Simple and Basic Homemade Granola Recipe with 32 Flavor Ideas

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Homemade granola is so easy to make you are going to wish you had started making it sooner! This recipe is the base recipe so you can personalize it and add in whatever mix-ins you want to make it your favorite homemade granola recipe.

Granola was one of those things I put off trying to make from scratch because it seemed daunting. I was fed up with the high prices at the grocery store when I finally decided to make my own. Now the ingredients cost me less than half that to make double the amount we were buying. I tweaked a few different recipes to create this recipe that is completely customizable.

If you’re looking for an easy granola recipe that’s healthy, budget-friendly, and made from simple pantry staples, this homemade version checks every box.

Why Make Granola From Scratch?

Homemade granola is perfect for busy mornings when you are looking for a healthy alternative to sugary cereal. It is the perfect companion for a homemade yogurt bowl, fruit parfait, and a healthy cereal alternative. Making homemade granola is budget-friendly and can be healthier than buying it in the grocery store.

Store-bought granola costs up to $12 in the store for a small bag. You can make granola at home for half the price, but you get double the amount of granola if you had bought it from the store. Granola is probably one of the most cost-effective make-from-scratch swaps you can make. It is a budget-friendly pantry staple that stretches your grocery dollars further.

Once you try homemade granola, you won’t go back to store-bought granola. When you make your own granola, you can personalize the ingredients to fit your family’s dietary needs. You can make it nut-free, sugar-free, and even gluten-free granola. The flavoring opportunities with this customizable homemade granola recipe are endless. Homemade granola doesn’t have preservatives or other unnecessary ingredients you can’t pronounce. At a minimum, basic homemade granola has 3 ingredients: oats, sweetener, and oil.

Ingredients for Homemade Granola

You only need three basic ingredients to make oven baked granola: oats, sweetener, and oil. You can build off this customizable recipe to add in any flavorings you want.

What Oats Should I Use?

There are so many different forms of oats! What is the difference between rolled oats, old fashion, steel-cut oats, quick oats, and instant?

• Rolled Oats are the same as Old-Fashioned Oats. They are steamed oat groats that are rolled flat. They are perfect for making granola because they crisp up and hold structure.
• Steel-Cut Oats are whole oat groats chopped into small pieces. This form of oat is not ideal for granola because they stay hard.
• Quick Oats arerolled oats that are cut into smaller pieces and rolled thinner. They can be used in granola, but they are finer and make a softer granola.
• Instant Oats are thinly rolled oats that are pre-cooked then dried. Think instant oatmeal packets. This form is not ideal for making granola.

Best Sweeteners for Granola

A sweetener is needed for making granola because it acts as a binder for crunchy granola clusters. The sweetener evenly coats all the ingredients together so they can stick together. Liquid sweeteners like honey and maple syrup help bind granola into clusters, while dry sugars mainly add sweetness and crispness. There are sugar-free options that use nut butters, egg whites, or applesauce, but it is less crunchy.

• Honey is the most commonly used choice,
• Maple syrup provides flavor, sweetness and adds a glossy finish.
• Agave nectar is a good vegan option compared to honey.

Granulated sugar like white cane sugar and brown sugar are not recommended because they don’t bind the ingredients together. Loose sugar is able to be used if they are mixed with extra oil.

Oil

The fat in oil helps make oven baked granola crispy.

• Coconut oil produces a perfect crispy texture and has a slight coconut flavor.
• Avocado oil has no taste compared to coconut and olive oil.
• Olive oil is a good choice if you are looking for a slightly savory flavor and you are mindful of inflammatory oil intake.
• Butter has a neutral creamy taste, binds less compared to coconut oil, and is more sensitive to burning.

Equipment

Basic kitchen equipment is needed to transform your ingredients into granola.

