Here’s how to make easy homemade granola to fit your cravings or what you have in your pantry. Make your next batch of granola just the way you want it!

Here's how to make easy homemade granola to fit your cravings or what you have already in your pantry. 

A few years ago I discovered that homemade granola was SO MUCH BETTER than the stuff I bought at the grocery store, and I’ve never looked back.

This easy homemade granola is sweet, crunchy, and full of so much flavor. And the best part about it is completely adaptable! You can use whatever mixins you like, choose your favorite sweetener like honey or maple syrup, and add even more flavor with ground cinnamon or vanilla extract.

I have suggestions for flavor combinations like nutty-coconut, cherry-almond, and peanut butter-chocolate, but I also include instructions and tips to make your own delicious granola combination.

Here's how to make easy homemade granola to fit your cravings or what you have already in your pantry. 

How to make easy homemade granola

To make granola at home you need just 6 things:

  • Old-fashioned rolled oats
  • Sweetener
  • Oil or butter
  • Salt
  • Mix-ins like nuts or dried fruit
  • Additional flavorings like cinnamon or vanilla

granola mixins

Start with oats and mix-ins

The base for granola is old fashioned rolled oats, but you’ll want to add other mixins for flavor, texture, heartiness, and fun! I usually keep a ratio of 2 cups of oats to 1-2 cups of total mixins. Here are some options to choose from, add one or several:

  • Nuts— pecans, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts, etc. You can leave them whole or give them a rough chop.
  • Dried fruit— cranberries, cherries, and blueberries, etc.
  • Coconut— I prefer unsweetened wide-slice coconut or coconut “chips” but you can use shredded or flaked coconut.
  • Chocolate chunks or chocolate chips

Tip: Dried fruit and chocolate should only be added after granola is baked and cooled.

granola mixins

Choose sweetener, flavorings, and oil or butter

Feel free to use any of these sweeteners:

  • Maple syrup
  • Honey
  • Brown sugar

And any of these oils or fats:

  • Olive oil
  • Canola oil
  • Melted coconut oil
  • Melted butter

For additional flavor, add one or more of the following:

  • Vanilla extract
  • Other extracts like almond, coconut, etc.
  • Ground cinnamon or other spices like cardamom, pumpkin spice, etc.
  • Nut butter like peanut butter or almond butter (melted)

mixing homemade granola

Combine and bake

  1. Combine dry ingredients. In one large bowl combine the oats, mix-ins (except dried fruit or chocolate), salt, and any other non-liquid additions like cinnamon.
  2. Combine liquids. In another bowl whisk sweetener, oil/butter and any liquid flavorings like vanilla.
  3. Toss together. Make sure dry ingredients are completely covered and mixture is uniform.
  4. Dump out on sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  5. Bake low and slow. This way the granola toasts and dries out without burning. Stir just once while baking.
  6. Let cool completely. Resist the urge to stir! Let granola cool completely, then break into chunks. If you stir while it’s still warm, you’ll destroy all the delicious clumps.
  7. Add any final mix-ins like dried fruit or chocolate.

Tip: It can be hard to know when granola is done as it should still appear wet when it comes out of the oven (it will finish drying as it cools). Look for oats and mix-ins that are lightly toasted, and granola should have a delicious sweet and buttery aroma.

Here's how to make easy homemade granola to fit your cravings or what you have already in your pantry. 

Ways to use this granola

There’s no wrong way to enjoy homemade granola, and I promise that you will enjoy it! Here are a few ideas in case you need them:

How to Store Granola

Granola will last for about a month stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Just make sure granola is completely cool before storing.

Here's how to make easy homemade granola to fit your cravings or what you have already in your pantry. 

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How To Make Easy Homemade Granola

Servings: 16 (1/4 cup) servings
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Use the basic granola recipe to create your own granola, or choose one of my flavor combinations. Make your next batch just the way you want it!
Here's how to make easy homemade granola to fit your cravings or what you have already in your pantry. 
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5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

Basic Granola Recipe:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned oats (180 grams)
  • 1 - 2 cups nuts, coconut, dried fruit, seeds, or chopped chocolate (140-280 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ - ½ teaspoon spice such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice
  • ⅓ cup olive oil, vegetable oil, melted butter, or melted coconut oil (about 66 grams)
  • ¼ cup sweetener such as sugar, maple syrup or honey (about 84 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon flavoring such as vanilla, coconut, or almond extract

Nutty Coconut Granola:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (180 grams)
  • ½ cup sliced almonds (43 grams)
  • ½ cup chopped pecans (57 grams)
  • ½ cup unsweetened coconut (30 grams)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil , melted (75 grams)
  • ¼ cup maple syrup (77 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cherry Almond Granola:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (180 grams)
  • 1 cup ½almonds (43 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup melted butter (75 grams)
  • ¼ cup honey (66 grams)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • ½ cup dried cherries (71 grams)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (180 grams)
  • ⅔ cup peanuts (95 grams)
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil , melted (75 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter , melted (33 grams)
  • ¼ cup maple syrup (77 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅔ cup mini chocolate chips (116 grams)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Line sheet pan with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
  • In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients: oats, nuts, coconut, salt, spices etc.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the liquids: oil/melted butter, extracts, and liquid sweetener.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly so that everything is moistened.
  • Spread out on a large sheet pan and bake until lightly toasted, 25-30 minutes, stirring once. The granola will still appear wet but will dry as it is cools.
  • Let granola cool completely in the pan, then bread into chunks. Add any dried fruit or chocolate chips if using.
  • Store granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.
NOTES:
  • Use the Basic Granola Recipe as a starting place to create your own granola combination, or use one of the provided combinations.
  • Makes 4 cups.
  • Nutrition information calculated for "Nutty Coconut" combination.
  • Be sure to not add dried fruit or chocolate until after baked granola is cooled.

Nutrition

Calories: 152kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 100mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: Annalise
Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review below or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.