If you're looking for a simple homemade granola recipe that's made with easy ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, this is one of those recipes you'll find yourself making again and again. It's sweet, crunchy, packed with whole grains, and comes together with very little effort.
Unlike many bags of store-bought granola from the grocery store, this recipe is made with ingredients you can recognize. We love keeping a batch on hand for quick breakfasts, sprinkling it over yogurt, or grabbing a handful as a healthy snack throughout the day.
This has quickly become our go-to granola recipe, and I hope it becomes yours too!
For years, I made our granola using my homemade granola bar recipe. I'd simply skip shaping them into bars. Eventually, I started tweaking it specifically for granola, adjusting the baking method until it had those perfectly crunchy clusters while still keeping all of the wholesome ingredients we enjoy.
It's become one of those pantry staples I make all year long. During the winter, it's perfect sprinkled over yogurt or enjoyed as an afternoon snack, but in the summer it gets made almost weekly. On warm mornings when everyone is outside early or headed off on an adventure, it's one of the easiest breakfasts I can put together. I simply pour some homemade granola into bowls, add cold raw milk, and breakfast is ready in just a minute or two.
I also love that I know exactly what's in it. Instead of reaching for a bag of store-bought granola with a long list of ingredients, I can make a big batch from pantry staples in just a few minutes. It stores beautifully for a couple of weeks, making busy mornings so much easier.
Whether you enjoy it with milk, sprinkled over a yogurt parfait with fresh berries, or by the handful as a healthy snack, I hope this simple homemade granola recipe becomes one of those dependable recipes your family reaches for again and again.
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Ingredients for our Simple Homemade Granola Recipe
- Rolled oats
- Chopped walnuts
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Raisins or Cransins
- Maple Syrup
- Creamy peanut butter
- Pure vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
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- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet or sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped walnuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, craisins, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until the dry ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Step 3: Stir in the creamy peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir until evenly coated.
- Step 4: Spread the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Press it down lightly with the back of a spatula if you'd like larger clusters.
- Step 5: Bake for 25–30 minutes, gently stirring once about halfway through the baking time. Continue baking until the granola is lightly golden brown.
- Step 6: Once completely cooled, break the granola into clusters and enjoy!
Hint: For the biggest granola clusters, don't stir the granola after it comes out of the oven. Let it cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking it apart. The honey and peanut butter will firm up as it cools, giving you those delicious crunchy chunks.
Variations
One of the best things about this basic recipe is how easy it is to customize.
Some of our favorite variations include:
- Swap the walnuts for pecans, almonds, or your favorite nuts.
- Add sunflower seeds, green pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seed, or hemp hearts for extra nutrition.
- Stir in dark chocolate chips after the granola has completely cooled.
- Replace the raisins with your favorite dried fruit, like dried cranberries, cherries, or chopped apricots.
- If you're not a coconut person, simply leave out the coconut flakes.
Equipment
You'll need:
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Baking sheet or sheet pan
- Parchment paper - I like to use silicone mats
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Storage
Allow the cooled granola to cool completely before storing. Place it in an airtight container (or air-tight container) at room temperature, where it will stay fresh for a couple of weeks.
For longer storage, freeze the granola in a freezer-safe bag. Simply let it come to room temperature before serving.
Top Tip
Don't rush the cooling process!
The granola may seem soft when it first comes out of the oven, but as the granola cools, it develops that perfectly crunchy texture. Let it cool completely before breaking it into clusters or transferring it to your storage container.
FAQ
Can I use quick oats?
Old-fashioned rolled oats (or whole oats) give the best texture. Quick oats will work in a pinch, but the finished granola won't be quite as crunchy.
Can I substitute the peanut butter?
Yes! Almond butter or cashew butter both work well if you need an alternative, although peanut butter gives this recipe its classic flavor.
How do we like to eat homemade granola?
Honestly? Just with some milk. Keep it simple. Keep it sane.
It's also delicious sprinkled over cottage cheese, served with milk, added to overnight oats, mixed into trail mix, or even as a topping for ice cream.
Can I make this nut-free?
Yes. Simply omit the walnuts and replace them with additional seeds like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds if desired.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Simple Homemade Granola Recipe
Make this simple homemade granola recipe with oats, honey, peanut butter, walnuts, and raisins. An easy, wholesome breakfast or healthy snack.
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ cup craisins
- 1 cup maple syrup
- ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet or sheet pan with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped walnuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, craisins, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until the dry ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Stir in the creamy peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir until evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Press it down lightly with the back of a spatula if you'd like larger clusters.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, gently stirring once about halfway through the baking time. Continue baking until the granola is lightly golden brown.
- Once completely cooled, break the granola into clusters and enjoy!
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