There is only 1 basic granola recipe you need to remember. Master this and you can mix and match your favourite ingredients for countless homemade granola possibilities!
When I learned how to bake, I realized that I can make at home a lot of the stuff we purchase at the store. And that homemade is way better tasting than ready-made. For example, we don’t buy these things anymore; I just make them!
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- Meyer Lemon Curd
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- Greek Yogurt Popsicles
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- Mexican Chocolate Pudding
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- Whipped Cream
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- No-Churn Ice Cream
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- Salted Caramel Sauce
I’m adding granola to that list. We haven’t bought granola (or cereal!) in a very long time. And what’s great is that this is almost a non-recipe. It’s a simple basic formula that is fully customizable so that you can make perfect granola each time.
One basic granola recipe
The magic formula is this: 1 cup wet ingredients to 6 cups dry ingredients. There’s this great video on Epicurious where they explain that it doesn’t even have to be actual measuring cups. It can be a bowl, a coffee mug, whatever. Just whatever you use, the magic number is 1:6.
One recipe, countless delicious possibilities! The only granola recipe you will ever need.Click To TweetHow sweet it is
To sweeten my granola, I usually stick with honey or agave syrup though a lot of times I put peanut butter too (I am so tempted to put Nutella or cookie butter – maybe someday I will!). I know a lot of you are into almond butter and I’m sure that will work too.
To oil or not to oil
Say yes to oil. Otherwise, you would end up with a very dry granola. To keep it healthy, I always put olive oil. Tastes great too.
Tips for success
I’ve tried and tested this basic granola recipe countless times with different ingredients. And while I encourage you to go crazy and creative, here are my guidelines for a fantastic batch of granola every time:
- Use rolled oats (see the sample below) – not quick-cooking oats – as your base. Quick-cooking oats would brown quicker than the rest of your ingredients. We don’t want burnt granola, yes?
- Don’t use less than 3 cups of rolled oats. I tried more and less and 3 was the magic number for me.
- If you’re using dried fruit (and you should!), don’t bake them. Add them after you remove the baking sheet from the oven while the granola is still warm. Otherwise, they would turn really tough and hard.
- If you’re using chocolate chips (and again, highly recommended!), add them once the granola is cool. If you add them when the granola is still warm they will melt and disappear (unless melted chocolate is the goal? Then go for it!)
- Add an egg white. I tried batches without (there are times when I don’t have extra and I didn’t want to waste an egg yolk) and while it did not affect the taste, the granola turned out less crispy, looser and just overall less shiny.
- Remember to spice things up! I usually just add salt, sometimes cinnamon. But you can put cardamom, nutmeg, whatever you think would complement the rest of your ingredients.
Granola experiments
I love granola experiments (the recipe I share here is just one of the combinations I use). You put in your favourite things so what comes out is your favourite granola. We sprinkle it over yogurt, drench it in milk, snack on it like popcorn.
So go and experiment! Find what your favourite granola combo is and never buy ready-made granola again.
One basic granola recipe, countless delicious granola possibilities! This is the only granola recipe you will ever need.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Peanut butter to round off your 1 cup (see notes)
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup almonds
- 3/4 cup walnuts (I don't bother to chop the nuts)
- Cinnamon, to taste (see notes)
- Salt, to taste
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/4 cup dried cranberry
- 1/4 cup chopped dried apricot
- 1/4 cup chopped dried fig
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300F. Prep a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk all your wet ingredients together. Add your rolled oats and nuts and stir until everything is evenly coated. Add seasoning and give the mixture a final stir.
- Transfer and spread evenly on your baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir to ensure everything is baking evenly. Bake for another 15 minutes and stir again. Finally bake for another 10-15 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
- Take out of the oven and add the rest of your ingredients. Stir and allow to cool completely before adding your chocolate chips, if using. Transfer to an airtight container.
Notes
When measuring your wet ingredients, you don't even have to be exact. Sometimes I just take a measuring cup, put my wet ingredients in and stop when I reach 1 cup.
Seasoning doesn't count as part of your dry ingredients.
(Recipe adapted from Epicurious)
Happy baking!
Did you take this basic granola recipe for a test run? Tell me about it in the comments section below. I’d love to hear all about it. What’s your favourite combination?
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Looks great! Going to have to add this to the list. I’ve been meaning to find a favorite granola recipe.
Wow, this looks so good. I need to try to make this!! It’s the perfect kind of granola. Thank you so much for sharing!
I’ve never actually tried to make granola, but i really like eating it you you gave us such an useful information, i have to try it make it 😀
Hi Dunja! I encourage you to give it a try once; you might just stop buying ready made too! 🙂
Sounds delicious! Thanks for the tips too especially about adding the fruit after its baked.
You are most welcome Jennifer! Hope you get to make your own granola soon!
Such an informative post !! Nothing beats homemade stuff! Your photos are so stunning !! Love, Cat
Thanks Cat! Homemade is pretty great 🙂
Yes, yes yes: I started making my own granola just this past year and its AMAZING how much better it is. It changes the game! This looks awesome!
