How to Make Easy Homemade Granola

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!

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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:

• Serve with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit
• Snack on handfuls straight from the jar
• Add to trail mix
• Sprinkle over ice cream
• Stir into smoothies

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.

Shop Tools for this Recipe