Healthy Homemade Granola

Homemade granola is quick, easy, and affordable. Plus, it is a whole lot healthier for you than what you could buy at the grocery store! Making homemade granola was one of the first things I started to make when I was looking to start making more foods from scratch.

It doesn’t take a ton of ingredients or time, requiring only about 15 minutes of hands-on time. I love that granola is very versatile as well – you can change up most of the ingredients to create all sorts of different variations.

Whether you are a seasoned granola maker looking for a new recipe to change things up or you are a beginner at making granola, you have come to the right place! Give this quick and easy granola recipe a try, and you will not be disappointed!

Homemade granola goes wonderfully with yogurt to make a wholesome breakfast or snack! To add even more flavor to your yogurt, check out how you can easily make 10 Minute Healthy Jam With Chia Seeds.

Equipment & Tools

Stand Mixer or Large Mixing Bowl: Mixing up the granola is super easy so a large mixing bowl would suffice, I just like to use my stand mixer because I feel it mixes the ingredients more evenly.

Wooden Spoon: You could use a wooden spoon or a spatula to mix up the granola and spread it on the baking sheet.

Baking Sheet(s): We will be spreading out the granola to dry in the oven so it isn’t sticky, this recipe fits great on a half sheet (13-in x 18-in) baking sheet.

Silicone Mat: Since the granola is sticky after it is mixed, I like to use a silicone mat on my pan for ease of removing it from the pan after it is baked/cooled and cleanup. A disposable option would be to use parchment paper.

Storage Container(s): I like to use a half gallon mason jar to store my granola in, whatever kind of container you choose, just make sure it is air-tight so that the granola remains dry and crispy.

Desiccant Pack(s): Desiccant packs are the little packets you sometimes find inside items you buy from the store. They have little silica beads inside that absorb moisture from the air. This makes them great for helping keep moisture down inside packages with food and items that would otherwise be damaged or quality reduced by moisture. There are several different kinds, when using for food you want to make sure you use a food-grade desiccant pack. I like to use these reusable desiccant packs.

Ingredients Needed

Oats: This will be our main ingredient in the granola, we will be using the old fashioned variety for this recipe.

Raw nuts: What types of nuts you choose to use will be up to your personal preference, I like to use pecans, walnuts, or almonds. You will want them to be raw, otherwise, they may end up having a very strong toasted flavor or become burned.

Sea Salt: Salt will enhance the flavors of the granola, plus it is an essential mineral needed for our bodies. However, feel free to adjust the amount of salt to fit your dietary needs.

Cinnamon: I like to add a bit of cinnamon to my granola as I find it pairs well with maple syrup.

Oil: I use cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil which has a smoke point of 350 degrees Fahrenheit / 177 degrees Celsius. I haven’t had an issue using this oil for this recipe but if your oven runs hot, this could result in some smoking so either reduce the temperature or use a higher smoke point oil.

If you want to make it even healthier then you can use applesauce in place of the oil.

Maple Syrup: I absolutely love using maple syrup to make granola, the smell as you mix it and while it is baking is heavenly. If you are not into maple syrup then you could use honey instead.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla gives the granola some extra flavor and aroma. This recipe is perfect to use homemade vanilla extract in!

How to Make Healthy Homemade Granola

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit / 175 degrees Celsius.

Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl, combine and blend the oats, nuts, salt, and cinnamon.

Add Wet Ingredients: Melt the coconut oil then add the oil, maple syrup, and vanilla to the dry ingredients. Mix well, until everything is evenly lightly coated.

Spread: Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a spatula or wooden spoon to spread it in an even layer.

Bake: Bake until lightly golden, about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway. For extra-clumpy granola, press the stirred granola down with your spatula to create a more dense layer.

Let Cool: Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed for at least 45 minutes, it will continue to crisp up as it cools.

Break Up: Break the granola into pieces with your hands if you want chunky granola, or crush it a bit with a spoon if you want finer granola.