Do you love granola? Me, too! Today, I’m sharing my “basic” granola recipe, which is also the best granola recipe. Granted, I’m partial, but it really is the best and I use that term sparingly. Over two hundred five-star reviews agree!
In fact, I love this recipe so much that I shared it in my cookbook, Love Real Food. This granola makes a wonderful snack or breakfast (add your milk of choice and maybe some fresh fruit). It also stores beautifully, so it makes a great homemade gift.
Once you try homemade granola, you won’t go back to store-bought granola. It’s so much better!
This granola recipe is also a far more healthy granola option, since it’s made with whole grains, unrefined oil and naturally sweetened. You just can’t beat freshly baked granola packed with delicious and good-for-you ingredients.
Plus, homemade granola is super easy to make. You’ll only need one bowl and some basic pantry ingredients. Ready to make some?
Watch How to Make Healthy Granola
Now that you have my base recipe, you can play around with the mix-ins and spices to make it your favorite granola.
By the way, you can preserve that freshly baked flavor by storing this granola in the freezer. Just let it warm to room temperature for a few minutes, and enjoy.
Healthy Granola Ingredients
Oats
Heart-healthy, hearty, whole-grain old-fashioned oats keep their shape during baking. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need gluten-free granola.
Nuts and/or Seeds
I used pecans and pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) to make this batch. Other options include walnuts, which are rich in Omega-3s, whole or slivered almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts and sunflower seeds.
Unrefined Oil
Oil helps make this granola crisp and irresistible. I prefer unrefined coconut oil, which is delicious (you can barely taste the coconut, if at all) and produces the perfect texture.
You can use extra-virgin olive oil instead, if you’d like your granola to be a little more on the savory side. If you’re watching your saturated fat intake, olive oil is a better choice!
Natural Sweetener
I love using real maple syrup in my granola. Honey works great, too. As a bonus, these natural sweeteners infuse your granola extra-delicious flavor that sugar would not.
Salt and Spice
For flavorful granola, don’t skip the salt! Too little and your flavors won’t sing. I prefer using fine-grain sea salt in this one (I always cook with fine-grain sea salt), but regular salt will do, too (just use a little less).
I added cinnamon to this batch for some subtle warming spice. Ground ginger (use half as much) and pumpkin spice blends are other options.
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit lends some extra sweetness, chewy texture and irresistible fruity flavor. I used dried cranberries for this batch. I also love tart dried cherries, raisins and chopped dried apricots.
Optional Mix-Ins
For fresh citrus flavor, stir fresh citrus zest (up to 2 teaspoons) into the mixture before baking. I love adding orange zest, in particular.
You can add chocolate chips after the granola has completely cooled (otherwise, they’ll melt).
If you’d like to add unsweetened coconut flakes, you can add it halfway through baking for perfectly toasted results (see recipe note).
Chunky Granola Tips
Some of you, like me, love big clumps in your granola. Here are my tips to achieving the best clumps:
- Your oats need to be a little crowded in the pan so they can stick together, but not so crowded that they don’t toast evenly. I recommend using a basic half sheet pan (affiliate link) for this granola recipe. It’s the perfect size and the rimmed edges make sure no granola falls overboard.
- Be sure to line the pan with parchment paper so the sweetener sticks to your oats rather than the pan.
- For maximum clumps, gently press down on the granola with the back of a spatula after stirring the mixture at the half-way baking point. Then put the pan back into the oven to finish baking.
- Don’t bake the granola too long—just until it’s lightly golden on top, as described. It might not seem like it’s done yet, but it will continue to crisp up as it cools. Over-baking the granola seems to break the sugar bonds.
- Lastly, let the granola cool completely before breaking it up. I’ve even left it on the pan overnight, covered.
Even with all those techniques in place, I occasionally end up with a batch of granola that isn’t as clumpy as my others, for reasons that I can’t explain. It’s always delicious, though!
Granola Variations
This recipe is my favorite, go-to granola recipe. Over the years, I’ve played around with it to create a bunch of fun variations. Here they are for inspiration:
- Orange and Almond Granola: This recipe includes orange zest (2 teaspoons), whole almonds and golden raisins.
