Granola adds the perfect crunchy sweetness to fruit and yogurt. If you’ve ever wondered how to make granola at home, look no further. This easy breakfast recipe is easy to make, and you’ll love how many ways you can switch it up to get different flavors. It’s infinitely customizable.

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After you make granola at home, you’ll never buy it at the grocery store again. It’s not only way cheaper to make at home, but it’s also healthier because there are no preservatives.

I love granola with almond milk for breakfast in the morning, or a handful sprinkled on Greek yogurt to add a little sweet crunchiness. It’s a great snack in the afternoon, or anytime you need a quick pick-me-up.

What Is In Granola?

Homemade granola is made with a mixture of dry ingredients like oats, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds, combined with natural sweeteners. A small amount of oil is added to help toast the ingredients, slow and low, in the oven. You can also add spices like cinnamon and vanilla.

freshly baked apple granola on the table

What You’ll Need…

Heavy rimmed baking sheet
Parchment paper

Granola Ingredients

Whole Oats

I recommend using rolled oats when making a batch of granola. Old-fashioned oats give you the best super crunchy texture. Quick oats will give you a more clumpy granola.

Dry Ingredients

Nuts and seeds add texture and flavor and are especially delicious when they are toasted. You can use any combination that suits your taste. I like to hold off adding coconut flakes until midway through cooking.

Slivered almonds
Macadamia nuts
Chia seeds
Flax seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame seeds
Sunflower seeds
Coconut flakes – add halfway through cooking!
Wheat germ
Cooked Quinoa

Sweeteners

The sweetener adds texture by melting and then caramelizing as it bakes. Different sweeteners will give you slightly different textures. Sugar and brown sugar are very crispy when baked. Syrups, nectar, and honey contain more water and may take slightly longer to bake also giving you a chewier texture.

Agave nectar
Brown sugar
Brown rice syrup
Real maple syrup
Honey

a bowl of pumpkin spice granola with a blue napkin in the background

The Best Oil For Granola

You want to use an oil with a neutral flavor.

Coconut oil bakes into this recipe beautifully but can add a slight coconut flavor.
MCT oil, which is refined coconut oil, has less coconut flavor.
Extra virgin olive oil has the least flavor in the family of olive oils but can also add a slight flavor. Not necessarily a bad thing.
Melted butter can also be used to add a mild buttery flavor. This works well with the peanut butter granola.

Other Things That Add Flavor

Nut butter and fruit butter add a concentrated flavor to this recipe. For best results, mix the butter with the sweetener before combining it with the mixed dry ingredients.

Peanut butter and honey make a great combo. Add dark chocolate chips for an extra treat.
Apple butter and cinnamon, plus diced dried apples.
Pumpkin butter and cinnamon, plus pumpkin seeds, are perfect for fall.
Cinnamon
Vanilla

Dried Fruits

Add dried fruits after the granola is baked and cooled. You can add any combination of dried fruits that you like. Here are a few of my favorites.

Cranberries
Blueberries
Apples
Pineapple
Mango
Papaya
Banana

Recipe For Granola

The best granola recipe is made with whole oats and your favorite nuts. The oat mixture is combined with your sweetener of choice and some oil. After it’s baked and crunchy, add other sweet ingredients like dark chocolate chips or dried fruit to the oat mixture.

How To Make Granola

Preheat your oven to 350℉.
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl; oats, nuts, and seeds.
Combine the wet ingredients in a smaller bowl, including the oil and the sweetener. If you are using fruit butter or peanut butter, you will add that at this stage. Any spices can be added in this step as well.
Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and use a large spatula to combine them, ensuring they’re evenly combined.
Spread the oat mixture in an even layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Pack it down using a rubber spatula.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Toss and then reduce the temperature to 275℉.
Continue to bake at a lower temperature until the granola is a light golden brown, nice, and crunchy.
Cool. Once the finished granola has cooled to room temperature, use your hands to break it apart into smaller chunks.
Add in any dried fruits or chocolate chips at this stage.

Expert Tips For Perfect Chunky Granola

Pack the granola together tightly when baking. You want all of the ingredients to stick together as they bake. After the granola cools to room temperature, you will break it into chunky bits.
Bake on low heat. Toast the oats and nuts slowly and low in the oven. Cooking the granola at too high of a temperature will make the sugar brittle. You want the sugar to melt and bind the oats and nuts together but not get hot enough to crack.
Stir halfway through baking and press it together with a spatula. Midway through baking, the sugar is melty, and it’s the perfect time to make sure all those chunky pieces are sticking together for the ideal chunky granola.

Granola Variations

I’ve made homemade granola for a couple of years and have several varieties we love. Using this simple method, you can create endless varieties of flavor combinations.

Peanut Butter

½ cup of peanut butter
Honey

Tropical

Macadamia nuts
Coconut flakes
Dried tropical fruits

Apple Cinnamon

Dried apples
Apple butter
Cinnamon

Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin butter
Cinnamon

Granola Cookies

Egg white- whipped egg whites help to bind the granola together.
Use a cookie scoop to scoop out cookie-sized portions of granola.

How To Eat Granola

Ice cream
Almond milk
Yogurt parfait made with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit

granola with almond milk and fresh fruit

How To Store Granola

Store in an airtight container. Granola will stay fresh for about one month if stored in a cool, dry place and tightly sealed.

More Breakfast Recipe To Try

When you want something for breakfast we have so many recipes to choose from.

I’m no stranger to bringing my brunch game. We have everything from Sweet Creme Brulee French Toast Casserole to the perfect Egg Frittata.

Light as air French Crepes or stick to your ribs Buttermilk Pancakes.

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