This homemade granola recipe has evolved over the years. For a slightly different version, check out my new healthy, homemade granola recipe. Both are delicious (and similar).
Easy Homemade Granola Recipe
This is so easy your preschooler could make it – cheap and wonderfully healthy.
(This only makes enough for my family at one serving, so I always double/triple the recipe.)
1. Pour 4 cups of old fashioned oatmeal into a large 9×13 roasting pan.
Make sure you’re using the old fashioned, rolled kind
Not those quick, short cut, instant type oats. No siree.
2. Heat oats in 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, heat 5 minutes more.
3. Heat together:
1/3 cup honey
Remove from heat and cool, then add:
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
Combine together:
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans are fabulous)
3/4 cup bran cereal (if you’re kids are REALLY picky…may want to omit)
1 cup flaked coconut (I don’t like coconut AT ALL, but I love it in this)
This is what it will look like…I know, not too appetizing yet.
4. Add to heated oats and mix thoroughly.
It is always hard for me to believe that this little bit of honey and oil can cover it all, but it does. Since I want mine really low fat, I stick to this amount of oil. You could increase it to 1/3 cup if you’d like. Granola is very forgiving.
This is just to get you started and then you play with it for the next time. * See my note below about other things I have added.
5. Pour honey-oil mixture over oat mixture.
Mix thoroughly, and add:
1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon nutmeg.
6. Return to the oven, bake at 350 for 20 – 25 minutes,
STIR EVERY 5 MINUTES for even browning.
This is the time when you set that timer and handcuff yourself to the stove. What ever you do, do not set the timer and then tell yourself this is a perfect time to go check your emails or blog. Can I stress this enough?
Lock the door, flee the temptation.
Checking the granola during the last 15 minutes of baking is a MUST for desired crispness and golden color. This is the only tricky part of the whole job, and yes, my bedlam moment.
Can you tell that I am speaking from exactly that experience?
HMMMM…..the proof is in the picture,
and I can’t blame this one on my poor quality digital camera. 🙂
Top batch….bedlam. Bottom batch…beauty!
When it comes out of the oven, you can add 1 cup of raisins and/or 1 cup of chopped dates (no thank you), or dried apples, bananas or dried raspberries…to die for, but then it’s not quite cheap, cheap anymore.
You can even choose not to add anything and then just set those additions in cute, little cups for family/guests to add at will. We love granola stirred in our yogurt.
That is my kids’ favorite way to eat it.
Once you make it and figure out what you like/don’t, you can adjust it to your liking. You may want it a bit sweeter with more oil.
*I didn’t have any bran cereal when I made this batch, but I did have raw cracked wheat. Believe it or not, I added that for the “health factor, ” not the yummy factor. I also added some sunflower seeds. Getting all the grain in this way is so incredibly healthy for your digestive system. Once you’ve “mastered” it, you can add wheat germ, or unprocessed bran. I know, sounds gross. I would never eat these things on my own but when made in granola, you don’t even taste them. That is what I mean by forgiving….you can play with it, and it’s a great way to improve your baking skills by seeing how easy it is.
Now back to the overcooked issue.
If this happens to you, whatever you do, DO NOT let the word burnt out of your mouth. It wasn’t even really burnt, just a little crispy – which I do like.
The moment I let “burnt” slip….all of my kids – in unison…
well, I don’t want the burnt one, mom.
So what do you do with granola that is just on the tad Tobacco Road side (hee hee, Nester)?
You package it up with a cute bow and bag (that we should all have for celebrating the little things), make a sweet card for your marvelous Mom telling her how much you love her, and that you made this granola exactly the way she likes it (which she does…she loves things that are burnt. Isn’t that a bit on the weird side? I love my weird mom.)
I always have a few canning jars in my cabinets, and fabric pieces from yard sales make this fun granola making party something special. My daughter wanted to know who we were giving it to, and I said “no one, honey, just us.” Our family deserves cute first and foremost.
These are the cups we eat our yogurt in. They just make you feel special.
Tangent…..These would make great Christmas presents….hmm….
Do a practice round and then triple this recipe, so you have lots to eat and share.
Make sure you cool it before storing it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Enjoy!! This is so fun with the kids. They love to do the mixing.
I actually JUST made granola on Saturday thinking it would be great to grab running out the door to school. And now I’m eating ALL the time. Big handfuls of it probably takes away from the “healthy” factor,right :)?1
Your recipe is a little different than mine, so I’ll have to try it out when mine’s gone (which won’t be too long…)
I have never made granola, it looks yummy and you made it so pretty in the gifts that you made, what a great idea 🙂
Thanks!
Bella
I am printing this out and making it next weekend!!! THank you
Oh, thank you so much! That recipe sounds so much healthier than most with the honey and all. I like to make yogurt parfaits with granola and berries and this will be perfect. Can’t wait to try it!
Looks good to me! I love me some granola! 🙂
I LOVE granola, especially with vanilla yogurt. And yes, my dad probably knows because Mom regularly reads my blog (she likes to know what I’m up to) and in turn keeps Dad updated. She probably saw your comments and passed along the info. Goodness, after reading that post I need a snack…and I just so happen to have granola and yogurt!
Now if you just pour tons of melted chocolate on top…I’M IN!! lol it looks to healthy for me…my stomach would look at me like I had got bat crap crazy!
I copied down that granola recipe faster than you could pick up all those books in your last post. (Sorry-had to go there) 🙂 I can’t wait to make it!
Sounds YUMMY! Can’t wait to try it with the kids tomorrow. Glad I stopped by and I’m glad your homeschool room is becoming more orderly!
Sonya
Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog. We were thinking the same thing on the room that with those colors it could grow with her….sniff…sniff…yes, to teenage years.
That granola sounds delish!! I have never made granola and it looks like something Lexi would enjoy helping with then she might eat it (yes, I have the super picky eating girl, though getting better)…..lol
Thanks for your comment – and I’m at a point when I actually RECEIVE your “great mom” affirmation!!
Had a little chuckle when I was here the other day and saw that you’d posted a granola recipe as well.
Yummy coated rolled oats for everyone!!
Ok, saw your post on Nester about your space — been doing a craft room redo — 10 years of craziness — Like you as I started going through things –had to look ,read – and wonder when it was all pulled out – YIkes !!! who bought all this stuff — It is coming along slow process — do I dare say Compulsive obsessive and besides I love to display , gotta have my fav things around for the inspiration ya know !!– loved nesters idea was planing to put something around my table — just one with metal legs — so may be thumbtacking to edge of wooden top of table — will visit again — Keep plugging — mine will be finished soon I hope –Kathy – GA
I love the idea of not just showing the beauty on a blog. A while ago I blogged about how trying to inspire my readers to be “perfectly perfect” would only lead to failure. I think a blog about real life.. a blog like yours, is much more inspiring.
Great post, and the granola sounds yummy. I’ll have to try it!
thanks for the recipe – I love love love homemade granola, so much so that I can’t make it anymore or it’s all I eat (if I can get to it before my hubby)!! Of course, now I have a craving so I’ll have to go make some, can’t wait to try adding the bran cereal this time, and almond extract after my next trip to the store.
I think it’s the darker pan that you used that made the other one “crispier”. But at least it’s still edible. I added some cranberries to mine and cooked it a bit too long and they turned chewy- messed up the whole thing. It’s still in the freezer waiting to be eaten!