I’m three years deep into blogging and only have two granola recipes to show for it. I could say it’s because granola is so, well, granola. I might push local/organic foods on occasion, but I probably don’t qualify as granola. Or do I?
Let’s examine the facts: for one, my car is not a hybrid. I’ve been walking the dog in Chaco’s lately (I have the tan lines to prove it), but I wear knee-high leather boots all winter long. I don’t eat meat… unless there’s bacon on the table. And I think natural deodorant is worthless.
Not that there’s anything wrong with being granola. Or eating granola. Granola is good. It makes plain yogurt so much more interesting, especially when topped off with fresh fruit. I actually resisted making my own granola for a long time because I am powerless in the face of ready-made snacks, like chips and granola. They call my name from the cabinet and insist that I eat a handful every time I see the bag. That is why there are only two granola recipes on this blog. I’ve found that if I make my own granola, though, I want to make it last for a while. I also keep the bag in the freezer, which seems to dampen the granola’s power over me.
This granola recipe is a simple one: honey-sweetened oats with a hint of spice and warm coconut flavor. I adapted it from my gingerbread granola. It’s a good base recipe to play around with—I’ve added substitution suggestions in the recipe below. The granola browns more quickly when I make it with honey rather than maple syrup, which is typical of honey-sweetened baked treats, so keep an eye on it during the last few minutes of baking.
Watch How to Make Honey Almond Granola
Honey Almond Granola
- Author:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
A simple recipe for granola made with honey, almonds, coconut oil and spices. This granola is great for breakfast or a snack. Recipe yields 8 to 9 cups of granola.
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola)
- 1 ½ cups raw slivered almonds (or other nuts*)
- 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt (if you’re using standard table salt, scale back to ¾ teaspoon)
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup chopped dried apricots (preferably the Blenheim variety)
- ¼ cup chopped dried cherries, cranberries, raisins or currants
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts, salt, cinnamon and ground ginger. Stir thoroughly to combine.
- Stir in the oil, honey and vanilla. Turn the granola out onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer. Bake for 22 to 26 minutes, stirring halfway. The granola should be turning lightly golden (keep an eye on it as honey tends to brown). The granola will crisp up as it cools.
- Let the granola cool before stirring in the chopped fruit. Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or keep it in the freezer for longer shelf life.
Notes
Recipe adapted from my gingerbread granola.
*Preparation tips: If you are using large, whole nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.) follow instructions as directed. If you are using small nuts or seeds (sunflower seeds, pepitas, etc.), wait to stir them into the granola until you remove it from the oven halfway through cooking.
Make it vegan: Instead of honey, use maple syrup as your sweetener.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
E Vine
Dear Kate, Thank you! I have been using the “basic” granola recipe for at least a year with terrific results every time. I made the cranberry orange version for Christmas this year and loved it as well. I am so grateful that my dear friend referred your website to me. Keep up the great work that you do. Thank you for nourishing me and my family. Wishing you the very best for 2022.
Warmly, E. Vine
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, E!
Marie
Baking this granola for a second time. I use coconut oil. I’m not a dried fruit lover, but I did add seeds, pumpkin, sunflower and chia. I also use course (pickling) salt. I know that sounds odd but I do like an occasional salty spoonful. Recipe is delicious on yogurt and mixed with fruit. YUM! Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
Lesley
Delicious, thanks for another awesome recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Lesley!
Gail Hassell
Can you use chopped dates?
Kate
Hi Gail, sure! Let me know hat you think.
Alex
I made the recipe with honey because we have a lot of it, but maybe I should have done it with maple syrup instead? It did crisp up real fast and almost burn, but the oats didn’t get really crunchy, just a bit chewy and it’s not very sweet and I don’t really taste the salt at all (used table salt). I think if I made it again I would maybe double the honey? Or try it with the maple syrup, maybe that’s what made it go bad? My husband said it “tastes very homemade” and I asked what that meant and he said “not very exciting”. I eat my granola on top of yogurt so hopefully that fixes it, but I am not very excited about this recipe and not sure what went wrong.
★★★
Kate
Hi Alex, I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like your oven was warmer than the temperature recommended.
Dan
Hi Alex, I had the same experience the first time making this (and followed all instructions). I lowered the temp to 275 and stirred it in 10 minute increments. 30 minutes usually does it. I’ve never found a granola recipe that come out well at higher temps. With the adjustment, though, this recipe is delicious!
Sharon Munsterman
This is a great recipe and I have made it three times. You can change it up with different nuts and fruits like she suggests. I mixed maple syrup and honey together in one batch.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for your review, Sharon!
Pris
I didn’t have enough regular oatmeal so had to mix with instant and it came out delicious. I made it to top yogurt but I’m eating it off the pan (after cooling.. almost) will not buy store granola again. Thank you for the recipe ♡
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Pris!
Chill
Great recipe I will be making it again. This is the 3rd time
Thank you for the share!
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great to hear, Chill! Thank you for your review.
Linda St. Claire
I’ve bookmarked the recipe and have been making it for about four years now. I checked my oven with a thermostat to make sure it was the right temp. I use honey and maple syrup- just halving the recipe. I add slivered almonds and ground flax seed. I put the pan on the oven when it’s done, cover it with a tea towel and dont touch it till the next day. I’ve got enough for a month! Love it. Thanks!!!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you enjoy it, Linda!
Michelle
Kate,
Thank you so much for this recipe. I LOVE IT! I have made it 3 times (adding fresh grated coconut) just like your coconut granola recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Michelle! I appreciate you taking the time to review.
Alyssa
Was very delicious!! Eating it fresh out of the oven was the best part. I enjoy making homemade knowing what’s in the food. Thanks!!!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Alyssa!