- Triple Coconut Granola: This recipe calls for coconut oil, large coconut flakes and shredded coconut.
- Cranberry Orange Granola: This recipe is quite similar to this one, but a little sweeter and full of vibrant orange flavor.
- Honey Almond Granola: Just what it sounds like, plus chopped dried apricots! Delightful.
- Gingerbread Granola: This granola includes molasses and extra warming spices, plus coconut flakes, dried cranberries and chopped candied ginger.
Please let me know how this recipe turns out for you in the comments! I love hearing from you and hope this granola recipe becomes your new favorite.
PrintHealthy Granola
- Author: Cookie and Kate
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 21 mins
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
This delicious healthy granola recipe is naturally sweetened with maple syrup (or honey). It’s made with oats, coconut oil and your favorite nuts and fruit. Make it your own! Recipe yields about 8 cups granola, enough for about 16 half-cup servings.
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola)
- 1 ½ cup raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 1 cup pecans and ½ cup pepitas)
- 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt (if you’re using standard table salt, scale back to ¾ teaspoon)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
- ½ cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup dried fruit, chopped if large (I used dried cranberries)
- Totally optional additional mix-ins: ½ cup chocolate chips or coconut flakes*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon. Stir to blend.
- Pour in the oil, maple syrup and/or honey and vanilla. Mix well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer.
- Bake until lightly golden, about 21 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway (for extra-clumpy granola, press the stirred granola down with your spatula to create a more even layer). The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
- Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes). Top with the dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips, if using). Break the granola into pieces with your hands if you want to retain big chunks, or stir it around with a spoon if you don’t want extra-clumpy granola.
- Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Recipe adapted Meg Gordan’s granola, which I’ve tweaked over the years.
Make it gluten free: Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
Make it nut free: Use seeds, like pepitas or sunflower seeds, instead of nuts.
*If you want toasted coconut in your granola: Stir the coconut flakes into the granola halfway through baking. They’ll get nice and toasty that way.
Serving suggestions: This granola is awesome on its own, with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit, and you can even throw a couple handfuls into a salad for granola “croutons.”
▸ Nutrition Information
Brenda
Can I use butter?
Kate
I haven’t used butter with this recipe. Sorry I’m not sure without trying it. I know other recipes have used butter for granola, but this one was designed with oil.
Lisa
This granola is the best! I have made your recipe more than a dozen times and have no need to search for a different recipe. I always make a double batch and share it with loved ones. It is easily customizable, although I usually stick to the original. It is simply…the BEST. Even the picky-eater grandkids love it. I highly recommend you try this recipe!!
Nicole Renfro
Best recipe ever. I’ve already made it three times in 2 weeks, and shared some. One with coconut, bananas, pineapple, almonds and papaya. One with dates, apples almonds, walnuts, pecans and raisins. And just a plain one with candied nuts which was awesome too. I use the coconut oil and maple syrup. Thank you for this recipe it is my new favorite.
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Nicole!
Grace
I discovered this recipe last week. I made a batch on Monday and it was gone by Friday. I made some more yesterday and it’s almost half gone because my daughters and I cannot stop eating it. It’s so good! The only change I made was increasing the nuts to 2 cups (because I wanted 1 cup each of pecans and walnuts), and thus I also added an extra dash of oil and syrup just to ensure that it was moist enough. It’s simply delicious. I am addicted.
Kate
I’m glad it’s such a hit, Grace! Thank you for your review.
Mary Ryan
Best recipe for granola. I adjust down the honey / syrup slightly as l add more fruit for personal taste. Thank you.
Shirley
I made this granola twice and it turned out great. I used cranberries and walnuts with pumpkin seeds. Shared with neighbors and everyone enjoyed it. It is delicious and it will be my go-to granola recipe for sure. Thank you
Martha
One of the best granola recipes I’ve tried. Easy to make and delicious! Makes a great snack to just grab a handful.
