The Best Healthy Granola
An easy recipe to make the best homemade healthy granola. It’s much cheaper than store-bought, naturally sweetened and so flavorful!
This is my basic, go-to recipe for granola. I’ve made it a million times (slight exaggeration here but I’m close!) and even though I love its variations (pumpkin, apple pie or chocolate! – see below) I always come back to it because it’s super simple yet so good.
I believe all of us healthy foodies need a good granola recipe we can use over and over again, and I’m hoping this one will be the one for you!
Eat your granola as a snack or for breakfast, on its own, with some milk or Greek yogurt or a smoothie topping!
Ok, let me show how we make it!
Healthy Granola Ingredients
- Oats
Rolled oats, also know as old-fashioned oats, are best for granola
- Nuts and Seeds
My go-to mix is almond, pecans and hazelnuts, but you can also use walnuts, cashews or any of your favorite nut.
Seeds are perfect too: think sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), flax seeds, hemp seeds and even chia seeds.
- Oil
Coconut oil (refined to avoid the coconut taste, or unrefined for a very light coconut taste).
You can also use a light tasting olive oil.
- Natural liquid sweeteners
Maple syrup or honey.
- Spices and salt
For this basic recipe, I use cinnamon. You can also try adding ginger (no more than a teaspoon), nutmeg (just a pinch), pumpkin spice or gingerbread spice.
Don’t skip the salt, it brings out the flavors.
- Dried fruits
Dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, strawberries… any of your favorite dried fruits. Add them after baking.
Skip them altogether to lower the sugar content.
How to make homemade granola
- Steps 1 & 2 – mix all the dry ingredients: oats, shredded coconut (optional), nuts and cinnamon.
- Step 3 – add the wet ingredients (maple syrup and melted coconut oil) and mix until thoroughly combined
- Steps 4 & 5 – Transfer to a lined baking sheet, spread the mixture into a thick layer (about 3/4 inc – 1.5/2 cm) and with a wooden spoon, press down the granola on the prepared baking sheet.
- Step 6 – Bake for about 30 minutes at 300F/150C. Remove from the oven and add the dried fruits. Let it cool completely before breaking into pieces and storing in an air-tight container.
Tips to make clumpy granola
- The granola needs to be a bit crowded on the baking sheet so it sticks together, but not so much as it won’t toast nicely. A thickness of about 3/4 inches is ideal.
- Press the granola on the baking sheet with a wooden spoon or spatula
- Don’t mix your granola mid-baking. It’s not only not necessary, it actually tends to break the granola clusters.
- Let the granola cool completely before breaking it into pieces and storing it.
- Keep the granola in the fridge to keep it crunchy and clumpy.
Granola flavor variations
- Chocolate Hazelnut Granola (click for the recipe): this recipe is made with cocoa powder and hazelnuts. It reminds me of Ferrero Rochers! You can also add chocolate chips for an extra chocolate dose.
- Pumpkin Granola (click for the recipe): a classic for Fall! Made with warming spice pumpkin spices and pumpkin puree.
- Dates, Cashew and Honey Granola (click for the recipe): the title says it all! Sweet and delicious 🙂
- Apple Pie: instead of 4 teaspoons of cinnamon, add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, 1/4 teaspoon cardamom. Use dried apples instead of cranberries.
If you tried this granola recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!
Healthy Granola
An easy recipe to make the best homemade healthy granola. It's much cheaper than store-bought, naturally sweetened and so flavorful!
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats also known as old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut unsweetened – optional
- 1 1/2 cups nuts roughly chopped – I used a mix of almonds, hazelnuts and pecans
- 4 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup coconut oil melted – I used refined coconut oil to avoid the coconut taste
- 2/3 cup cranberries or your favorite dried fruits – roughly chopped if large
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 300 F / 150 C degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
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In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: oats, shredded coconut, nuts, cinnamon and salt.
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Add the wet ingredients: maple syrup and coconut oil. Mix thoroughly until well combined and all the oats look wet.
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Transfer on prepared baking sheet, spread the mixture into a 3/4"-thick layer (about 1.5/2 cm) and with a wooden spoon, press down the granola on the prepared baking sheet.
A thick layer and pressing down the granola is key to getting clusters!
If you prefer your granola without clusters, spread the mixture as much as possible and don't press it down.
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Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
All ovens are different so start checking around 20-25 minutes to make sure it doesn't burn.
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Remove from the oven, spread the dried fruits on top and let it cool completely.
DO NOT TOUCH the granola before it's completely cooled down. It's key to make it crunchy and clumpy!
