This homemade granola is loved by everyone who tries it, with hundreds of 4 and 5 star reviews – its so much better than granola you’ll get from the store. We will show you how easy it is to make, and so easy to customize too!
Did you know you can make granola at home with only 6 ingredients, and about 5 minutes of work. You’re going to want to print this recipe out to make it every week or two because you’ll never go back to buying granola from the store again.
Why you’ll love this Simple Granola Recipe
I decided that it would be easier to make my own granola at home. And this granola recipe could not be any easier! This granola is only 6 ingredients and its so delicious! It’s such a great granola recipe on its own, but its also amazing with dried fruit or nuts added in to the mix.
What is Granola Made of?
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Easy Granola Recipe. Specific measurements and the full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- brown sugar
- honey
- canola oil – can substitute vegetable oil, or coconut oil
- old fashioned oats
- ground cinnamon – you can leave this out if you don’t like the flavor
- salt
What oats are best for this Easy Granola Recipe
For this granola recipe you’ll want to use rolled oats, which are also called old fashioned oats, or whole oats. Rolled oats are pieces of whole grains of oats that are steamed till they’re soft and then pressed to flatten.
Quick oats, or instant oats are precooked and pressed thinner than rolled oats, so you may be able to use them instead, but they will cook much faster because of their thinner shape, so you’ll need to adjust your baking time. I’ve never tried making granola with steel cut oats. There are recipes using steel cut oats and I would recommend using one of those instead as the nature of the oats are a lot different than rolled oats. But if you try it with this recipe, please let me know!
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This simple granola turned out so delicious. I’m thrilled to be able to eat it on top of my daily yogurt or with milk! I’ve also used it to make homemade granola bars, and yogurt parfaits.
Ps. Nate even loves it too (which is always a good sign!), he was hungry last night and had a bowl of my homemade granola with milk.
How to make Granola
Combine the wet ingredients; brown sugar, honey, and canola oil in a small sauce pan and heat over medium until the sugar is dissolved.
Add the oats to a large bowl, and pour the sugar mixture over the oats. Stir in the cinnamon and salt too until the oats are evenly coated.
Spread the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet pan, or a pan lined in parchment paper in an even layer. Bake it up for 1 hour, stirring about 2 to 3 times until it’s nicely golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the granola cool completely. Then break it into pieces. Enjoy however you want!
Homemade Granola Recipe Mix-Ins
- Raisins or Craisins
- Other Dried Fruit (dried pineapple, bananas, apricots, blueberries, coconut flakes, cherries, mango, etc)
- Your Favorite Nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc)
- Seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, etc)
- Chocolate or White Chocolate Pieces (Add these after the granola is baked or they will become a melty mess)
Granola Recipe Easy Tips and Tricks:
- Try adding melted coconut oil, vegetable oil, or extra virgin olive oil to your granola mixture instead of canola oil. The flavor will be a little different depending on which you add.
- Use real maple syrup instead of honey in the wet ingredients for the sweetener.
- Add in 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract to the wet ingredients for this granola.
Ways to use this Easy Homemade Granola
- Eat it instead of breakfast cereal in a small bowl with a little milk.
- Add some nuts, pretzels, dark chocolate chips, dried fruit, or m&ms to the granola after it’s baked and cooled, and enjoy it like trail mix.
- Add some granola crumbled on top of some greek yogurt, or other low-fat yogurt.
- Add a couple tablespoons on top of your favorite ice cream for a nice crunch.
Storing this Simple Granola Recipe
Although it never lasts that long for us, this homemade granola should stay fresh in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag for 3-4 weeks.
This granola can also be frozen in small ziplock freezer safe bags for up to 3 months. Remove as much air from the bags as you can, or use vacuum sealed bags and a vacuum sealer for best results. Let the granola thaw on the counter at room temperature over night before serving.
