Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe
Posted Aug 31, 2017, Updated Oct 01, 2021
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This healthy homemade granola recipe is easy to make with only 8 ingredients in 30 minutes! It’s gluten-free, dairy-free vegan and has no refined sugar! A delicious healthy breakfast or snack!
Every Wednesday before we go grocery shopping I ask my kids what they want to put on the list. Without fail, the first item they shout out is, “YOGURT!” They love it. The problem is, yogurt isn’t a very filling breakfast on its own, so it needs a companion.
But not just anyone will do…most store-bought granolas aren’t worthy because they are loaded with sugar. However, this Healthy Granola Recipe definitely meets the qualifications of a suitable partner for every kind of yogurt!
This homemade granola recipe is so good that I sneak bites during every step of the baking process and have to remind myself to save some for my kids. The list of ingredients is short and they’re all nutritious! It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and has no refined sugar! It’s also easy to make!
Healthy Granola Recipe: Substitutions
Here are a few acceptable substitutions for this homemade granola recipe. As always I recommend making it exactly as written.
- Coconut oil. Butter can be used in place of coconut oil as long as it complies with your dietary needs!
- Honey. Any liquid sweetener should work great in this recipe. I have used honey and maple syrup (for a vegan option) with great results.
- Old-Fashioned Oats. Quick-cooking oats can be substituted but you might need to add an extra TBS or two of coconut oil or sweetener! Steel cut oats do not work in this recipe.
- Pecans. Chopped almonds or walnuts are also delicious options to use in this recipe. If you are allergic to nuts, simply increase the amount of oats/coconut by 1/2 cup.
How to make homemade Granola
This healthy granola recipe takes about 5 minutes to put together and 30 minutes to bake! So let’s
Mix dry ingredients. Start by mixing the dry ingredients together, then set them aside!
Combine & warm the wet ingredients. The trick here is you want to gently warm them either in the microwave or on the stovetop until they are just warm enough to be smooth and combined.
Add Vanilla. be sure to add the vanilla to the wet ingredients after they have been removed from the heat!
Mix it together! Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well! Be sure everything is evenly distributed!
Bake! This is the most important step! If you want chunky granola be sure to press the granola together in the pan. Bake for 30 minutes.
Test for doneness. The granola usually feels soft to the touch when it first comes out of the oven, but hardens as it cools. To test for doneness take a few pieces of granola off the baking pan and let it cool. If it hardens and becomes crunchy then it’s done!
Store/freeze
Store this healthy granola recipe in an airtight container for up to two weeks (if it lasts that long). It can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Reheat
If the healthy granola becomes soft during storing (this can happen if it wasn’t baked all the way). Simply reheat it in the oven at 300 degrees F for 5-10 minutes, or until is passes the doneness test.
Recipe FAQs
Not if you make this healthy homemade granola recipe! It’s a nutritious way to start the day.
You probably did not bake it long enough. Return it to the oven and continue baking.
Lumps form in two ways. 1) Using the correct wet : dry ingredient ratio (which this recipe does). and 2) being very careful when you flip the granola over so that you keep the clumps together.
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Healthy Granola Recipe (Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup honey or pure maple syrup for vegan option
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup raw pecans chopped
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet, set aside.
- In a large bowl mix together oats, coconut, cinnamon, salt and pecans. Set aside.
- Melt honey and coconut oil together in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat until smooth.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla to warm coconut oil/honey mixture. Stir until combined.
- Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients until all dry ingredients are evenly coated.
- Spread on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring the granola half way through baking time. It may feel soft when you remove it from the oven, but it gets harder and crunchier as it cools so please be careful and do not over bake!
- Allow the granola to cool and eat it with your favorite yogurt or milk! Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Coconut oil. Butter can be used in place of coconut oil as long as it complies with your dietary needs!
- Honey. Any liquid sweetener should work great in this recipe. I have used honey and maple syrup (for a vegan option) with great results.
- Old-Fashioned Oats. Quick-cooking oats can be substituted but you might need to add an extra TBS or two of coconut oil or sweetener! Steel cut oats do not work in this recipe.
- Pecans. Chopped almonds or walnuts are also delicious options to use in this recipe. If you are allergic to nuts, simply increase the amount of oats/coconut by 1/2 cup.
Store/freeze
Store this granola in an airtight container (I suggest a glass jar) at room temperature for up to 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you like granola try this Healthy Peanut Butter Granola Recipe
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Omg I tried this after my boss gave me the recipe. I swear this is 10/10. I did almond instead of walnut. I love it so much thank you!
Hi there, just wanted to thank you for the granola recipe – as a chef for a day care centre its very hard to find recipes that will accommodate the various dirty requirements. This recipe has been such a great hit with the children that I feed. I have made this for adding to bananas and yoghurt for morning tea for the children and they LOVE IT!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Can I use all of or avocado oil in this recipe?
I know this says 12 servings, however how much is in a serving? Tbsp or cups? I’m doing ww
1/4 cup
I can’t stand the texture of coconut, can it be deleted?
You can replace coconut with another ingredient (nuts, oats, etc.)
Is there any way to add raisins to this recipe?
I added raisins after baking.
Made this yesterday and let me just say, I will NEVER go back to store bought granola ! This stuff is AMAZING!! I added pecans, chia seeds, and only added half of the shredded coconut amount. I mixed the granola around on the tray after baking it for about 30 minutes, then slightly pressed it down to create chunks, and then I put it back in the oven for about 10 more minutes until it baked thoroughly. Of course when it is done do not mix it on the tray until it is completely cooled!! I got beautiful chunks of heavenly granola. Thank you!!
Thank you so much for noting that the granola will be soft out of the oven but will crisp up. That changed my (granola) life! I’ve been over cooking homemade granola for years.
Can liquid stevia or skinny syrups like simple syrup be used in place of honey?