Easy Homemade Granola

With a few minutes in the kitchen, you can make homemade granola for your family to use on yogurt, ice cream and as a really delicious munchable snack.

Kids love to add this granola for the crunch and don't even realize how much good nutrition they are getting with each snack. Add it to trail mix with dried fruit, chocolate chips or M&Ms. You can even use it for cereal!

Why This Recipe?

You control the ingredients. When you make your own this simple granola recipe, you don't have to worry about preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, or random ingredients your kids cannot stand.

By making your own granola you can add ingredients with high nutritional value such as flaxseed, wheat germ, brewers yeast, or protein powder.

Making homemade granola in bulk is cheaper than buying expensive pre-made granola bars.

This is a great topping for yogurt and fruit.

How to Make Homemade Granola

Ingredients for Homemade Granola

Oats. Rolled oats, or steel-cut oats will all work. Quick oats will make a bit of a dry and chewy mess.

Crisp Rice Cereal. If you will be serving this to someone who is gluten-free be sure to find a box labeled as such. Some rice cereals have cross-contamination. I use rice krispies.

Ground Flaxseed or Wheat Germ. This adds to the nutritional value and helps the other ingredients with bonding

Brown Sugar. A variety of sweeteners are used in this recipe to increase the depth of flavor.

Maple Syrup. A great all-natural sweetener with interesting flavor.

Honey. All-natural sweetener.

Vegetable Oil.

Salt. I recommend normal table salt.

Vanilla. Do not use imitation vanilla extract unless absolutely necessary.

Non-Stick Olive Oil Spray. To prevent the mixture from sticking to the cooking sheet.

Equipment Needed for Simple Granola Recipe

• Parchment-lined baking sheet
• Small saucepan
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Large bowl
• Large or wooden spoon

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300º.
2. Combine oats, riced cereal, salt, and flaxseed in a large bowl and set aside.
3. In a small saucepan melt brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, and oil.
4. Remove from heat once melted and stir in vanilla.
5. Pour the sauce over the ingredients in the large bowl and fold in until well incorporated. (It may still look dry and that’s okay.)
6. Spray baking sheet with a light coating of nonstick olive oil
7. Pour mixture out onto it
8. Bake for 10 mins. Stir then bake another 10 mins.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20-30 mins
10. Stir the mixture every 5 mins so it doesn’t clump together.
11. Store in an airtight container.

Tips for Homemade Granola

Make sure to move the mixture around as it cools so that it doesn’t form clumps.

Serve over yogurt or ice cream.

Add variety to your granola with any of the following add-ins. Dried fruit such as cherries, raisins, cranberries, bananas, apples, mango or pineapple would all work. Coconut flakes, chocolate chips of any flavor, dark chocolate nibs, seeds such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seesds or flaxseed are all excellent choices. Try it with nuts such as pecans, walnuts, almonds etc.

Make sure your granola is completely cool before breaking it apart for storing. Residual heat can cause sogginess.

Much like cookies, don't wait until your granola looks fully done to pull it from the oven. It will continue to crisp up and cook more as it cools.

FAQ

Is Homemade Granola Gluten Free?

Yes! Be sure to check your oats, and crisp rice cereal for cross contamination if you need the granola to be gluten-free. You can find this information on the label. You should also plan to use flaxseed and do not use the wheat germ.

Is Homemade Granola Dairy-Free?

Yes. If you make your homemade granola according to the recipe it should be dairy-free.

Is Homemade Granola Cheaper than storebought?

Yes. Plan to make granola several times because you will be buying the ingredients in larger quantities than what you have to have for one recipe.

How do I store homemade granola?

You can put your granola in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature for a week or maybe two. If you keep it in a freezer quality zipper bag at room temperature it won't last quite as long because those are not airtight. Keep an eye on it for spoilage. You can also freeze your granola for more long term storage and thaw it as needed.

Can I leave out the oil?

No, you cannot. Granola needs a little bit of fat to keep it from being just a bag of dried oats. You can, however, substitute for a more healthy fat such as coconut oil or avocado oil if you prefer.

More Fun Granola Snacks to Make

Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade Cereal Bars

Easy Almond Bars

Yogurt Parfait Recipe

Caramel Apple Wraps

Mango Yogurt Parfaits

Easy Homemade Granola

Raquel Pineira

With a few minutes in the kitchen you can make a homemade granola for your family to use on yogurt, ice cream and as a munchable snack.

4.97 from 26 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 10

Calories 255 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 5 cups oats
• ▢ 1 ½ cups crisp rice cereal
• ▢ 2-3 tablespoon ground flax seed or wheat germ
• ▢ ½ cup brown sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup maple syrup
• ▢ ¼ cup honey
• ▢ 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ▢ Non stick olive oil

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees
• Combine oats, riced cereal, salt and flaxseed in a large bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan melt brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, and oil.
• Remove from heat once melted and stir in vanilla.
• Pour the sauce over the ingredients in the large bowl and fold in until well incorporated (it may
• still look dry that’s okay)
• Spray baking sheet with a light coating of non stick olive oil
• Pour mixture out onto it
• Bake for 10 mins. Stir then bake another 10 mins.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool for 20-30 mins
• Stir the mixture every 5 mins so it doesn’t clump together.
• Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Make sure to move the mixture around as it cools so that it doesn’t form clumps.
Serve over yogurt or ice cream

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 6gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 123mgPotassium: 188mgFiber: 4gSugar: 23gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

I hope you enjoyed this new year’s eve cookies recipe. I also hope that your new year’s eve celebration is enjoyable, whether you are going to a party or watching the ball drop on TV like we plan to.

If you are not yet subscribing to my CELEBRATE THE SEASON newsletter, you can subscribe to the newsletter here.

I share simple recipes for the season and a few things that I don’t share here and I email you only once a week. I know how valuable your time is and respect that tremendously!

If you try this recipe or any other recipe on Organized Island, please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! 

Want to streamline your weekly meals? Check out my Beginner's Guide to Meal Planning book on Amazon.