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This recipe for homemade granola is not only healthy but also easy to make. The best part is that you can customize the ingredients to your liking. You can have it as a snack or have it for breakfast with your preferred fruit, such as blueberries, yogurt, or milk as a cereal.
What exactly is granola?
Granola is a mix between rolled oats, dried fruit, nuts, and/or seeds. This mixture is sweetened with brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey (not vegan). You can add flavor, like vanilla, spices, or fruit or vegetable purees.
Granola is usually baked. Less common but just as delicious is savory granola. Which tastes delicious on top of salads, rice, soups, or roasted vegetables.
Granola base ingredients
- Oats, use whole oat flakes. Instant oatmeal is not the best for making granola. I love to use sprouted oats to elevate the nutritional value of this granola recipe. Old-fashioned oats are also a great option.
- Vegetable oil. You can use olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil. Look for vegetable oil that is a single ingredient and not a blend.
- Maple or agave syrup, or you can use healthier sweeteners like monk fruit or coconut sugar. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
If you want to make a gluten-free granola, double-check that the oats you use are certified for gluten.
Granola add-ins
- Nuts use walnuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, etc. Use your favorite nuts.
- Coconut flakes. Grated and unsweetened coconut. Check the label of the coconut and of all the nuts that you are going to use; use ingredients that are NOT sweetened.
- Seeds. I used pepitas (pumpkin seeds). You can substitute unroasted sesame, hemp, chia, or sunflower seeds or add more add-ins.
- Dried fruit. Use raisins or other dried fruits like cranberries, cherries, golden raisins, and apricots. However, look for unsweetened options.
- Vanilla extract *optional
- Pinch sea salt because salt makes everything better.
BENEFITS OF MAKING HOMEMADE GRANOLA
Even though I’m 100% a morning person, sometimes I can’t think of what to serve for breakfast. There are days I am blocked and can’t think of what to make, and the kids are just looking at me running around the kitchen. That is why I love homemade granola so much. It is effortless to make; it is healthy and extremely delicious. Also:
- Making granola at home is cheaper than buying granola.
- You can control the quantity and quality of the sweetener or make it a low-sugar granola recipe.
- You can choose the type of nuts and dried fruits and the quality of both.
- By making granola at home, you will be sure that it will be 100% healthy and not full of ingredients you do not need.
Ideas for eating
It can be eaten in a bowl with almond milk and yogurt, in a smoothie bowl, or sprinkled on top of the fruit. I love having homemade granola in the cupboard because it is a morning lifesaver.
You can also use granola to finish a dessert, like a chocolate mousse; you can make granola bars, cookies, and many more. This granola recipe is also great for adding texture to any dish.
When my kids were younger, they were not the best breakfast eaters. So, I understand how difficult it can be to get your children to eat a healthy breakfast in the morning.
If you’re struggling, you could try making frozen smoothie bowls or yogurt paletas with a bit of granola. This can be a nutritious and fun breakfast choice that’s easy for kids to eat and take with them on the go.
Baking Tips
- Always use a large bowl to mix all the ingredients.
- I like to use a sheet pan lined with parchment paper for easier cleaning.
- Bake the granola until it turns a nice golden brown. During baking, rotate the baking sheet once or twice and stir the granola with a spatula to ensure it cooks evenly.
- The granola will be very hot when it comes out of the oven. Let the granola cool before you store it and try it.
Storing your granola
To store this recipe, use an airtight container, like a mason jar, and leave it in your pantry at room temperature.
Homemade Granola
Equipment
- Baking sheets
Ingredients
- 4 cups oats
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or agave
- 1/2 cup coconut, grated and sugar-free
- 1 cup of walnuts or pecans
- 1 cup of pumpkin seeds
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 1 cup of dried apricots *optional
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds *optional
- 1/4 cup chia seeds *optional
- one pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, coconut, raisins, seeds, and oil with your sweetener of choice. Mix well until everything is evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes until it turns a nice golden brown. During baking, rotate the baking sheet once or twice and stir the granola with a spatula to ensure it cooks evenly.Monitor the granola closely to find the perfect baking point. It's ready when it is loose on the tray and not damp or sticky.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool. Stir in any remaining ingredients. Store in an airtight container in the cupboard.
Notes
- Feel free to customize the nuts and dried fruits according to your preferences. This recipe is versatile, so make it your own!
Nutrition
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Tengo una Certificación Profesional en la cocina vegana; en el mundo de la cocina basada en vegetales, frutas, granos, leguminosas… en comida limpia, orgánica y vegana.
My cookbook is called Yo Cocino Latino..
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