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Simple Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup canola oil**
- 4 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine brown sugar, honey and canola oil in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often until sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the brown sugar mixture over oats and add cinnamon and salt. Stir until oats are evenly coated.
- Spread granola mixture over a cookie sheet (sprayed with pam) and press mixture down.
- Place in the oven and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before breaking apart and into pieces.
- Store in a ziplock bag or other air tight container.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was first shared on May 24, 2013. Photos and text updated on August 24, 2018.
GET READY TO MAKE THIS SIMPLE GRANOLA BASE WITH THESE GREAT KITCHEN TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS:
Tracy says
Just made this , this morning. So easy and super yummy!! Thank u.
Aimee Berrett says
Thanks for letting me know Tracy! So glad you liked it!
Jennifer says
I made this today and I liked the flavor, but after it cooled it still wasn’t very crunchy (more chewy). I was hoping for a really crunchy granola.
Aimee Berrett says
Sorry Jennifer! I’ll have to double check my baking times. Everytime I’ve made it the granola is crunchy.
julie says
Would leaving it unstirred in the pan result in crunchy granola bars? How long would they need to bake to be bars? My sister and I loved a name brand crunchy cinnamon kind, and they no longer make it. Looking for something to relpace it.
Aimee Berrett says
Julie, unfortunately no, making granola bars is not so simple, they usually have additional ingredients like rice cereal. But also I’m not sure that the amounts are correct to make granola bars and would worry that you would just end up with burnt granola. Sorry.
Monique says
What would the shelf life of this be you think? It looks sooo yummy so I doubt it’ll last long, but just in case I’m the only one that likes it lol!
Aimee Berrett says
I would guess a week or two, but I haven’t had it last that long. Let me know if you do.
Kate B says
i am a nurse and a patient made this for us as a thank you and we hogged the whole giant container she made us down! It was fabulous. Stupid question but at what point do you add dried fruit, coconut? After cooking, when you are stirring?
Aimee Berrett says
What a great gift idea! I’m glad you found us! You’ll want to add dried fruit in after the granola is baked. If you have coconut flakes or bigger pieces you can have it bake with the granola, I’d put it in maybe half way through (unless you don’t like it toasted), but shredded you should add after its baked. And I would add nuts or seeds while you are baking, cause I think they would be great toasted too. Let me know if you have other questions.
Megan says
I always put nuts and seeds in before baking. That way they toast up and add great flavor to your granola. Only thing I toss in after is dried fruit, chocolate, coconut, etc.
Aimee Berrett says
Great idea to add them before baking. I definitely prefer the nuts toasted as well 🙂
Melinda says
Im making this now. Im using coconut oil instead. It smells so good I can’t wait to try it.
Jennifer says
Love this recipe but I guess my oven is way hot. I’ve had to reduce my oven temp quite a bit. And I use quick oats maybe that’s why?
Aimee Berrett says
Quick oats could definitely make a difference because they are pressed to be thinner so that they’ll cook faster. Whenever I make it I just watch closely to make sure it doesnt burn, but a lower temperature is fine too.
Christine says
I’ve made it 3 times now, it’s super easy, crunchy and sooo good!!!! Don’t even want to try other recipes this one is so good
Susan says
I did the math and this is 164 calories per 1/4 cup!
Aimee Berrett says
It’s interesting how granola is perceived as healthy, but when you look at the calories its usually higher than a lot of the sugary cereals.
Colleen says
I used coconut oil as well. I also added coconut and sliced almonds. I made one batch with gluten free oats for a friend and one batch with quick oats. Both turned out great! Thanks for the perfect base recipe!
Linda Singleton says
I have used this recipe as my basic go to recipe. I’ve tried others but always go back. Of course I modify with almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and coconut. I stir only once. Keep close watch on the time. Can’t beat it! Thanks Aimee!
Tasha says
Thanks for this recipe! I was searching for a basic granola recipe, and this is perfect. I substituted coconut oil for canola and maple syrup for the honey. After reading the other comments, I’ll add vanilla next time. Can’t wait to add dried cherries and chocolate chips. This is going to be great!
