Say hello to the best granola you have ever had! Made with oats, maple syrup, and coconut oil, this homemade granola recipe is incredibly simple to make and completely customizable!
![Homemade Granola Homemade granola in jar with bowl of granola in background.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Best-Granola-Recipe.jpg)
When it comes to granola, most store-bought brands are extremely expensive. Not to mention, most brands are loaded with added sugar and/or preservatives.
But just like it is exceptionally easy to make granola bars and copycat Larabars, homemade granola is one of the easiest recipes to make! And the flavor of homemade granola is exceptional.
Reasons to Love Homemade Granola
- Quality Ingredients. Store-bought granola is often filled with added sugars, sodium, palm oil, and preservatives. This recipe for coconut granola is naturally sweetened, low in sodium, and preservative-free.
- Economical. You only need four simple ingredients, to make granola, and you likely have on hand in your pantry already!
- Allergy-Friendly. The base recipe for homemade granola is gluten-free, vegan-friendly, dairy-free, soy-free, and nut-free.
- Customizable. Start with the base recipe for homemade granola and can add in dried fruit, nuts, coconut, chia seeds, chocolate chips--really anything YOU like in your granola.
Ingredients for Granola Base
![Granola Ingredients Oats cinnamon, coconut oil, and maple syrup on counter.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/How-to-Make-Granola.jpg)
- 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 don't care to use coconut 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 as it adds the best flavor to granola.
- Cinnamon & Salt: A pinch of cinnamon and salt for flavor.
Optional Granola Additions
![Bowls of nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, chia seeds, and raisins as optoins for granola mix-ins.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Granola-Mix-Ins.jpg)
There are endless options for adding additional ingredients to change up the flavor to your homemade granola. I recommend using up to 1 cup of the following additions to the base recipe.
- Nuts: Chopped pecans, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, or cashews are all delicious when added to granola. If your nuts are raw, add them before 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 â…“ of a cup and adding 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 Granola
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Combine Base Ingredients
It is important to ensure that the oats are evenly coated with maple syrup, oil, salt, and cinnamon. To do this, I recommend combining the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stirring well rather than trying to combine them on your baking sheet. Keep in mind that if you are adding untoasted ingredients, such as raw nuts, chia seeds, or untoasted shredded coconut, add those ingredients NOW to the granola base, as those ingredients will develop additional flavor as they toast in the oven.
![Healthy Granola Recipe Oats mixed with maple syrup and oil.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Recipe-for-Granola.jpg)
Bake Low and Slow
You want to bake the granola at a low temperature, stirring often. The low temperature will allow the oats to slowly toast while absorbing the oil and maple syrup, turning it into the crispy, crunchy granola.
![Best Granola Toasted Granola on sheet pan with parchment paper.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Healthy-Granola-Recipe.jpg)
Stir in Optional Additions
Once the granola has been baked and fully cooled, add dried fruit, toasted nuts, and/or chocolate and evenly toss to distribute through the homemade granola.
![Recipe for Granola Granola on sheet pan with dried fruit.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Gogurt-Recipe.jpg)
Store Granola
Once the granola has thoroughly cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1 month.
![Gluten Free Granola Granola in glass jar.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Granola.jpg)
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this granola served as a cold cereal or as a topping for Instant Pot Yogurt, Instant Pot Coconut Milk Yogurt, or Instant Pot Cold Start Yogurt. Or get creative with the following suggestions.
- Top Frozen Yogurt Bark with homemade granola to add flavor and texture to the frozen treat.
- Add to the oat topping in Baked Apples, Apple Crisp, or Blackberry 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.
More Favorite Oat Recipes
- Banana Oat Pancakes
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
- Instant Pot Oatmeal
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Slow Cooker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
- No-Bake Oatmeal Balls
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
If you tried this recipe for homemade granola, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
![Homemade granola in jar with bowl of granola in background.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Homemade-Granola-360x360.jpg)
Homemade Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup optional add-ins (nuts, dried fruit, coconut, chia seeds, chocolate chips, etc)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt together until well combined. At this point feel free to add in raw nuts, chia seeds, or shredded coconut if using and give it another stir.
- Spread the oat mixture out onto the prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes, stirring the mixture every 10 minutes, or until the granola is nice and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully to room temperature. Once cooled, stir in any toasted nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips.
- Store the granola in an airtight container in a cool, dark pantry for up to 1 month.
Allyssa
Thank you so much for this amazing coconut chia granola recipe, so easy to make and fam really loves it! Will surely have this again, well done!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing you enjoyed Allyssa! And that you enjoyed the coconut and chia combo!
Beth
I’m so glad I found this recipe, so delicious on my yogurt in the mornings! Definitely keeping this recipe on hand! Also, perfect for my daughter’s açaà bowl too!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! This would be great with an acai bowl!
Krystle
So yummy, I've been enjoying it for Breakfast all week!
Jen
Delicious! Light and crunchy and not too sweet, whole family loves it.
Kristen Chidsey
So happy to hear your family enjoyed this recipe Jen! Thanks for sharing!
Bonny
How much is considered one serving for this recipe?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Bonnie! Each serving is about 1/3 cup. Enjoy!
Barbara
I just made this. Wow, it's alot better than any I've ever tasted!!! Thank you for this recipe!! Absolutely LOVE it!!!
Kristen Chidsey
I absolutely love hearing this. Thank you for sharing Barbara.
Amanda Finks
I love this easy granola recipe! The coconut, maple syrup, and cinnamon combination is so good! This makes a great make ahead breakfast.
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so much Amanda! I love the combination of flavors myself.
Cindy
Look delish! I like that it's not too sweet like the stuff from the store. For the chia seeds, does the colour matter whether they're white or black or whatever?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Cindy! Chia seeds can be either color 🙂 Enjoy!
Maria
So toasty and delish! Always looking for a yummy granola recipe like this one:)
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you love it just as much as us!
jennifer
I love making homemade granola -- this sounds like a wonder flavor combo!
Kristen Chidsey
This flavor is so good--enjoy!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Nothing beats a big bowl of crunch in the morning! I've never seen a coconut almond blend before! I'll have to be on the look out!
Kristen Chidsey
Cynthia--it is a newer flavor combo and my new FAVORITE!!! You have to try it!
Sandi G
How funny we just bought a container of this combo milk. It is so good in coffee!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh yum--coffee <3
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner
Mmm this looks so easy and yummy! Would love to have you join our meatless Monday link up today
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks so much Deborah! This is easy. Must check out your link-up ":)
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Kristen, I so love your idea of "healthy eating" and whole hardheartedly agree with it!
Your delicious blend of chia, maple syrup, coconut, cinnamon and oats is making me wish I was having a bowl of yogurt and granola for breakfast!
Kristen Chidsey
I wish I could send you some Shashi 🙂