Store-bought granola doesn’t hold a candle to the homemade stuff. You can make superior granola in your own kitchen and not only is it delicious and far less expensive, it’s also better for you. Homemade granola doesn’t have the excess sugar, unhealthy fats, and preservatives used in the kind of granola you get at the store. And did I mention it takes about 5 minutes to put it all together to make the best granola? Talk about a win! Plus, you can take this simple granola recipe and make it your own by adding any mix-ins you like. Use dried fruit, seeds, coconut, nut butters, or even chocolate to create your own gourmet granola flavors. Don’t worry, if you need some inspo, I’ve got lots of ideas below! (If you love oats, be sure to check out our post on How to Make Oatmeal or Best Homemade Granola Bars!)
What you’ll need for this Homemade Granola Recipe
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Old-fashioned rolled oats – Chewy, hearty old-fashioned oats are the base of any granola recipe. Sliced almonds Light brown sugar Cinnamon Kosher salt – A pinch of salt brings out all the other flavors in this easy granola recipe. Butter – Granola needs a little bit of fat to help it crisp and assist with flavor and binding. Butter is my go-to because, well, butter, but vegetable oil or melted coconut oil work, too. Honey Vanilla extract Egg white – The secret to getting big clusters in your granola is to use an egg white to help bind the oats together.
Easy Granola Recipe Variations
Want to mix things up? Keep the base recipe the same, then swap in any of these:
Nuts and Seeds – I keep it super simple and straightforward with sliced almonds in this recipe, but you can switch them out for whole almonds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios, coconut, flax seed, or whatever else you like. Sweetener – I prefer a sweeter granola, which is why I have both brown sugar and honey in this basic granola recipe. If you prefer a less sweet granola you could decrease or even eliminate the brown sugar and just use the honey to sweeten the oats. Real maple syrup or agave are good alternatives as a natural sweeteners. Spices – A little cinnamon gives warmth and depth of flavor to this granola. You could double or even triple the amount of cinnamon in here with good results if that’s a flavor you want more of, or use cardamom or gingerbread, apple pie, or pumpkin spice blends if you have them in your cupboard. Other flavors and mix-ins – The sky is really the limit here, but some of my favorites are peanut butter, cocoa powder, dried fruit (cherries, cranberries, raisins, apricots, apples), and chocolate chips. If you want to add chocolate chips, they will need to be added after the granola is completely cooled.
How to make Granola
As I mentioned above, making granola at home is incredibly easy. Here’s what you need to do:
How to make Granola Clusters
To make granola clusters, press the granola into a compact layer before baking so that it clumps together in big pieces. Don’t stir the granola during baking or after until it has cooled completely. You could also drop small clusters of granola onto your baking sheet and bake that way for clusters that are separated from the start, but you might need more than one baking sheet for this approach.
Granola Recipe Tips for Success
There’s not much to making homemade granola, but here are a few additional tips and pointers.
Getting granola clusters. If you want large chunks of clumpy granola, flatten it into an even layer with a spatula, adding pressure so the granola is nice and compact. Use old-fashioned oats. Also known as rolled oats! Don’t use steel-cut oats (they’ll be way too hard) or quick oats (the texture won’t be as chewy). Keeping it crispy. It’s important to let the granola cool completely before storing it. If you rush it, it will get a soft, stale texture instead of being delightfully crisp.
Best Granola Recipe Serving Suggestions
Homemade granola is perfect for just eating out of hand. It’s great for taking on hikes or to the park and my kids love snacking on it that way. I especially love to layer this granola with flavored or Greek yogurt and fresh fruit or berries to make fruit and yogurt parfaits for breakfast or even as a healthier dessert. It’s also excellent with milk poured over it and some strawberries sliced in. You can even add a handful of granola to a salad, especially one with fruit like berries or apples, to add crunch!
How long does Homemade Granola last?
Homemade granola lasts for about 2 weeks in an airtight container. But if your family is anything like mine, it probably won’t last that long. You could even freeze the granola to keep it fresh longer.
More Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love
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This post was originally published in January, 2018. The photos and content were updated in July, 2022.
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