Elevate your breakfast game with Irresistible Homemade Granola!
Crafting your own homemade granola can be a family affair! Everyone can choose a mix-in and participate in the process. Make it simple or make it fancy-the possibilities are endless!
There are four basic ingredients: Oats, Sweetener, Oil, and possibly some nuts and/or dried fruit. Here are some ideas to get you started.
OATS
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. They’re gluten free, heart healthy and whole grain
NUTS AND SEEDS
Pecans, Walnuts, Chopped Almonds, Cashews, Peanuts, Pistachios, Macadamia nuts, Sunflower Seeds, Pepitas, Sesame Seeds, Flax Seeds
OIL
Unsalted Butter, Unrefined coconut oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Avocado Oil
NATURAL SWEETNERS
Light Brown Sugar, Real Maple Syrup, Honey, Brown Rice Syrup. Ideally you want 50% sweetener and 50% oil/butter
SALT•SPICE•EXTRACTS
If you’re not using Diamond Crystal Kosher salt, reduce to 3/4 teaspoon. Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Cloves, Allspice, Nutmeg; Vanilla, Almond extract
DRIED FRUIT
Dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries, raisins, bananas, apples. Chopped dried apricots or dates. Be sure to add the dried fruit AFTER baking!
OPTIONAL MIX-INS
Orange zest, chocolate chips, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter
Eat it like cereal with milk, sprinkle over yogurt or just munch on it for a snack!
More recipes using oats:
Homemade Granola
Equipment
- Baking sheet These baking sheets are one of the most useful tools in my kitchen
- Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt This is the salt I cook with everyday
Ingredients
- 5½ cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 1 cup Sliced almonds
- ¼ cup Flax seed Or Flaxseed Meal
- ⅔ cup Shredded Coconut
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter
- ¼ cup Real maple syrup or light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup Honey
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1½ teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ⅔ cup Dried Cranberries Or dried fruit of your choice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Combine all the dry ingredients, except the coconut and fruit in a large bowl
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, add the maple syrup, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt until the mixture starts to bubble. Add the baking soda. The mixture will immediately bubble more and increase in volume. Turn off heat.
- Pour over dry ingredients and mix well, making sure all ingredients are well coated.
- Pour onto the baking sheet with parchment paper and spread to the edges. Press lightly over the entire surface to make it all flat.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until mixture is golden, rotating the pan halfway.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely, undisturbed. Do not stir until completely cool.
- Meanwhile, toast the coconut on a separate sheet pan until golden brown, about 5-8 minutes. Don't let the coconut get too brown. Remove from the oven and Sprinkle on top of the cooling oat mixture.
- When the oat mixture is completely cool, break up the oat/coconut mix into smaller chunks and add the dried fruit and any other ingredients you want to add* (see notes).
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks. You can also freeze it up to 3 months. Let it warm to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Substitutions:
The possibilities are endless! Use your imagination and what you have in your pantry. Make it different every time!!
OATS: Use Old Fashioned Oats, not quick oats for heart healthy, whole grain nutrition NUTS OR SEEDS: Pecans, Walnuts, chopped Cashews, Peanuts, Pistachios, Macadamia nuts, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Pepitas, Whole Flax Seeds OIL/BUTTER: Unsalted Butter, Unrefined Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Avocado Oil SWEETENERS: Light Brown Sugar, Real Maple Syrup, Honey, Brown Rice Syrup SALT•SPICE•EXTRACTS: If you are not using Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, reduce salt to 3/4 teaspoon. Ground Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Cloves, Allspice, Nutmeg. Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract DRIED FRUIT: Dried Cranberries, Dried Cherries, Raisins, Chopped Dried Apricots, Chopped Dates, Dried Bananas, Dried Apples, Dried Blueberries, Dried Strawberries OPTIONAL MIX-INS: Orange Zest, Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter, Almond ButterNutrition