Kate
A great snack, I agree Martha!
Amy
YUMMY! Thank you for making my mornings brighter with this delicious granola! I used coconut oil, peanuts and pecans, chocolate chips and cranberries and it turned out fantastic.
Kate
You’re welcome, Amy!
Catherine
Just made my first batch and it’s perfect. Used sliced almonds and a few raisins. I typically modify online recipes here and there, but this one needs no tweaking. Thanks so much for sharing!
Kate
You’re welcome, Catherine!
Becky
My husband is obsessed!! Loves this recipe!! Any ideas on how to add peanut or almond butter?
Kate
You could add it after baking, Becky. :)
Leslyann
Easy and tasty. I will reduce honey once I get the hang of changing out the portions of dried fruit. So good, my family loves it, especially my teenage son.
Kate
Thank you for sharing! I appreciate your review.
Tee
21 minutes at 350 was too long – I came back when the timer went off and everything was burnt to a black crisp! Is it because I used honey not maple syrup? What a waste of food :(
Kate
Hi Tee, I’m sorry to hear that! Did you toss it half way? What amount and type of oil did you use? Sometimes ovens can vary with temperature (some being hotter than others) and rack placement is also a factor.
Jennifer
I just made this and mine burnt too even at 10 min it was burnt on edges, so upset and I don’t have all ingredients to make it again.
Me
If I didn’t check in on them, then mines would have definitely burnt at 45 min. Even with tossing, they didn’t need 45 min. I’ve followed other recipes and they 20-22 min were actually good. Depending on your oven, I would make sure to keep an eye on them. But this recipe is good… I didn’t add fruits though because when I tried before since I didn’t leave them long enough they didn’t dry till the end
Binti
Thanks for a really great recipe I made little granola jars to hand out at Christmas time with orange zest!
Kate
Thanks for coming back to review, Binti!
Myron
The granola recipe is really good . Starting my 3 rd batch now . Great recipe and easy to make .
Alex
This is such a lovely recipe. Flavorful and crunchy, just love it! I made one batch last week and now I am making a second one! Thank you for such a delicious recipe!
Asher
Oh I love this resipe! Made it today and it’s perfect
Guy
great recipe. I swapped the coconut oil with canola oil (~80% canola ~20% coconut) and that made it much nicer and crunchy (and kept the flavor and smell of the coconut. As a rule of thumb, the proportions should be 4.5 cups of dry materials (oat, nuts…), 0.25 cup of oil and 0,25 cup of honey/maple.
Shay.
Hi there!….. I’ve just made this granola….what a complete success!….I’m so pleased with it….many thank you’s, it is delicious …..I followed all your instructions….I used olive oil, honey, walnuts, Brazil, cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds & a sprinkle of chia seeds…..for the fruit I used a mix of raisins & cranberries….I will definitely be making it again…..highly recommend ….yummy!…
Kate
You’re welcome! Thanks for letting me know what you thought.
Jake
This granola is absolutely awesome! I take this to work w me, I am a carpenter, and the guys love it. I stick to your recipe. That you so much for a simple and nutritious snack
Kate
I’m glad you love it, Jake! Thank you for your review.
Amina
Made this for the first time today with some variations to try to mimic the Kind Peanut Butter granola that I love. I opted to cut the recipe in half (since it was my first time making it). I only did 1.5 cups of oats, and 1/2 cup of popped amaranth, and 1 cup of popped millet. Then I only used 1/2 cup of peanuts, and 1/4 cup of chunky peanut butter. Every other ingredient was then cut in half, but this turned out quite tasty! So easy, I can’t believe that I’ve never made granola before. I love that I can control the amount of sugar in the granola the next time I make it.
Kate
Thank you for sharing your variation, Amina!
Zara
Thank you for this recipe! It was my first time making granola and it was so simple to follow. I don’t like dried fruit so didn’t add any but still tasted great.
Sinclair
Been making this recipe weekly for the past month. Perfection. Ran out of rolled oats. Can I substitute with the generic Quaker Oats????
