Homemade Granola

This is a simple recipe for homemade granola that is naturally sweetened, vegan-friendly, and completely customizable. It is a great base recipe to use to create your favorite version of granola.

Why Make Granola?

Store-bought granola is often filled with added sugars, sodium, and preservatives. And if you happen to find a good quality brand made with wholesome ingredients, it typically costs an arm and a leg.

However, making granola at home is not only easy but super economical. And you get to be in charge of what goes into it!

This base recipe for granola is made with pantry staples and is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and vegan friendly. From there, you can add in dried fruit, nuts, coconut, chia seeds, chocolate chips--really anything YOU like in your granola. It is the perfect recipe to use when you want to make a healthy version of granola at home.

Ingredients Needed to Make Granola

• Oats: It is best to use old fashioned or rolled oats instead of quick cooking oats when making granola. It gives the granola a better texture. Be sure to NOT use steel cut oats. You also want to ensure that your oats are certified gluten-free if needed.
• Coconut Oil: I love the earthy flavor the melted coconut oil gives to the granola. However, you can opt to use canola oil or even melted butter, if you are not dairy-free, in place of the canola oil.
• Maple Syrup: The maple syrup sweetens the granola, while giving it a rich flavor as well. I highly recommend using maple syrup over honey when making homemade granola.
• Cinnamon: A pinch of cinnamon and salt for flavor.

Ideas for Flavoring Granola

This recipe for homemade granola is delicious served plain. However, there are endless options for adding additional ingredients to change up the flavor and add nutrients to your heart's content. I recommend using up to 1 cup of additions to the base recipe. I have shared a few of my favorite ideas below.

• Nuts: Chopped pecans, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, or cashews are all delicious when added to granola. If your nuts are raw, add prior to baking the granola. If your nuts are already toasted, add them to the granola after baking.
• Chia Seeds: Chia seeds add omega-3s, fiber, and texture. If using, I recommend using no more than ⅓ of a cup and add them to the oat mixture before baking.
• Shredded Coconut: If you like the flavor of coconut, add up to ½ cup of raw, unsweetened coconut flakes to the oat mixture before baking the granola.
• Dried Fruit: Raisins, dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, or even chopped dried dates are a delicious burst of flavor and sweetness in granola. Regardless of what dried fruit you add, wait until after the granola has baked and cooled before adding the fruit to the mixture.
• Chocolate Chips: If you want a decadent treat, chocolate chips make a delicious addition to granola. Just be sure to add the chocolate chips to the granola after it has baked and cooled, or your chocolate chips will melt. I love the combination of dark chocolate chips and dried cherries or white chocolate chips with dried cranberries.

How to Make Homemade Granola

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Toss until well combined and the oats are coated with the oil and syrup.
• At this point, feel free to add in raw nuts, chia seeds, or shredded coconut if using.

• Spread the oat mixture out onto the prepared pan.
• Place the sheet pan into the oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the granola is golden brown. Be sure to stir the granola every 10 minutes while baking--this will help it evenly brown.

• Remove the granola from the oven and allow to cool fully to room temerature.
• Once the granola is cooled, stir in toasted nuts, chocolate chips, and/or dried fruit if using.

How to Store Granola

Once the granola has fully cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1 month.

Serving Suggestions

• Use homemade granola to top Instant Pot Yogurt.
• Add to Instant Pot Oatmeal for crunch and flavor.
• Use in place of rice cereal in Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Sushi.
• Add to the oat topping in Apple Crisp or Berry Crisp for additional crunch and texture.
• After dipping French Toast in egg custard, dip in granola for a crispy texture.
• Serve with milk of any variety for a quick breakfast.

I would love for you to share in the comments what you added to this granola recipe and how you enjoyed it! Inspire us all!

This post was originally published in 2015 but was updated in 2021 with new photos and tips.