Aimee Berrett says
Thanks for letting me know. Its the perfect base recipe for granola I think, because its so easy to alter and add to!
Glynis says
I’ve been making my own granola for years, but in the last few months I’ve been playing around. One of the things that I changed from my original recipe is replacing some of the oil with coconut oil It seems to help it stay crunchier (in my opinion). My recipe also calls for 1 hr at 250, but I’ve started jacking my oven to closer to 300 and it’s perfect. Just some thoughts. This looks delicious!
Aimee Berrett says
I’ll have to try it with coconut oil next time, I love crunchy granola 🙂
Kelly Anderson says
Making this now for the 2nd time. Yummy! Only changes/additions is I use coconut oil and I add some good vanilla, ground flax seed and China seeds. Hubs requests it :). Would be good with craisins (but hubby is allergic) & dark chocolate chips but it is already a good sweet. I enjoy as a cereal with fresh/frozen berries and in yogurt parfait. LOVE it!!
Kelly Anderson says
^Chia seeds^
pricilla says
Will olive oil or vegetable oil work? I don’t have any canola oil on hand and this will be my first time ever trying to make granola. Yours looks delicious by the way 🙂
Aimee Berrett says
I would try vegetable oil, I use it pretty interchangeably with canola oil. However olive oil has a pretty distinct and different taste so I don’t think it would work very well!
Christine says
I’ve been using olive oil for mine, tastes great!
kelly says
Made this today!! Soooo good! My husband already had a bowl like cereal, loves it! I added sliced almonds and coconut! It was so easy to make! Thanks for sharing! !
kelly says
Stir every 15 min? Shouldn’t it be getting… .un-stirrable?
Aimee Berrett says
Kelly, you aren’t going to be stirring it like a bowl of soup, but you can mix everything around on the pan. Remember this is granola, not granola bars, we want clusters not a big clump. Let me know if you try it!
Ingrid says
Just made this, added some Nutella, some sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts and will add golden raisins when it has cooled. Had a little taste already, it is awesome and I will make it again. Thank you.
Krissy says
This looks amazing! Totally making this in the morning 🙂 Question: Roughly how many calories are in a serving? TIA!!!
Aimee Berrett says
I don’t know how big an actual serving would be, but I put it in my recipe magic that it makes 16 servings and they said each serving is 240 calories.
Ro says
I am making this right now and it smells SOOO good! I am hopeful that it is going to crunch up well once cooled. It doesn’t look so crunchy right now.
Aimee Berrett says
Ro, I hope you like it. The first time I made it I cooked mine a little longer than I would have because it wasn’t getting crunchy, and it never really did. Until it started to cool. Then it got nice and crunchy 🙂
Erin says
Can you use quick cool oats??
Aimee Berrett says
Do you mean quick cook oats? I think you should be able to use them. Though since they do cook faster I would check your granola earlier so they don’t burn.
tera says
I just made this for my family. Instant new favorite. I added unsweetened shredded coconut and some home dehydrated berries. So delicious! ! Thank you
Aimee Berrett says
Yum! I definitely want to try some new mixins next time and coconut and dried berries sound so good. Thanks for the suggestion, and so glad you liked it!!
Irving Schmidt says
This homemade granola is pretty easy to make and is great served on yogurt with fresh cut strawberries. It definitely beats my typical “cereal” breakfast. This also makes a great little snack as well. Top with cool whip and you’ve got yourself a nice little treat.
Audra Day says
This looks delicious, and it sounds super easy – thank you.
aimeeberrett says
It is easy and delicious, thanks Audra!
Amber Brady says
That looks so crunchy & yummy! I bet my kids would eat it plain like potato chips!
aimeeberrett says
Amber, it is really crunchy and perfect! Let me know if you try it and what you and your kids think!