Kate
Hi Sinclair! Are they quick cooking or still flat rolled oats?
Sinclair
Not quick cooking. Ingredients say “Whole grain rolled oats”
Kristin
I love this granola recipe, I make a half batch around every 10 days to enjoy over kefir for breakfast. Great way to use local honey! I also add raw quinoa as part of the “nuts and seeds” portion of the recipe for extra crunch and fiber.
Kate
Thanks for sharing, Kristin!
Beth
I make a full batch and freeze half. I store the half we are currently eating on the counter in a large mason jar.
Diana
Oh My Goodness! We are watching our cholesterol and eating more fiber. I searched for granola recipes to make a trail mix/granola snack using mini shredded wheat. I replaced the oatmeal with 5 cups of mini shredded wheat and followed the recipe with suggested substitutes. I used olive oil and pecans and raisins and honey. I was going to add chocolate chips but we couldn’t wait for it to even cool down. And there’s no need for chocolate at this point. This reminds me of the candied pecans you get at the ball games.❤️❤️❤️ Thank you.
Kate
I’m glad this was able to work for you and you loved it, Diana!
Cheryl Arzt
I make this recipe regularly. I often fill mason jars with it and hand it out to my adult children and friends! It is always delicious and happily accepted. We love it on yogurt and I even put it on my cooked oatmeal. I prefer to use real maple syrup over the honey because mine got a little too sticky with the honey. Regardless, this is the best recipe!Thanks!
H
Can you use avocado oil instead of olive oil or coconut oil?
Kate
You could try it!
Christine
Can you use sesame oil?
Kate
You could try to drizzle some, but I wouldn’t use it in replace of the olive oil or coconut oil.
Infinity View Farm
I’ve made granola in the past, but it was never this easy or delicious. Last weekend, I made an orange/almond/cranberry/coconut oil, and I’m going to try a more savory combo today.
We have bees, and our honey makes it that much better.
Thanks!
Yvonne
It came out very good!
Haven’t taste it with yoghurt, but so far, so good :-)
Although I used less then 1 tsp of salt, it’s still too salty for my taste…
Jodi
Delicious granola and so easy to make! I used pecans, pepitas, and dried cranberries.
Wyn
I made this recipe yesterday. It’s really good. It is a little chewy. I think I will experiment to get it crispier – maybe a touch less honey but more fat. Maybe cooking in a thinner layer.
Oh, I did add some flax seeds. They’re really good in it.
Thanks!
vineandshoots
Love this so much! I don’t add the extra salt because the pepita’s at Aldi are already salted. Dried cherries are my favorite stir-in. I love the variations you’ve recommended to. So fun to have a recipe that invites variety!
Kate
Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
This turned out quick, easy and delicious! I made it with spicy petitas, chocolate chips and raisins because that’s what I have. I don’t like baked walnuts because they come out too greasy and with mayonnaise taste to me.
Deborah
You were sooo right easy and good loved it❤️
Patricia Hornbeck
Dear Cookie & Kate, I love the granola, it’s a life saver as I’m on an elimination diet and I can eat everything that’s in the granola. I used gluten free rolled oats with sliced almonds, pepitas, sunflowers seeds, unsweetened coconut & dried cranberries. Delicious!!!
Norma
I love how versatile this is. My husband likes peanuts and almonds with dried mango, raisins and dates. I also add a 1/4 cup of shredded coconut half way through baking. I prefer pecans, walnuts and sunflower seeds with dried cherries, dried cranberries and dates. I also sprinkle a cinnamon and sugar mix over the top when it comes out of the oven. You can pretty much use any combo of nuts and fruits and get a delicious result. Great recipe!!!
Lori-Anne Hill
Taste great just wish it ended up clumpy. I think I may have used too big of a pan.
Michelle
Just finished putting the ingredients together and placed them in the oven. I’ll add the coconut 1/2 way. I love healthy granola and can’t wait to taste it!
Rashi
This turned out so great! I’ve had all the ingredients waiting in my pantry since a while but I was hesitant about actually attempting this. But it was so easy. I added a few spoons on chia and flax seeds to the mix and used dried figs, cranberries, walnuts and slivered almonds. Can’t wait to do a second batch and play around with the flavours a bit!
