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Homemade Granola Recipe

4.88 from 16 votes
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posted: 04/28/19

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This easy Homemade Granola Recipe with honey is full of easy to find ingredients with lots of variations! It is a crunchy granola recipe that is going to feel like such a healthy start to the day. It is full of flavor and addictive!

bowl of homemade granola with milk, a spoon, fresh raspberries and blueberries

We have been in some breakfast ruts around here lately. It’s so easy to get there, don’t you think? And then all the sudden you realize that your love for creating delicious food for your family and eating that food has gone right out the window with your creativity.

You Will Love this Homemade Granola

Let’s get that breakfast joy back with some delicious granola, shall we? This is a recipe that I created last year and it is still one of my very favorites. I love eating this homemade granola dry by the handful as snack and I really really love it in a bowl with some milk and fresh fruit.

It is easy to make and even easier to eat. Should we get started?!

baking sheet covered parchment paper with homemade granola recipe and metal spoon from overhead on a wooden board

What Do You Put in Granola?

This is a pretty standard formula that is easy to follow and easy to customize to what you are craving.

  • Oats – Make sure you buy old fashioned oats not quick cooking.
  • Honey holds the granola together.
  • Oil makes your granola crisp. See the note in the recipe card about lessening the oil.
  • Nuts pack a nice protein punch into your granola. Good choices are pecans or almonds.
  • Dried Fruit gets mixed in after baking. Raisins, dried cranberries, and dried pineapple are all great choices!
  • Seasonings like 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!

Granola Variations

  • You can replace the honey with agave nectar or maple syrup.
  • 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.
  • Trade out half the nuts for seeds! I like adding pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to my granola.
  • 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.

For an example of a great vacation, try my PUMPKIN SPICE GRANOLA!

metal spoon holding a spoonful of granola recipe with oats, nuts and dried cranberries visible

How Do You Make Granola?

  1. Mix your wet ingredients (sugar, oil, honey), and your seasonings (cinnamon and vanilla) together.
  2. Fold in the oats and whatever nuts you’ve chosen.
  3. After baking, you let the granola cool for an hour.
  4. Break it apart, and mix in your dried fruit.

Watch the video below for all the details on how to make this granola recipe!

NOTE: A few people have had this granola burn. Given how many times I’ve successfully made this, I think different oven temperatures are to blame. Make sure you really watch your granola starting at the half way point of baking.

How Long Can You Store Granola?

Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks!

What is the Serving Size for Granola?

The serving size for this homemade granola recipe is half a cup. At 302 calories and 5 grams of protein it’s a good breakfast and when you add in some milk and fresh fruit, it will leave you feeling satisfied throughout the morning.

Is Granola Gluten Free?

If you buy oats that are certified gluten free, this is a great recipe for someone with a gluten intolerance.

Can this Granola be Made Vegan?

Yes! If you are following a strict vegan diet this is a great recipe for you. Replace the honey with agave or maple syrup and you are good to go.

Other Great 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!

glass ball jar of homemade granola recipe with fresh raspberries and fresh blueberries around the base
This crunch granola recipe is just what you need to get your morning started!
4.88 from 16 votes

Homemade Granola Recipe

Serves: 9 cups
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
This easy Homemade Granola Recipe with honey is full of easy to find ingredients that can be customized depending on what flavor you are going for!

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup honey you could also use maple syrup or agave nectar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1 TBSP vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil See note
  • 5 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking oats)
  • 2 cups chopped pecans any roughly chopped nut would be great here – especially walnuts or almonds
  • 1 cup dried cranberries or any dried fruit
  • 1 cup raisins or any dried fruit

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together honey, oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and cinnamon.
  • Gently fold in the oats and the nuts.  Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet.  Bake for 35 to 45 minutes rotating the baking sheet half way though baking. 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.

Notes

Please note that the nutritional information listed is for 1/2 a cup.
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.
Calories: 302kcal (15%) Carbohydrates: 32.5g (11%) Protein: 5g (10%) Fat: 16.5g (25%) Saturated Fat: 1.6g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 5.05g Monounsaturated Fat: 1.9g Sodium: 66.3mg (3%) Potassium: 14.25mg Fiber: 3.6g (15%) Sugar: 14.5g (16%) Vitamin A: 0.5IU Vitamin C: 1.2mg (1%) Calcium: 9mg (1%) Iron: 1.4mg (8%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
This crunch granola recipe is just what you need to get your morning started!

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Homemade Granola Recipe

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Pharris says

    Does anyone have the nutritional facts on this granola? Thanks

    • Lisa Longley says

      I just recently added the nutritional information!

  2. Melissa Griffiths says

    5 stars
    Granola is my jam. This looks so good! Long live all the craisins!

  3. Katie @The Semisweet Sisters says

    This looks delish! I’ve always wanted to try making homemade granola!

    • Lisa Longley says

      It’s crazy how easy it is! And so delicious!

  4. Deanna says

    5 stars
    Ok love your post! My children will be 26 and 30 this year and I just looked at baby pictures and it was a Kleenex, crawl back in bed moment for me! I told new parents when my children graduated to hold on and enjoy even the most trying of times….Now I can’t catch my breath wanting just one more day. Food connects us to our children more than we realize sometimes. Oatmeal is one of those foods for me. Fond memories. Thank you so much for the recipe and fond memories of my children. Blessed be

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thank you so much for your kind words Deanna!

  5. Marie Anderson says

    5 stars
    It’s a really delicious recipe. Thank you for shear delicious recipe

    • Lisa Longley says

      So happy you loved it Marie!

  6. Susan Sawyyer says

    What is the serving size ?

    • Lisa Longley says

      The nutritional information is for one cup

  7. Mama D says

    3 stars
    At the directed temperature it burned and I had to throw away half the batch when I checked it with 15 minutes to go. I’d suggest turning it down. Way down. Waaaaay way down.

    Other than that it’s a great, easy to follow and adjust to other ingredients if need be…

    Just really sad I lost half of it…

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m really sorry this recipe didn’t work for you! Nothing makes me more frustrated than that. I have made this recipe and versions of it multiple times, so I feel really good about the temperature listed in the instructions. I will say that oven temperatures do vary, and I find it helpful to find a thermometer to make sure my oven is actually cooking at the temperature it says it is.

  8. Renee says

    5 stars
    I love homemade granola! I can’t wait to try your version! Thanks for sharing it.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you love it!

  9. Jonathan Sager says

    You’ve created just awesome recipes. Always I love delicious food. Thanks for sharing the beautiful recipe. Your information is very helpful. I can’t wait Really I will try this at my home.

  10. Loretta Gray says

    5 stars
    Just made granola this morning. It is absolutely amazing. Only had 2 cups of oatmeal so I had to adjust quantities. I was going to buy granola at the grocery store, but this is much better, and so easy. Have to buy more oatmeal. Will never buy granola again. It was so easy to make. Thanks for a great recipe.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you liked it!

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