Easy Homemade Granola Recipe - 25 Minutes

Making your own granola is so much easier than you might think! This easy homemade granola recipe takes just 25 minutes to make, and it's a great way to use up any leftover oats you have. Plus, you can customize the ingredients to your liking. So give this easy granola recipe a try today!

One of the things that make me happy is the aroma of fresh homemade granola in the making.

This great recipe is easy to make and lasts for several days, ensuring you have a healthy and delicious breakfast in a fast and consistent way every weekday.

Homemade Granola is always better and it makes a wonderful meal, or you can have smaller portions as a snack; although since we love granola in every form, we usually make granola bars, every other week.

We make vegan granola bars with peanut butter, another version with hazelnut butter, or the oats-free Fig bars, also on this site.

You can make your own delicious and easy homemade granola. It is effortless, so there’s no reason to consume store-bought granola.

It's really a game-changer to be in full control of what’s in it, and it is only possible to make your own homemade granola recipe with wholesome and minimally processed ingredients.

Ingredients

To make this healthy granola you need a base of ingredients, that you can later customize depending on what you have in your pantry. I am giving you a full nut granola recipe, with variation options.

• Rolled oats or spelt
• Nuts (any mix almonds, walnuts, and pecans)
• Seeds (flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, chia and/or poppy seeds)
• Spices (turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg)
• Dried fruit such as raisins and/or cranberries
• Vanilla extract
• Agave or maple syrup

Optional: shredded coconut. Instead of all the spices, you can opt for using a Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix, and you will get similar results. Check our 4-ingredient, 5-minutes I recipe, to stock on your multi-purpose Pumpkin Spice Mix.

I used to make this granola recipe with melted coconut oil for years. After finishing a program of WFPB nutrition (Whole Foods Plant-Based), where the use of aggregated oils is discouraged, due to their high caloric density, I decided to try this recipe, without oil.

To my surprise, I didn't notice any big difference, although the melted coconut oil can make your granola slightly crunchier.

I also noted that the powdered spices stick better to the oats and nuts. Since I always pour the granola directly out of a mason jar, any loose powder ends up in my bowl anyway, so I didn't see a problem with that.

If you want your Homemade Granola recipe to be extra crunchy, add one tablespoon of coconut oil to your ingredients list.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC).

Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix the rolled oats, seeds, sweeteners, and spices in a large bowl. Do not add the dried fruit (or chocolate chips if used). If you are using melted coconut oil, for extra crunchiness, add oil and maple syrup at this point.

Lay the oats mixture on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes. I like using my oven's fan function to ensure the heat is even inside. bake until the granola is lightly toasted.

Cool down. Let the granola cool down completely and top with the dried fruit (and vegan chocolate chips if used). I also like adding the coconut flakes, when I used them, after baking the granola batch.

I noted that when I bake the coconut flakes, they develop a "soapy" smell.

Stir and Store. Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature.

Hint: if you bake the dried fruit it will become hard. That's why it is only added after the baked granola has cooled down.

Variations and substitutions

Making this healthy granola recipe is fun because you are in charge of making a whole new flavored batch every time. More variety, more nutrition!

Oats and cereals

You can use any type of oats for granola, but I recommend using old-fashioned oats also known as whole rolled oats or oat flakes, as they make faster than steel-cut oats.

Instant oats on the other hand would bake faster than the suggested time, so keep a close eye.

The reason I recommend rolled flakes is because the texture is more similar to the classic store-bought granola we all know.

Remember to buy certified Gluten-Free oats, if you want to make a Gluten-Free Granola, all other ingredients suggested in the granola recipe are naturally gluten-free.

Other cereals

Spelt - when we use this European ancient cereal grain we change half of the oats for spelt.

Farro - since we arrive in Italy we started using farro very interchangeably with rolled oats. Farro flakes look very similar to oat flakes and are slightly different in flavor, nutritional value, and color.

Wheat germ - another great addition to your diet, since wheat germs are high in Vitamin E and antioxidants.

Dried fruit

This granola recipe calls for raisins and dried cranberries, but feel free to make a mix of different dried fruits you have may already have in your pantry.

We have tried chopped dried apricots, golden raisins, dried sour cherries, tart cherries, goji berries, and dried blueberries.

You can even use dried banana flakes and coconut flakes.

Nuts

Use your favorite nuts, I always pick a bunch of all different nuts available in the pantry. I like including variety, as more nut kinds mean more different nutrients. Just make sure the total amount of mixed nuts, are the ones suggested, to keep your healthy granola balanced.

If you are using slivered almonds, or layered almonds add them halfway through the baking process, otherwise they might over toast.

Seeds

Similar to nuts I suggest you go crazy and add a little bit of everything to increase the load of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants in your granola. Also, seeds add extra protein and Omega-3 to your bowl.

My seeds of choice are sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, and ground flax seeds.

