Easy Homemade Healthy Granola Recipe

This homemade granola recipe is a wonderful easy go to breakfast or snack. I love the crunchiness, of the nuts and oats and the mild sweetness of the fruits or chocolate if you choose to make a chocolate version.

So delicious! We eat granola several times a week topped with homemade creamy yoghurt, fresh raw milk or cream! I love adding cream into our granola it’s extra tasty that way.

I tend to make enough to last 2 weeks for our family and just make another batch early in the morning when needed. It is a pretty simple and quick recipe, and the variations are endless. Hope you enjoy!

Why Make Homemade Granola

The reason you make anything at home is for 3 main reasons, I believe. One it is healthier, as you get to choose the ingredients and what you put in it. 2nd It’s generally cheaper to make at home.

3rd reason can be you can’t access what you are looking for at the shops so have to make it at home. I like how easy it is to play around with this homemade granola recipe and make so many different variations.

One of the benefits to making your own granola at home is you get to choose the amount of sugar you add and how much of it as well. Some granolas can have a high amount of sugar and believe me they aren’t using the best type either.

You get to also choose the oil used in your granola recipe. Coconut oil or grapeseed oil are a lot better than using canola oil which is used in many store-bought versions.

Because I buy all my ingredients in bulk making it at home turns out to be pretty cheap, literally 1/4 of the price and I get a lot more amount as well.

Homemade Granola Ingredients

3 cups whole oatmeal. I prefer to use organic oats and as oats are heavily sprayed with chemicals!

4 cups chopped nuts. You can use whatever mix of nuts you prefer. I personally like a mixture of almonds and cashews and do equal parts of them. So, I would do 2 cups of cashews and 2 cups of almonds.

1/2 cup honey or maple syrup for a bit of sweetness.

2/3 cup melted coconut oil or another mild flavour oil don’t use olive oil that flavour will be soaked into your nuts and oats.

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp vanilla is optional but I like the added flavour.

1 cup dried fruit. You can use whatever dried fruit you like or a mixture of different dried fruits. I am a fan of cranberries, blueberries and currants at the moment!

Supplies Needed

Unless you have already prechopped nuts you will need a blender or food processor to chop your nuts in. Or you can chop by hand, but I personally prefer not to do it that way. I love my food processor it works pretty well at getting the job done for me.

You will also need a pot to heat the oil and ingredients in quickly.

2 trays to place your granola onto when you are going to toast them in the oven.

silicon mats or parchment paper to place on top of your trays.

A jar with a lid to place your finished granola into.

How To Make Homemade Granola

Homemade granola is pretty easy to make, just a few simple steps and you will have your own delicious homemade granola!

1. If you have whole nuts, you will want to get them prechopped to whatever size you like best. I like mine almost the same size as my oats, so my kids don’t notice the nuts so much.
2. Get your oven preheated to 340F/170C.
3. Get the coconut oil heated in a pan so it’s nice and warm then turn it off. Add your sweetener of choice, salt and vanilla and give it a little mix.
4. Add the oats and then the nuts and I give it a quick stir, so everything is coated in the liquid.
5. Pour the muesli mixture into your two prepared pans and spread it evenly. You want everything to get toasted as evenly as possible.
6. Place into your oven and bake it for about 30 minutes I like to take mine out and stir it every 10 minutes so 3 times in total.
7. After 30 minutes turn off the oven and open the door a little so the granola isn’t cooking anymore but continues to dry for about 5 more minutes.
8. Take it out of the oven and mix 1 cup of whatever dried fruit mixture you prefer. I love cranberries, currants and dried blueberries.
9. Once mixture is cooled place into a jar with a lid and store away from direct sunlight.
10. It has lasted with no issues for several weeks before we have eaten it all up!

Chocolate Variation

To make a chocolate granola it’s very similar. The only difference is you will add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder to the coconut oil at the beginning and increase the amount of sweetener you are using as the cocoa has a stronger taste.

At the very end when it has finished baking in the oven and has cooled down you can add dried fruit like cranberries with it or you can replace the fruit with chocolate chips. I absolutely love the chocolate the version as well!

How To Store Granola

Let your granola cool completely before storing so there is no extra moisture in your container. Pour your granola into a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store in a cupboard away from direct sunlight.

You can also freeze granola. Place your cooled granola into an airtight freezer bag. I like to suck the extra air out using a straw. Then place into the freezer. It can keep for at least 6 months this way.

How Long Does Homemade Granola Last?

This homemade granola recipe if stored properly can last up to 4 weeks in a jar away from direct sunlight. We normally eat all ours within 2 weeks and there has never been any issues so far. Or you can freeze it for up to 6 months.

Is Homemade Granola Healthy?

Yes, homemade granola is healthy. It contains fibre, and different vitamins and nutrients which vary depending on which nuts and fruits you use. It is a great breakfast or snack option that will help you stay fuller for longer.

It’s healthier than storebought versions because you generally use better quality oils and sugar than the store-bought options.

Homemade Cruncy Granola Tips

For crunchy granola you want it to bake longer so it dries out more. Be careful not to burn it though. It’s a good idea to bake at a lower temperature and stir several times so it doesn’t burn.

I also like to turn off the oven and crack the oven door open a bit, so the granola continues to dry but not burn.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know if you try it and how it went for you!