janice says
It tasted just like store bought granola! I used coconut oil, and coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. Only had pecans. My family loves it! They usually don’t care for my homemade granola, oh and did have exactly 1 tbsp of vanilla, so put a drop of almond extract . Delicious
I’m so glad this was a hit!
Gary says
Very easy to make and tastes wonderful. Used one less cup of nuts and split the honey/maple syrup 50/50. A great first attempt. Will likely tweek some of the ingredients on the next batch. Definitely recommend!
I’m so glad that you liked it!
MaryEllen says
I just made this recipe, and it turned out great! So tasty! I was careful to keep tabs on the baking time and checked every 15 minutes. Once it was golden brown, I removed it from the oven. Thanks for your recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed these!
RC says
Excellent recipe. I’ve made it my own thanks to yours! Added dried apple chips and used dried cranberries and added chocolate morsels! Deliciosu!
I’m so glad you like it! You are right, it’s such a great base recipe.
Pat says
Made this recipe exactly as written and was extremely delicious! Have shared this with others and all loved it! So easy and so much better than store bought granola.
I’m so glad you like it, Pat! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know!
Leonard says
Lisa, I assume when you mention peanuts, cashew nuts, etc, these are the unsalted varieties.
It all sounds delicious.
Happy new year from Ireland
That’s really a personal preference. Both will work!
Valerie says
This was my first time making granola. I added 1/2 tsp cardamom and 1/2 tsp allspice a long with the cinnamon. I used sliced almonds for the nuts. I used dried blueberries and toasted coconut flakes as my fruit after it cooled. I’ve never been a huge granola fan…but I cannot stop munching on it!!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!