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.
- 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.
Pumpkin Spice 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 layers of granola, yogurt, and fresh fruit, these are 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 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.
FAQ
This recipe makes 9 cups of granola.
Yes! This is a great gluten free recipe. Ensure that you are buying gluten free oats, as that is the one ingredient in this that could contain gluten.
Generally speaking, the ingredients in granola are very good for you. The ingredient you need to be careful with is oil. There is a note in the recipe card about lowering the amount of oil.
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.
Yes! This is a great recipe for those following a vegan diet. If you are serving this to someone who is a strict vegan, you will want to swap the honey for maple syrup or agave.
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)
- 1/3 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)
- 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 baking sheet 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. 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
Pharris says
Does anyone have the nutritional facts on this granola? Thanks
I just recently added the nutritional information!
Melissa Griffiths says
Granola is my jam. This looks so good! Long live all the craisins!
Katie @The Semisweet Sisters says
This looks delish! I’ve always wanted to try making homemade granola!
It’s crazy how easy it is! And so delicious!
Deanna says
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
Thank you so much for your kind words Deanna!
Marie Anderson says
It’s a really delicious recipe. Thank you for shear delicious recipe
So happy you loved it Marie!
Susan Sawyyer says
What is the serving size ?
The nutritional information is for one cup
Mama D says
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…
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.
Renee says
I love homemade granola! I can’t wait to try your version! Thanks for sharing it.
I hope you love it!
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.
Loretta Gray says
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.
I’m so happy you liked it!