• Large mixing bowl: to mix dry and wet ingredients without mess.
• Rubber spatula or wooden spoon: to stir and ensure even cooking layer
• 18×13” small rimmed baking sheet: Provides an even surface for baking; rim keeps granola contained.
• Parchment paper or silicone mat: Prevents sticking and eases cleanup
• Microwave-safe cup or small saucepan: to melt coconut oil.
• Airtight container: for storage to keep granola crispy during storage

How to Make Granola (Step-by-Step)

• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 2 cups of add-ins (if not using, add additional oats)
• 1/4 cup oil of choice
• 1/3 cup sweetener of choice

Instructions

1. To begin, preheat your oven to 300 and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add your dry ingredients (oats, whatever mix-ins you want) and stir them together.
3. If your oil is solid at room temperature: in a small, microwave-safe bowl, add your oil and microwave till melted (about 1 minute).
4. Add your sweetener of choice to your liquid oil of choice and whisk them together, and microwave them again till they are very warm (about another 30-60 seconds).
5. Pour your wet ingredients over your dry ingredients, and stir till all of your oats are covered entirely. Pour your granola onto your pan and spread it out into one thin, even layer.
6. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes, stirring half way through to promote even browning. Watch the granola! It is done cooking when the edges are just starting to gain a bit of color. The granola will get crunchy as it cools.
7. Let granola cool entirely before breaking it up into pieces.

Tips on Making Crunchy Granola Clusters

For those classic crunchy granola clusters, the key is using a liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup and avoiding over-stirring while baking

• Do not over-stir the granola
• Press the mixture flat into the pan
• Cook low and slow
• Let cool before you break it apart

Additions, Variations & Substitutions

The variations and substitutions for granola are ENDLESS. That is why this recipe is the bare bones of what it takes to make granola. You can add different nuts, seeds, sweeteners, and textures depending on what you have on hand already or what flavors you are going for. The additions are perfect for parfaits, smoothies or yogurt bowls. You can even make seasonal variations and give as gifts. You can make this recipe yours.

Nuts

• Almonds (sliced or chopped)
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Cashews
• Peanuts

Seeds

• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• Chia seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Sesame seeds
• Hemp seeds

Dried Fruit

• Raisins
• Cranberries
• Chopped dates
• Apricots
• Coconut flakes
• Blueberries or cherries
• Strawberries

Sweet Mix-Ins

• Chocolate chips
• Cacao nibs
• White chocolate chips
• Peanut butter

Extra Boosts

• Nut butters (peanut, almond, cashew)
• Shredded coconut

Spices & Seasonings

• Cinnamon
• Vanilla extract
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Apple pie spice
• Cardamom
• Sea salt

How to Store Homemade Granola

The shelf life of oven baked granola depends on the ingredients you add in. If you add in shelf-stable ingredients like dried fruit and seeds, the shelf life is 2 weeks. If you add fresh fruit, the shelf life of your granola is about 3 days.

You can store the granola in an air-tight container or bag at room temperature for about 2 weeks – unless you used fresh ingredients, then refrigerate to avoid mold.

Alternative options for storing homemade granola is to freeze it. Frozen granola will last 6 months to a year in an airtight bag or container.

How to Serve Granola

If you are looking for ways to eat granola, my favorite is on top of a yogurt bowl in the morning. Learn how easy it is to make yogurt for the perfect from-scratch breakfast meal. This granola recipe adds the perfect amount of crunch and flavor. You can also add granola into a smoothie bowl. This granola recipe can be used as a healthy cereal alternative by just adding milk to a bowl. If you want to get really creative with using homemade granola, you can use it as a baking add-in to cookies.

Conclusion

Making this homemade granola recipe has earned a spot as a part of our weekly meal prep routine. Homemade granola isn’t just healthier—it’s also a budget-friendly staple that stretches your grocery dollars further. This is the best homemade granola recipe because you can take it and make it yours.

Save this recipe so you can reference it each week! I am always looking for new additions. Comment below your favorite additions that make this simple homemade granola recipe even tastier.

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