I started making my own granola when I realized how much money I was spending to buy it at my local natural foods store. $8 for a little container? Ouch! But the price wasn’t the only deterrent. There’s also the undesirable ingredients you find in many commercially prepared granolas — too much sugar and refined or hydrogenated oils, just for starters. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to make from scratch and best of all, you can make it exactly the way you want it. Although I wouldn’t consider it to be “health food,” homemade granola beats processed cereals any day and is as “instant” as breakfast can get. This has come in handy when daughter #1 spends much too much time straightening her hair and is late for school. I just put a hefty scoop of whole, unsweetened yogurt in a cup and layer granola with or without fresh fruit and that’s a decent breakfast to go.
I make granola every two weeks and keep it in an airtight glass container in the pantry where it stays perfectly crispy. We not only eat it with the obvious yogurt and fresh fruit, but we love it mixed into smoothies, on acai bowls, sprinkled on pancakes or creamy oatmeal, or as a crunchy dip for bananas rolled in nut butter. As for me, sometimes I’m looking for something sweet without actually eating sweets and a handful of granola is a quick and satisfying snack. I can’t tell you how many times I have opted to bring a glass jar of this granola to a friend’s house as a hostess gift instead of a candle.
The first time I made granola I burned it because I kept expecting the oat mixture to get dry and crunchy in the oven. No, no. The oats remain soft until they are removed from the heat and are allowed to cool at room temperature. Judge the granola by its color, which should change to be a nice toasty, golden brown. The key here is to mix the syrups and oil until completely blended before combining it with the oat mixture. If you don’t, the syrups can burn. Also note that the dried fruit is added after the oats come out of the oven. If you bake them, they’ll harden and taste burnt (ask me how I know this.) The wonderful thing about granola is that you can use whatever nuts, seeds and dried fruit you like.
If my kids are reading this, what I would like is a little bowl of granola with fresh berries and sheep yogurt delivered to my bed on Sunday morning with a cup of Tulsi tea and absolutely, positively no bickering all day long. Ahhhhhh……. Happy Mother’s Day to all my students, readers, friends and family, and of course, to my mother-in-law and my mother.
Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, not instant or quick-cooking*
- 1/2 cup unsweetened, dried coconut flakes
- 1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 raw sunflower seeds
- 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds, optional; sometimes I use them, sometimes I don't
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 1/4 cup melted unrefined coconut oil
- 1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown rice syrup, or honey
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup raw almonds, in California, you can buy truly raw almonds if purchased directly from the farmer, in the stores it may say "raw," but they have likely been pasteurized or steamed or walnuts or pecans or a combo
- 1 cup unsweetened, unsulphured dried fruit, chopped if necessary
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
- In a large bowl stir together the oats, coconut flakes, seeds, cinnamon and salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, brown rice syrup and vanilla. It is really important to mix the oil and syrups so that everything is well blended otherwise the syrups may burn. Add the oil and syrup mixture to the oats and stir to coat well.
- Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes (ovens vary), stirring occasionally until golden brown. The mixture will not be crunchy yet. Add the chopped nuts and dried fruit to the pan and allow to cool. Transfer granola to an airtight container and store at room temperature or freeze.
Notes
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
Pamela,
I’m so glad I found your this post. I’m going to be making granola tomorrow and thought I should add the dried fruit before it went into the oven. This is good to know!
I’m excited as I’m eating it with yogurt every morning, but buying it at the store is expensive and I’d like to combine some different flavors.
I’m glad I possibly saved your teeth. I learned the hard way! I know, supermarket granola is way too pricey. Have fun!
I am loving this! It is wonderful. I love to make large batches and give out as hostess gifts. I don’t like cocunut so I omit it and it is still delicious! I cook mine for only 22 minutes and it’s perfect. Any longer and I burn it. Thank you Pamela!
Such a good point that you bring up about cooking time. Oven temperatures vary wildly, so know your oven! I, too, love giving the granola as a hostess gift. I use either glass canning jars tied with a ribbon, or I recently found some darling brown bags with a clear window at a restaurant supply store. 🙂
I have a batch in the oven and it smells amazing! I hope it’s a hit! I just took a batch of bars out of the oven, and I can’t wait to try them….waiting 2 hours will be hard!
Granola is a staple in my house. You can really adjust the nuts/seeds/dried fruit in this recipe to suit your family.
My first batch is in the oven cooking, and I just took the a batch of bars out of the oven! So excited to serve this for breakfast tomorrow morning. If the bars are a hit, I see a daily batch in my future!
This looks and sounds great! How long will the granola last in an airtight container? Just wondering if I could use this 6 cup recipe in time or if I should halve the recipe. Many thanks!
Jenny, The granola lasts two weeks in an airtight container and freezes beautifully, too.
Love this recipe so much!! It’s time to make some!!!
Any suggestions for a gluten free variety? I have a daughter that cannot have oats, even the gluten free ones. Thanks, Megan
Megan, I haven’t tested the recipe with quinoa flakes or buckwheat flakes, but I am guessing you can do it. I would try it in a 300 degree oven and watch it very closely so it doesn’t burn. My other suggestions would be to sub your favorite GF cereal (such as a puffed rice-type) or just go all coconut-nuts-seeds-dried fruit. Hope that helps!
Hi Pamela. Just wanted to let you know that I finally got around to trying this w quinoa flakes and it worked great. I didn’t change much just watched it carefully in the oven. I havent tasted the oat version but the quinoa one is pretty good and perfect for our gf amd no oat household. Thanks again for the idea.
You’re a gem for letting me know! So glad to hear that it worked for you guys. Thanks!
I can’t wait to make this! My family and I love granola.
This is the BEST granola ever! You think you are eating something really sweet. Besides having it with yogurt, we also like to add it to oatmeal for added taste and texture.
Pamela, thank you for the easy simple recipe.
Happy Mothers Day, I hope your breakfast wishes come true!
Thank you, Marty!