Spices

I love having cinnamon in my granola, so that's not negotiable, but in addition to it we like adding turmeric and freshly ground black pepper since this combo has great health benefits.

We like adding all kinds of spices like ground cloves, nutmeg, and ground ginger, but we always keep a batch of our homemade pumpkin pie spice mix, which has a little bit of each to these spices, I used it regularly, to open two or three fewer spice containers.

Add s dash of fine sea salt.

If you are like us and love everything pumpkin, we suggest you give a check to our pumpkin and maple granola recipe.

Aromas

I love adding vanilla extract to my granola, but I also love using other aromas like orange extract, almond extract, and orange blossom water.

You can also simply use the zest of an orange or lemon, and mix it with the oats previous to baking it.

Maple syrup and sweeteners

We usually go for maple syrup, but we also use agave nectar or even brown sugar, when we don't have any of those.

Extras

I am not a fan of adding chocolate chips, since that increases the calorie count but if you go for it, we suggest you use dark chocolate chips.

Similarly to drive fruit, add chocolate chips only when the oats mixture has cooled down, to prevent the chocolate chips from melting.

If you decide to make your granola extra crunchy using oil, my two oils of choice are coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil.

Benefits of granola

This Healthy Homemade Granola recipe is packed with the nutrients you need to start your day in a great way. You have Oats, Nuts, and Spices.

Whole oats are very filling and may help you lose weight, may help relieve constipation. Also, they are rich in antioxidants.

Nuts - a diet that includes one ounce of nuts daily can reduce your risk of heart disease. Nuts have also been shown to improve cholesterol profiles, prevent arrhythmias, and Contribute to satiety because they are rich in fat, fiber, and protein, all of which are more likely than foods high in carbohydrates to make you feel full.

Spices - I use a minimum of three spices in my homemade oat granola, why?

Feel free to play with what you have available in your kitchen; add as many “sweet” spices as you have. Remember that spices are non-caloric and contribute amazingly to a healthy body and keep a great immune system.

• Cinnamon to Lower Blood Sugar.
• Turmeric to Fight Inflammation.
• Ginger to Relieve Nausea.

7 Tips for making it budget friendly

Some people have asked me how to make their baked granola budget-friendly, as in some places, nuts have crazy prices, so I am giving you my budget hacks. I always do this exercise when moving to a new/expensive city, like we recently did to Milano.

1. Bulk

Try to find places where you can buy in bulk quantities. They are usually cheaper—stock on Rolled Oats and Nuts.

2. Seeds

This is nut-based granola, but you can also replace a fraction of the nuts called out in the recipe for the same amount on seeds; they are cheaper.

3. Budget Supermarkets

I have found that cheap retailers and supermarkets may not have fancy stuff but sometimes have very competitive prices on nuts, dry fruits, and seeds. You may not find organic stuff, but the good thing about nuts is that you can ensure they are raw and without additives.

4. Use half

Oats or Farro provide even better benefits when activated (soaking them overnight). In addition, they are the cheapest components of your quick granola recipe.

Our morning breakfast usually consists of one of these options: One cup of Granola, Porridge, Oats, and Chia Pudding + 1 Fruit.

Instead of using 1 cup of granola, let soaking ½ cup of Raw Oats, either:

• Overnight at room temperature or fridge.
• In the morning, 15 minutes before eating with warm water.

Add the soaked oats to ½ cup of your Granola. Now, your granola will last twice.

5. Your own plant-milk

If you leave your Oats or Farro soaking overnight with 3 times the water (i.e., ½ cup Oats + 1 ½ cups water). You will have Oats Milk in addition to the soaked oats volume, so you don’t need to add milk to your quick granola bowl. If you rather have Soy Milk or Almond Milk, check them out. They are super easy to make.

6. Fresh fruit or applesauce

Top your basic granola recipe bowl with cheap fruit like banana or apples, cut into rough pieces. You can also add a spoonful of chunky unsweetened applesauce. You are not only increasing the volume of your granola but its flavor and nutritional value.

7. Flavor

Instead of using essences, grind the zest of an orange, lemon, or citrus fruit you have handy.

More unique granola recipes

Take a look at these additional great Breakfast Recipes:

• The Morning Green Juice
• Thick Smoothie Bowl
• Oats and Chia Pudding
• Breakfast Fruit Bowl

Take a look at these Yummy Breakfast Smoothies

• Frozen Mixed Berry Smoothie
• Easy Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Best Mango Smoothie
• Grapefruit Smoothie

Try making your own plant milk in minutes:

• 10-mins Homemade Almond Milk
• Homemade Soy Milk
• Homemade Oat Milk

If curious about all the benefits of Oats Learn more

Curious about all the benefits that nuts can bring to your diet? Learn more

More about the benefits of spices

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

Recipe

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Food safety

We sometimes take for granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

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