THANK YOU!
Kaye
Oh my goodness! Love, love, love your recipe. I made granola many years ago, but because it didn’t turn out so great and strangely I never tried again. Your recipe called out to me and you’re so right, I will never buy store bought again. I didn’t add nuts or fruit, so increased my oats to 5 cups, added a couple tablespoons of ghee to the olive oil, mixture of maple syrup and honey, fresh grated nutmeg, with extra cinnamon sprinkled on top. Oh so delish. With a sharp knife they sliced into bars rather nicely. Thank you, thank you for sharing this recipe. Did I say thank you…lol
Kaye
Kaye
Oh my goodness! Love, love, love your recipe. I made granola many years ago, but because it didn’t turn out so great and strangely I never tried again. Your recipe called out to me and you’re so right, I will never buy store bought again. I didn’t add nuts or fruit, so increased my oats to 5 cups, added a couple tablespoons of ghee to the olive oil, mixture of maple syrup and honey, fresh grated nutmeg, with extra cinnamon sprinkled on top. Oh so delish. With a sharp knife they sliced into bars rather nicely. Thank you, thank you for sharing this recipe. Did I say thank you…lol
Kaye
Kate
Kaye, thank you so much for letting me know! Your granola sounds fantastic. :)
Veronica Eleyinafe
The recipes are healthy and delicious.Good job! Thank God for allowing you to benefit the whole world with your knowledge.Remain blessed.
Dixie Berryman
#cookieandkate
I made mine with 1/4 cup each honey and sorghum. Love it!
Thank you
Missy Mcnatt
I have made your go to recipe several times and it is delish. Thanks for all the yummy ones to try…
Maru R.
This granola is absolutely the best! My son shared your recipe and I can’t get enough of it. I didn’t add the dried fruit this time, but I will definitely try that next time. Thank you so much!
María
I keep coming back and making this recipe. It’s my favorite!! I make a batch and store it in separate containers. I keep one in handy for breakfast and store the rest in the freezer for extra freshness. Onece I finish a container I just pop the next one out of the fridge, let it thaw and consume with milk, milk alternatives or as toppings for bowls. It’s so good I have even given it as a gift!
Kelsey Leigh
This was such a tasty and easy recipe! I subbed brown rice syrup since it’s what I had on hand and baked it for a few minutes longer, resulting in perfect crunchy granola! Goodbye overpriced market granola. Thank you, Kate!! I’m new to your site but I’ll definitely be sticking around.
Jonny
Just making this now and my kitchen smells wonderful. I snuck a taste and it’s not very sweet but I used a little less that 1/2 cup of honey.
I did add coconut because I had sweetened coconut that I needed to use up so I did use that and it was good.
Next time I think I will add pecans.
After25 minutes the granola was still a little pale and not golden brown. So I eft in to get the color & texture I wanted.
Waiting for it to cool so I can add either cherries, raisins, or cranberries.
Thanks for posting this.
Regan
Delicious! We make a batch every week!
Deanna
Made it today, and there is definitely no need to look for another recipe. This is EXCELLENT. Thank you for sharing this wonderful granola recipe!
Ainslie
My husband told me that this is the best thing I’ve ever made – and I agree! Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Susie
Excellent recipe for healthy granola. I make this every week for myself and my husband.
Pam
Just took mine out of the oven…it smells delish in here! I didn’t have coconut oil and preferred not to use olive oil so I subbed grapeseed oil instead. Looking forward to tasting it when it cools down. Thanks for the recipe.
Babs
Can I make this recipe into a bar? The flavour is amazing, what if after tossing it half way through I then press it into a pan for the rest of the baking and then cut into bars after?
Thank you!
