Healthy Oat Granola
Valentina P
Once you realize how easy and delicious it is to make homemade granola, you'll never go back to the store-bought varieties. Consider this a mix-and-match template. Use the ratios provided to fill in with your favorite nuts, seeds, and mix-ins. If you're a fan of granola clusters, use a bit more of the honey and opt for coconut oil. Otherwise, if you prefer a less sweet, more muesli-style consistency (my preference), then use the honey amount indicated and an olive oil or grapeseed oil. Check out the notes below for some flavor ideas as a launching point. If you're looking for a grain-free granola, try The Best Grain-Free Granola.
How To MakeDiet Type: Classic
Shopping List
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (not quick-cooking flakes) and/or puffed cereal
- 3/4 cup nuts and/or seeds
- 33333333/100000000 cup dried fruit, optional (raisins, cranberries, mulberries, etc)
- 1/4 cup mix-ins, optional (candied ginger, chocolate, coconut, etc)
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or light olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey (double this amount if you want it sweeter, with clusters)
- 1/2 teaspoon spice of choice, optional (cinnamon, allspice, etc)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (if using salted nuts, cut this in half)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts/seed blend, vanilla, salt, and optional spice. Stir. Do not add the dried fruits at this stage, or else they will burn and harden during baking.
- Step 3: Heat the oil and honey together in a microwave or small saucepan until easily mixable (this should only take about 15 seconds in a microwave). Pour the warm oil blend into the oat blend and stir until everything is lightly coated. Transfer the granola to the lined pan. Spread the granola evenly, so that it is not overcrowded.
- Step 4: Bake the granola for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through baking time. If adding coconut flakes as a mix-in, add this halfway through the baking time so that it does not burn.
- Step 5: Once cooked, transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack. Sprinkle the dried fruit over the granola. The residual heat from the granola will soften the fruits. Do not remove the granola from the pan for at least 40 minutes. During this time the granola will continue to lightly crisp and create tasty clusters. Note: For extra clusters, refrigerate or freeze the cooled granola directly on the sheet pan for 15 minutes before handling.
- Step 6: Once cooled, break the granola into pieces. Fold in any optional mix-ins, such as chocolate chips. For extra clumpy granola, do not break it into small pieces.
- Serve: Store the granola on the counter or in the freezer. Enjoy over yogurt, almond milk, salad, or as a snack on its own.
Recipe Notes
Here are some fun flavor ideas: Rosemary Walnut: 1.5 cup oats + 1/2 cup walnuts + 1/4 cup hemp seeds + 1/3 cup dried mulberries + 1/4 cup light olive oil + 2 tablespoons honey + 1 tablespoon dried rosemary + 1/2 teaspoon dried cardamom + 1/2 teaspoon vanilla + salt. Fold in the mulberries after baking. Almond Cacao: 1.5 cup oats + 3/4 cup sliced almonds + 1/4 cup cacao nibs + 1/4 cup coconut oil + 2 tablespoons honey + 1/3 cup coconut flakes + 1/2 teaspoon vanilla + salt. Fold in the cacao nibs after baking.
Nutrition
Once you realize how easy and delicious it is to make homemade granola, you'll never go back to the store-bought varieties. Consider this a mix-and-match template. Use the ratios provided to fill in with your favorite nuts, seeds, and mix-ins. If you're a fan of granola clusters, use a bit more of the syrup and opt for coconut oil. Otherwise, if you prefer a less sweet, more muesli-style consistency (my preference), then use syrup amount indicated and an olive oil or grapeseed oil. Check out the notes below for some flavor ideas as a launching point. If you're looking for a grain-free granola, try The Best Grain-Free Granola.
How To MakeDiet Type: Plant-based
Shopping List
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats (not quick-cooking flakes) and/or puffed cereal
- 3/4 cup nuts and/or seeds
- 33333333/100000000 cup dried fruit, optional (raisins, cranberries, mulberries, etc)
- 1/4 cup mix-ins, optional (candied ginger, chocolate, coconut, etc)
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil, grape-seed oil, or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons brown rice syrup or maple syrup (double this amount if you want it sweeter with clusters)
- 1/2 teaspoon spice of choice, optional (cinnamon, allspice, etc)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (if using salted nuts, cut this in half)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts/seed blend, vanilla, salt, and optional spice. Stir. Do not add the dried fruits at this stage, or else they will burn and harden during baking.
- Step 3: Heat the oil and syrup together in a microwave or small saucepan until easily mixable (this should only take about 15 seconds in a microwave). If not using maple syrup, you can skip this step of heating. Pour the warm oil blend into the oat blend and stir until everything is lightly coated. Transfer the granola to the lined pan. Spread the granola evenly, so that it is not overcrowded.
- Step 4: Bake the granola for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through baking time. If adding coconut flakes as a mix-in, add this halfway through the baking time so that it does not burn.
- Step 5: Once cooked, transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack. Sprinkle the dried fruit over the granola. The residual heat from the granola will soften the fruits. Do not remove the granola from the pan for at least 40 minutes. During this time the granola will continue to lightly crisp and create tasty clusters. Note: For extra clusters, refrigerate or freeze the cooled granola directly on the sheet pan for 15 minutes before handling.
- Step 6: Once cooled, break the granola into pieces. Fold in any optional mix-ins, such as chocolate chips. For extra clumpy granola, do not break it into small pieces.
- Serve: Store the granola on the counter or in the freezer. Enjoy over yogurt, almond milk, salad, or as a snack on its own.
Recipe Notes
Here are some fun flavor ideas: Rosemary Walnut: 1.5 cup oats + 1/2 cup walnuts + 1/4 cup hemp seeds + 1/3 cup dried mulberries + 1/4 cup light olive oil + 2 tablespoons syrup + 1 tablespoon dried rosemary + 1/2 teaspoon dried cardamom + 1/2 teaspoon vanilla + salt. Fold in the mulberries after baking. Almond Cacao: 1.5 cup oats + 3/4 cup sliced almonds + 1/4 cup cacao nibs + 1/4 cup coconut oil + 2 tablespoons syrup + 1/3 cup coconut flakes + 1/2 teaspoon vanilla + salt. Fold in the cacao nibs after baking.
Nutrition
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