This is seriously the best ever homemade granola. Once you realize how easy it is to make, you’ll never again buy granola from the grocery store. (Sorry, grocery stores.) If you aren’t a granola-eating person, you might want to give it another try. This homemade granola is not only yummy, addictive, and filled with healthy ingredients, but the recipe is adaptable.
You can tweak it to include your favorite flavors.
It will keep you company while you work, read a book, or catch up on your DVRd shows.
I’m snacking on it while I type this. For real.
See?
Let’s get to it.
Ingredients
Method
- Cover baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix together oats, nuts, seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Add oil, honey, and vanilla. Mix well.
- Pour onto baking sheet and press down to flatten.
- Bake 22-25 minutes, stirring at the halfway point.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle fruit over granola.
- Let granola cool one hour before breaking into pieces.
- Store in an airtight container. It will last at least two weeks - possibly more but we always eat it before then.
Recipe Notes
Oats:
My favorite is Bob’s Red Mill Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats. Bob’s sells several versions of oats including quick-cooking, old-fashioned, extra-thick, and steel-cut. Use the old-fashioned version for this recipe.
Nuts and Seeds:
Substitute whatever nuts you prefer. I love the combination of almonds, pecans, and pistachios. I work flaxseed into my diet as much as possible—flaxseed improves digestion and reduces risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer (healthline.com).
Vanilla:
All vanilla extract is NOT the same. My favorite by a long shot is Nielsen-Massey. But it isn’t cheap. Put it on your Christmas list, and if you are good, maybe you’ll find it in your stocking on Christmas Day.
Honey:
I’ve always heard that locally made honey will help alleviate seasonal allergies. The idea is that exposing yourself to pollen will lessen sensitivity to it. I’m not an allergist or doctor of any kind, but I do know bees make honey using nectar from flowers. While flower pollen is a small part of the process, we are likely allergic to tree and grass and dust pollen (not flower pollen). Regardless, buy locally made honey because buying locally is a good thing.
Other ingredients:
Make this granola recipe your own by adding chocolate chips, coconut shavings, almond extract, sunflower seeds, cheerios, whatever other ingredients sound good to you.
Ways to Enjoy
Get creative!
Add granola to yogurt, ice cream, pudding, oatmeal, and breakfast cereal.
Crumble it on green salads instead of croutons. It adds a nice crunch to rice bowls too.
Roll banana slices in granola and freeze. Add peanut butter and granola to apple slices for a tasty snack.
Sprinkle on top of fresh-from-the-oven cookies, muffins, or pound cake.
Add a small bowl of granola to your Easter charcuterie board.
Snack on homemade granola AS-IS while binge-watching your latest Netflix obsession. (mine = The Gilded Age)
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I hope you enjoy my Best Ever Homemade Granola recipe. I whip up a batch about every two weeks. We devour it that quickly.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Talya, my granola recipe is very much like yours. I use half local honey and half Grandma’s Molasses mixed in with the oil. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds great. I may try that combo next!
Good morning on this fifth day of Spring, as I munch on my homemade granola cereal and look out at a fresh dusting of snow on the green grass.
Your recipe sounds very good! My version of homemade granola includes walnuts and shredded coconut. I heat the liquids until hot but not boiling. Instead of olive oil I use 1/8 cup coconut oil mixed with 1/4 cup honey and 1/2 cup orange juice. A glut of pure maple syrup is good too. Pour the liquids over the dry ingredients and mix well. I use a pure vanilla extract and it’s worth every penny/dollar. I’ll have to try some of your variations.
That is a glug of maple syrup. Lol
I use coconut oil too but need to buy more. Orange juice sounds like a great ingredient!
Talya—I am reading your Gracie Lee novel now. I see myself in almost every page. Although I am not yet finished reading, I love the book. Susie
Yay! I’m so glad you are enjoying it! Thanks so much for letting me know.