Homemade Granola

Homemade granola is so much better than store-bought granola. Not only is this simple recipe for homemade granola naturally sweetened, vegan-friendly, and completely customizable, but it also tastes incredible!

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.

Oats are a staple in my household. From slow cooker oatmeal to instant pot oatmeal to baked banana oatmeal to no-bake oatmeal balls to homemade granola, oats can be used in endless ways to create wholesome recipes.

Ingredients Needed to Make Granola

To make delicious, yet basic granola you only need a handful of ingredients. From there you can opt to add additional ingredients for flavor or keep it simple. Either way, this homemade granola is delicious.

• 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.

Ideas for Flavoring Granola

There are endless options for adding additional ingredients to change up the flavor and add nutrients to homemade granola. 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 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 ⅓ 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.

Tips for Making Homemade Granola

• Bake low and slow. You want to bake the granola at a low temperature. This will allow the oats to slowly toast, not burn, absorb the oil and maple syrup, and turn into crispy, crunchy granola.
• Stir well. 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.
• Add untoasted ingredients to the granola before baking. If you are adding raw nuts, chia seeds, or untoasted shredded coconut to your granola, add to the oat mixture before baking the granola, as those ingredients will develop additional flavor as they toast in the oven.

• Stir the granola often during the baking process. Every 10 minutes, remove the granola from the oven and stir it. This will help it to brown evenly.

• Add dried fruit, toasted nuts, and/or chocolate after baking. Once the granola has been baked and fully cooled, add any additional ingredients and evenly toss to distribute through the homemade granola.

How to 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.

Granola Serving Suggestions

• Use homemade granola to top Instant Pot Yogurt.
• Add to Instant Pot Oatmeal for crunch and flavor.
• 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 Money-Saving Homemade Staples

• Homemade Pesto
• Homemade Buffalo Sauce
• Homemade Flour Tortillas
• Homemade Croutons
• Homemade Taco Seasoning

If you tried this recipe for homemade granola, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.