Awais
Hi. Your recipe sounds amazing and I would love to try it. (re: diabetes) what is the least amount of sweetness I can add for the granola to still taste good
Eima
Hello, thank you for the recipe. I have two questions, can we use air fryer instead? And what is the timer and temperature if use air fryer?
★★★★★
Kate
Hi! I haven’t tried an air fryer, sorry.
Liz
I love your recipe. I follow it several times. The flavor came out excellent. However, I am not sure if I get the right texture. Mine was baked for around 18 mins total before the granola is partially burned. When I baked around 16 mins, the granalo is lightly golden. I put the thermometer in the oven and the temperature was 350 F. Should I make an adjustment to the time or the temperature? Thank you very much.
★★★★★
Kate
Hi, I would suggest less time. Some ovens can cook faster.
Evelyn
Hi Kate, thank you for the recipe. I no longer have to look for the best granola at the grocery store when I can make it myself at home!
I seem to have a problem getting the right texture despitel several trials though. I preheated the oven to 350F. When I baked around 16 mins, stirring halfway, some parts got burned. When I baked under 16 mins, stirring halfway, they are lightly golden but chewy, not crispy. I put the thermometer in the oven and the temperature did stay at 350F all the time. I would appreciate your advice on how to adjust the baking time/temperature/method. Thank you very much!
★★★★★
Kate
Hi Evelyn, Are you baking on the middle rack? Are you using parchment to cover your baking pan? Is it a conventional or convection oven you are using? This is meant for conventional. I’m sorry to hear it’t not working the best for you.
Evelyn
Thank you very much Kate. I really appreciate your reply. I am baking on the middle rack and lining the baking pan with a parchment sheet. I am using a convection oven.
Alicia Ann Watts
I didn’t have rolled oats so used quick and it was fine. I doubled the amount of cinnamon and ginger and added 1/4 tsp of cardamon. I substituted 1 cup of chopped nuts and 1/2 cup of coconut in place of the 1 1/2cup of nuts . I used cocount oil for the oil and maple for the sweetening. My family loved it! It was just the right amount of sweet. Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
★★★★★
Tonya
This is my go to recipe for granola! It is so easy to add things to it (love to add a little flax seed and unsugared coconut flakes after it cools) or leave out an ingredient (if I’m out of nuts or dried fruit) and still have it turn out and taste great! Thanks for the fabulous and versatile recipe.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great, Tonya! I appreciate your review.
John B.
The cooking instructions did not work. I used honey and set the oven for 22 minutes at 350 and it was totally burned. Even at 11 minutes some of the granola was burned at the edges of the pan, when I stirred it. Perhaps a lower temperature, shorter bake and more stirring would work better
★★
Kate
I’m sorry to hear that. Did you toss it halfway? What type of oven do you have?
Cora
Perfect granola. Key to let it cool after baking to develop the crunch! I usually add a bit more oats and almonds, and I don’t add the dried fruit until I’m ready to serve each portion since when stored all together they tend to moisten and de-crunchify this otherwise very crunchy and well-lasting granola.
★★★★★
Shelley
This granola is delicious! I made a batch yesterday and it was so hard to stop snacking on it – it’s a wonder that there’s any left for today. Perfect amount of salt to balance the sweetness, the coconut oil adds a wonderful flavour and there’s a lovely warmth from the cinnamon and vanilla. Can’t wait to try some of the variations.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for your review, Shelley!
Sharla
I just made this, it’s a little hard to not eat it all before letting it cool! Yummy!
This was just what I was looking for.
It’s very similar to a recipient I learned in the ‘80’s at Tai Chi Camp. I worked in the kitchen to pay my way.
I’m going to have it with yogurt and fresh peaches that are in season now.
I made a couple of modifications to suit myself: the recipe I new used butter. I used 1/2 butter 1/2 coconut oil. Heated the honey and then added the fats/oils ( also heated), it makes it easier to stir.
I make my own vanilla and have a lot because I like it, so I tripled that. Double the cinnamon and a bit of salt. And some raw coconut.
Mine isn’t so healthy, I was looking for ratios as well as ingredients. Trying to recreate a memory.
I’m sure the recipe is great as is, I just knew what I wanted and this helped me get there!
Thank you!
This recipe is a great
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Sharla! I appreciate your review.
Sarah
I love this granola and so do my kids (ages 6 and under). The ginger and cinnamon add just the right flavor. Thank you for such a great recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved it, Sarah! I appreciate your review.
Raloon
We all love this granola! I’ve made a few of the variations and we are always running out. My daughter says it has the best texture ever. I have been melting the coconut oil and honey or maple syrup in a measuring cup first, and mixing the spices and vanilla extract in there before adding to the oats and nuts so no powdered spice gets lost on the bottom. Delicious!!!!!!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved it, Raloon!
Bonnie
With this recipe, you say to add the seeds after baking halfway. I never have done that, and it turned out fine. I will wait to add the dried fruit until after it cools, however, as it can harden.
I love your “best granola” recipe but came here for some variety. Looks like a winner too! Thank you for your great recipes, I was getting frustrated with overly sweet store-bought granola.
Pauline Adamowski
Delicious! I only had 3 cups of oats so I just used a little less of everything else. I thought it was great. Toasted up nice and crunchy. Great on yogurt! I mixed in some mini chocolate chips instead of dried fruit.
★★★★★
Lesley Jacobs
We love, love, love this great granola! The recipe is perfect! I always double the cinnamon and ginger and do a litlle extra vanilla to make it even yummier! I do use 1/2 cup of pepitas and the result is always so wonderful! Thank you, Cookie and Kate!
Lesley J
Kate
You’re welcome, Lesley!