Kate
Hi Babs, this one isn’t designed to be made into a bar. However, I do have granola bars. Here is a link to find some: https://cookieandkate.com/search/?q=granola%20bars
jean
really awesome. so crispy! everything in recipe is in the right proportions including baking time, works great!
lynn
Thanks for your recipe and the clumping tips, ( which worked better than others I have tried) For my taste the 1 tsp salt is a little too much if I eat the granola right from the jar, fine in milk or yogurt. Also this time I added my honey before the coconut oil and wondered if this helped achieve some better stickiness.
Lauren
Delicious and easy to make. I highly recommend it! I typically eat it with some greek yogurt. Ahh so good!!
Paul Banks
You are missing a real opportunity here Kate as the pre-diabetic (me) or actual diabetic market is huge. I have been told to avoid carbohydrates including Maple Syrup and Honey… also dried fruits.
How about making a recipe for all those people like me, who have a blood sugar problem or who are on a carbohydrate-free diet, please.
Even oats have a relatively high carb content. Thanks, Paul
Kelly
Best granola recipe I’ve tried. Easy and comes out perfect. I like to add hemp seed and flax seed meal.
Ewoenam
I tried it after reading this blog post. I used oats, chia seeds, flaxseeds and sunflower seeds. I had almonds but forgot to add them initially so I added them later with the raisins.
For the oil I used both coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil. I also added honey, molasses and cinnamon powder. It was bit burnt but it was very exciting to have made my very own granola. I’ll try it again later but bake for a shorter time.
Thanks Kate
Sara
Yummy! I love it best with homemade almond milk and sliced bananas….the perfect breakfast for me!
Weeniski
Can I substitute blue agave syrup for honey or maple syrup?
Kate
I think so, but haven’t tried to be 100% sure.
HANIZA BINTI ISHAK
Hi, was wondering do i need to roast the nuts first? (Cashew,pecans,almonds) :D
Kate
Hi there, no toasting necessary! They will get nice and toasty while you’re baking the full batch.
Nancy
Wow, I love this sooooo much. I use olive oil, and I do about a half-and-half mix of pepitas and slivered almonds. I like it with chopped dates, but my kids prefer it with no dried fruit. It is so fast and easy to prepare. I have never succeeded in getting it to clump though.
Hanna
Can’t wait until the granola comes out of the oven! Just stirred it, now I still have to wait…
I mixed things up a little (I only made a half batch) , using half a cup of hazelnuts from our garden, 2 tbsp of coconut and 2 tbsp of flax seed.
I’m still thinking about whether to put raisins or chopped prunes in after it’s out of the oven :)
It smells heavenly in the kitchen!
Thank you for this amazing recipe!
Kate
I hope you loved it! Thanks for your review, Hanna.
tracy
Just made this and it is really good, I added what I had on hand, coconut, dried prunes, cranberries and mini choc chips and it turned out great. My nuts were pepita, walnut and pecan. Thanks for the great recipe.
Natalie
This stuff is totally addictive. Not kidding. I make it using honey and coconut oil. It is absolutely wonderful. Followed directions exactly, which I hardly ever do. Great results.
Lorraine Savastano
I made the granola 2 times, very good. The second time I made it I added cherries and bran buds along with the oatmeal. I also added coconut chips.
Sandra
Great recipe! Mine didn’t turn out as clumpy, but I did skimp on the oil a bit. Still tasted divine!
Christina
I made this today and it came out fantastic! I didn’t have parchment paper so I coated the cookie sheet with olive oil and had no problems. I used agave and honey (because I wanted to empty the bottles).
I’ll definitely be making this again.
Cheri
Absolutely delicious! I have made this granola several times and it has come out perfectly each time!
I do put some of the granola in my food dehydrator to dry it out a bit more and then vacuum seal it in quart sized jars so that it “keeps” longer at room temp. It is also a great gift idea!
Kate
Thank you for sharing! I’m glad you loved it, Cheri. Interesting idea of putting granola in your dehydrator. Thanks for the review.