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When cool, break it into pieces and store in an air-tight container – ideally in the fridge to keep it extra crunchy.
Recipe Notes
Flavor variations:
- Chocolate Hazelnut Granola (click for the recipe): this recipe is made with cocoa powder and hazelnuts. It reminds me of Ferrero Rochers! You can also add chocolate chips for an extra chocolate dose.
- Pumpkin Granola (click for the recipe): a classic for Fall! Made with warming spice pumpkin spices and pumpkin puree.
- Dates, Cashew and Honey Granola (click for the recipe): the title says it all! Sweet and delicious 🙂
- Apple Pie: instead of 4 teaspoons of cinnamon, add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, 1/4 teaspoon cardamom. Use dried apples instead of cranberries.
More granola recipes you will love:
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published on August 31, 2012 and republished in April 2019 with a brand new recipe, new photos and more tips.
Do you mean sweetened condensed milk, like I’d use for Magic Cookie Bars? That sounds intriguing. I’ve been making my own granola for 10-12 years now, but I like that idea. If you’re interested, I have found that adding wheat germ helps the granola “clump” better. I usually make mine tropical with a lot of different nuts, banana chips, and coconut. Yummy!
Yes absolutely, sweetened condensed milk! It gives the granola a caramel-y and crunchy texture I love.
Thanks for the tip, it’s good to know!
I normally just mix granola with cream and it it raw. I’m gonna try your suggestion and mix it with condensed milk! Thanks!
I’m glad you like this recipe Jon! 🙂
Oh, Marie. This granola recipe comes at the perfect time. I have a can of sweetened condensed milk left in the pantry and would love to use it for this recipe! This granola looks so crunchy!
I make homemade granola too, my recipe is a little bit different, so I can’t wait to try yours! I especially love all the variations!
Thanks Pam! Isn’t homemade granola the best?!
Love granola and I make it often at my home. I like that you made it healthy!
It means we can eat more, right? 😉
I’m definitely a fan of homemade granola for my morning yogurt, or just to carry in a ziploc bag for when I get a hankering… This sounds really wonderful!
Thanks Lisa 🙂 I love carrying it around in a ziploc bag too!
Wow, I love granola but i’ve never thought to make it myself! Thank you for the recipe and all the possible flavor variations! Hazelnut and chocolate, yum!!
It’s so easy Sophia! Once you try it, there’s no going back!
I could snack on this granola all day! It looks so hearty and delicious!
Thanks Jessica! It *might* be what I do when I have a batch around hehe.
It has cinnamon so two thumbs up. Don’t remember when I last ate Granola but this looks so good. Adding Cinnamon is genius because not only does it cut what little sweeteners you used, it creates an amazing taste sensation with Granola. Now if you agree to use Ceylon Cinnamon we will send you a free bag of the very best organic Ceylon Cinnamon. Just e-mail us with your shipping address.
Absolutely, cinnamon is a staple! Thanks, I will get in touch.
Best granola recipe ever! My family loves it. Soooo yummy!
Super happy to hear Ronda, yay!
Where is the portion of the recipe that call fro sweetened condensed milk. I see comments about it, but can’t find it.
Hey Cynthia! This post has been updated in April 2019 with a new granola recipe that doesn’t include sweetened condensed milk anymore.
How many calories is just 1/2 a cup? 85.5?
Hi Sunny! One cup has 85, half a cup 42. Cheers!
This recipe turned out fabulous. I used honey, craisins, raisins, adding pumpkin seeds and chia seeds. I also increased it 1/2 as much. Love it!!
Love the sounds of these add-ins Janet, thanks for sharing!
Hi Marie! Your recipe sounds yummy! It’s my first time making homemade granola and I only have quick oats. Have you tried it with them instead of old fashioned? Just curious if I should go ahead and make it or wait til I grocery shop again?
Thanks!
Hi Mary! I did try with quick oats and the texture really isn’t the same, it’s not as good. It works if that’s all you have and don’t want to venture out for that, but if you’re planning to go shopping anyway I would wait a bit 🙂
I appreciate your feedback. Thanks so much!! Can’t wait to try😊
I’ve made this granola 3X now and my husband loves it. We have it with our yogurt and fresh fruit. He prefers it over store bought. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Such a fantastic compliment Angelica, thanks so much!
So delicious! I actually couldn’t wait until it cooled! But I just grabbed a couple spoonfuls!
Haha yeah, it’s hard to resist! Glad you loved it Alisa 🙂
Doing again and again just love it
Yay super happy to hear you love it Anabel 🙂