This is the best homemade granola recipe, crunchy, delicious, and naturally sweetened. And since this homemade granola isn’t too sweet, it makes you taste what you’re eating (which makes me happy because I love oat, yogurt, and fresh fruit).
The market is full of delicious and different types of granolas to choose, but I prefer homemade as it’s healthier, cheaper, and you can customize how you want! And this recipe is exactly that, a very basic and easy-to-prepare homemade granola.
Table of Contents
INGREDIENTS FOR HEALTHY GRANOLA RECIPE
Homemade granola only requires a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Once you’ve mastered this basic formula, you can personalize it how you like it by using different sweeteners and spices or swapping out your favorite nuts or fruit!
To make this homemade granola recipe, you will need:
- Oats – Use whole rolled oats. If making this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free certified brand.
- Nuts – I mostly use slivered almonds or walnuts in my granola. But feel free to substitute your favorite nuts or seeds.
- Chia – I like to use chia for its omega-3 fatty acids content but feel free to omit it if you prefer.
- Melted coconut oil – Or your preferred type of oil.
- Honey – Or maple syrup.
- Cinnamon, Salt, and Vanilla Extract – To flavor homemade granola.
- Coconut flakes – Use shredded coconut or omit it altogether.
- Dried fruit or Chocolate chips – Add a little more sweetness!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE GRANOLA
- Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the oats, almonds, chia seeds, cinnamon, and sea salt until evenly combined.
- In a cup or bowl, mix the melted coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour it into the oats and stir until combined.
- Spread granola evenly on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking.
- Remove from the oven, add the coconut flakes, and mix well. Bake for another 5 minutes, until the granola is lightly toasted and golden.
- Remove from oven and let cool until granola reaches room temperature. Then stir in dried fruit, chocolate chips, or any other optional add-ons you prefer.
TIPS FOR HOMEMADE GRANOLA RECIPE
- Keep a 1:1 ratio between sweetener and oil.
- Honey and maple syrup are two of the best sweeteners you can use to make this homemade granola because their runny consistency coats the oats very well.
- This recipe provides homemade granola with a subtle level of sweetness, but if you find that this is too much for you, you can cut the honey and oil in half and still have great homemade granola.
- The hardest part of cooking granola is knowing when it’s done. Using a low oven temperature helps dry the granola without overcooking it, but remember that it will not crisp right out of the oven, as it will crisp out when it cools. Remove granola from the oven when it looks slightly toasted and smells like cooked honey.
- Add dried fruit after cooking. You can toast most nuts with the oats in the oven, but dried fruit will burn, so add them after baking.
- Experiment with this recipe and tweak it slightly using different sweeteners and spices or swapping out your favorite nuts or fruit. With this simple and easy homemade granola, the possibilities are almost endless.
HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE GRANOLA
Cool the granola completely on the baking sheet before transferring it to a storage container. When stored in an airtight container, this granola will keep fresh for up to a month.
HOW TO SERVE GRANOLA
Serve the granola with milk or use it in a smoothie bowl, like an acai smoothie bowl or sprinkle over yogurt with some fresh fruits for a simple breakfast.
Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Small Bowl
- 2 Large baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 4 cups (500g/1.1lb ) whole rolled oats
- 1 cup (100g/3.5oz ) slivered almonds, or your preferred type of nuts/seeds
- ¼ cup (40g/1.4oz ) chia seeds, (optional)
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (40g /1.4oz) unsweetened coconut flakes, or ½ cup shredded coconut
- ½ cup (65g/2.3oz) chopped dried fruit, or semisweet chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
- In a large bowl, mix the oats, almonds, chia seeds, cinnamon, and sea salt until evenly combined.
- In a cup or bowl, mix the melted coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour it into the oats and stir until combined.
- Spread granola evenly on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking.
- Remove from the oven, add the coconut flakes, and mix well. Bake for another 5 minutes, until the granola is lightly toasted and golden.
- Remove from oven and let cool until granola reaches room temperature. Then stir in dried fruit, chocolate chips, or any other optional add-ons you prefer.