Cheri
Kate,
I am making granola yet AGAIN! Lol
I recently opened one of the jars of your granola that I had put in the food dehyrator and then vacuum sealed it in April this year. It is perfect! I think I may even place the dehydrated/vacuum sealed granola in the freezer, to further extend stability (mainly to keep the oil from going rancid. Not so much worried about the coconut oil, but the natural oils in the nuts/seeds that I add in there). I bet it would keep at least a year that way. Will let you know as my little experiment comes along. Why would I even try this, someone may ask?…ummm, the situation and availability of some of the ingredients and to have on hand to give as impromptu gifts. I have 3 friends on Chemo. So, I am trying to give gifts with power foods as ingredients. For example: Pepitas, gogi berries, dark chocolate chips, dried blueberries
and Cherries, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, chia seeds, etc. During this situation, I have had difficulty getting some of these things—
When I use these extra add-ins, I usually add a little more honey so that I will still have good clumping.
Again, this recipe is THE BEST! Every single person I have given some to loves it! Plus, your granola is perhaps helping people heal, both mentally and physically! Thanks again!
Adesh
Tried this recipe yesterday. I used pecans and almonds and added raisins right when I removed it from the oven. Turned out really good. One thing. At 350 it does not get done even in 30 minutes. Had to raise the temp after 30 minutes. It is good as is but I am going to try and tweak it a bit for my taste. Will try less Syrup and perhaps a bit more nuts. Still a wonderful recipe.
Kate
Hi Adesh, that seems strange! Do you let it cool completely? It will continue to cook some as it cools. Thanks for your feedback!
Landry
Can I use quick cooking oats for this recipe? I’m afraid that’s all I have at the moment :/
Kate
Hi Landry, I haven’t had the best luck with quick cooking oats. But, you can try it.Just watch the timing so it doesn’t get over done. It should taste good in the end, but may not have the same clumpy result.
Cindy Zimmerman
Made this now 5 times and just great. I add more fruit, craisins, papaya, gold raisins. And I add various nuts each time. Only 1/2 cup of honey and sometimes even add more oats. You can tell I don’t do exact but it is great every time!
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Cindy!
Amma
Hi! Great recipe. I just tried this for the first time. I went under on the maple syrup, but now it is not quite sweet enough. Is there some way to add in more? I’m worried if I add more and bake it again it will burn.
p.s. for anyone with a nut allergy, just skip the nuts / replace with seeds, oats, whatever else.
Kate
Hi Amma, you already baked it? If it isn’t quite sweet enough, you can always add a little extra sweetener to the serving and whatever else you are making with it. I hope that helps!
Angie
I love this recipe! My kids are begging me to make more after eating it all up.
Laura
As part of our new normal with distance learning for school I decided every day someone in the family will give the rest of us a new challenge. Yesterday’s challenge was to make granola together as a family and it was a smashing success! Thank you for this fantastic recipe. All my picky eaters gobbled it down. We added cranberries, pecans and chia seeds to the olive oil/maple syrup combo. Today my teen chose a 7 minute ab challenge to do together as a family! Wish us luck.
Kristina
Delicious and easy!!! Thank you Kate
Kit
I have made this several times—my go to since it is so simple! Accidentally used almond extract instead of vanilla extract—it was awesome! Give this recipe 5 stars!
Penny
It’s delicious! Thank you for the recipe.
Christine Bashara
Ok, seriously…this is the best recipe EVER. I found coconut oil and made a batch tonight. I can’t believe how easy it is to make and I agree with others that 21-24 is way too long to bake. Mine was crisp at only 15 minutes. Thank you so much.
Kate
Hooray! I love when we can agree. Thanks for your comment, Christine!
Stephanie
Made this recipe countless times! The absolute best. Thanks C&K xx
Kathe
Love this recipe! I have made it many times creating new additives. My favorite additions have been dried apricots and unsweet coconut flakes in addition to the almonds and cranberries. I gave them as gifts last Christmas in decorative bags and they were a hit! Thank you for a no fault granola recipe! I definitely recommend this recipe!
Ginann
Delicious! Second time making this yummy granola. No more store bought granola in this house.
Lisa Robertson
A real crowd pleaser. I’ve made quite a few batches for family and friends. I’ve tried making it with honey and the result is very different. It’s a much sticker consistency. I definitely think maple syrup is the go. Fabulous recipe
Nina Reich
This is the perfect granola recipe! I used coconut oil rather than olive oil and maple syrup rather than honey. I added sliced almonds and chopped dates. Yummy!
Evangelia
I love this so much. I’ve made it several times and I finish the entire batch in just two days haha..
Traci Stiles
This is delicious. I used pecans, sliced almonds and raw honey. I toasted the nuts in a dry frying pan. I can’t stop eating it. It’s wonderful with yogurt for a healthy dessert. Thanks for sharing.
Laura
Can’t say enough good things about this granola!! I couldn’t help myself from snacking on it as it cooled because it’s just that good. This recipe is so simple and so perfect, just absolutely delicious! I used coconut oil and maple syrup, and added walnuts, pecans, almonds, and sunflower seeds and it was divine!
Vanya Bozhilova
Hi, it’s very delicious! I just hoped the measurements would have been in grams too…
Hana
My family’s go-to granola recipe for the past three years. It is THAT good!!! It keeps well in the freezer if you make an extra big batch. Can’t recommend it enough!
Andrea
This was perfect and simply delicious! Easy to make and add too. We added chia seeds, flax seed, pumpkin spice, agave syrup with honey. It was a big hit with the kids! Thank you!!
Julie Bleu
I found this recipe a month ago and have made 5 double batches. My teen son can go through at least 8 cups week. I use half olive oil/coconut oil, and my last batch was half maple and brown sugar. I cook a double batch on one sheet, for 20 minutes per side. May not get as many chunks, but the flavor is just as good.
Kate
Great additions, Krisztina! I appreciate your review.
GK
First time ever making granola at home and I absolutely love it!!
Jenny
Thanks for sharing this recipe. Just one question I’m not a huge fan of salt, do you think I could omit the salt without ruining the recipe? Also for my next batch I was going to try it with rice malt syrup as I need to use what’s in the cupboard, would this be okay?
Kate
Sure, you can omit the salt if you like. I don’t have too much familiarity with rice malt syrup, but you could try it since that is all you have on hand. Let me know how it goes!
Nancy Josselyn
I have made this now twice, and want you to know I am sharing with people I like (they know I am careful with clean technique). I am doing more things myself since “afforded me some time off”! I find your recipes and hints quite helpful, though I modify depending on available ingredients. Thanks for the hints – always good for ‘rookies’!
Virginia Beesley
Love this recipe; gives the basics with lots of room to adjust for whatever ingredients I have on hand. Yum! Today I used coconut oil, coconut flakes, almond slivers, a bit of ground chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and homemade banana chips for the dried fruit. Loving it.
Glenda
I made this and my very fussy son said it was “the best d..d granola” he’s ever eaten… l thought it was delicious with a sheep’s milk yoghurt.
Megan
I’ve made this granola three times now. Delicious!!! Thank you :)
DJ
Oh my this is the best granola ever! A couple “fresh organic stores” makes a good one, but this is even BETTER! Full of great ingredients and so easy to make. We keep ours chunky to grab a piece for a snack! I used almonds and pumpkin seeds, chopped dried cranberries and a little coconut, half honey/half maple syrup.
Monica White
I’ve been a lover of granola & all things oats for as long as I can remember. Since I travel often, I make granola before long trips and keep individual Ziploc bags stashed in my roadie food supply.
I make all types of granola. It just depends on what I have on hand and what I feel like creating. I never use a recipe and the granola always comes out successful. Basically, granola’s nothing more than combining and baking a mixture of oats, oil, spices, sweetener, salt, dried fruits & nuts if you please. I do love the nuts, so more nuts please!
I especially love adding a bit of almond extract to my granola and also freshly ground nutmeg from a whole nutmeg makes a huge difference. I agree with you Kate regarding the salt. It is absolutely essential. Your recipe seems to be spot-on! I always love dried cherries or cranberries!
We seem to be on the same food wavelength when it comes to making healthy & delicious recipes. Thanks for sharing your many great recipes.