It really does, doesn’t it? 🙂 Thanks Allie!
Wow what a great idea! I spend a fortune on granola so i’ll definitely be trying out your recipe thanks 🙂
Nice! Making homemade granola might just change your life lol! Hope you have great success the recipe, would love to hear how it goes.
I mostly eat oatmeal for breakfast, and I love to add everything, nuts, strawberries, and raisins!
Sounds like a pretty awesome start to the day! 🙂
Thanks for this granola recipe! I didn’t know that it would be good to add egg white!
Thanks Tiina! Yes, egg white makes a subtle yet big difference (does that make sense? haha)
These are all great tips to make a basic granola recipe. I hope to try to make this for sure sometime as it sounds super delicious!
Thanks Maureen! Hope you like it!
I haven’t made any granola at home, but we buy it a lot, as my husband and daughter are huge fans of granola. I’ll have to try out your recipe for sure – to keep our granola healthy and save some money too!
Hi Ave! You can make it a family activity too. Or make a specific granola for each person of the family! You’ll have lots of fun 🙂
Nothing better than making your own granola =) really like yoru recipe a lot. Sometimes we think is difficult to make but granola is so simple.
Thanks Adriana! Lots of recipes are like that I find. Unless I try it I wouldn’t know how simple it really is.
I love eating granola and mixing it with things! Such a good and healthy breakfast! Thanks for sharing your tips!
You are most welcome Nina! Have you tried making your own? You’ll enjoy it I think 🙂
Thanks a lot for these tips! I love how you encourage your reader to go crazy and creative. Finding our own styleof cooking and our own taste is the best way to explore food.
You are most welcome Rose! I think we should all be crazy and creative haha! And I absolutely agree: that is the best way to explore food and different cuisines 🙂
I love granola!!! I try to keep some on hand for yogurt, love making it at home too!
I have never thought to make my own granola bar! Awesome!
Hi Megan! This recipe is for loose granola actually, I haven’t quite perfected making them into bars haha. Soon on the blog, perhaps. It’s still pretty awesome!
I love learning new recipes especially the ones that we enjoy as a family. It’s more affordable when you choose to do things at home. I love making my own granola as well! This is a pretty awesome recipe!
Thanks Elizabeth! Happy to hear you guys make homemade granola too 🙂 Do you guys work with your very own magic ratio?
I haven’t made granola in years. It’s also important to keep it in an airtight container (learned that the hard way). I bet my kids would like some.
Hi Heather! Thanks for tip (and sounds like you have a very interesting story to tell lol!)
Love homemade granola. Will try this recipe!
Sounds like something I will like to try out by myself, delicious by looks and am hoping its same by taste. Hahaha, greatnfun read.
This looks healthy and perfect for breakfast! Thanks for the recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
Great recipes! The pictures are delightful too. Granola bars in France suck so hard. I will have to try your recipe ASAP.
Sorry to hear that! Do make your own, they are sure to be better 🙂
Looks good and super easy I will try it this weekend, thanks for sharing 🙂
this makes the perfect breakfast for me. i love eating granola. Till date i have eaten it only from outside but i would love to make my own by adding my own little touch to it.
Once you’ve made your first batch you’ll want to try more! That’s what happened to me…I can’t wait to try different versions haha. Thank Subhadrika!
Looks so delicious!!
Wow, I love granola bars! This sounds like a delicious recipe, I am so excited to make some.
Hi Nicole! These are actually loose granola…I haven’t figured out how to make them stick together as bars yet lol. If you do let me know 🙂
I can’t wait to make your basic recipe and see what all I can use it in. I’ve become such a huge fan of granola this past year.
Granola is pretty awesome! I’m excited for you and your granola experiments. Have fun!
Yummy! This is such a simple recipe! I am definitely going to save this! 🙂
Definitely will give this a try.. Better than store bought
This sounds like a great granola recipe! We actually have BAGS of rolled oats right now, so I think I’ll put one to good use.
It’s a sign! There’s granola in your future 🙂 Thanks Chelley! Hope you like it!
I bet this is so much cheaper than the stuff I buy at the store. I really love it in yogurt in the am.
Hi Maria! My favourite way to eat it is just straight from the jar haha. It’s replaced my potato chips i fact!
I love making granola! This sounds amazing! Must try!
Oh me too! I love thinking of what good stuff I’m mixing together next 🙂 Thanks Neely!
Oh I didn’t know about the difference in oats. That’s a good tip because we usually buy quick oats. This is a great recipe.
Thanks Liz! Rolled oats are bigger too so you get a “meatier” granola. I’m excited for all the different kinds of granola in your future! 🙂
Knowing the magic ratio makes it all so much simpler. I can’t wait to play around!
This looks scrumptious. One question–can you use coconut oil rather than olive oil? Or will it get clumpy once it gets back to room temperature?
Hi Susan! I haven’t tried it but I think you absolutely can. I use olive oil mostly because it’s what we have but I think any oil would do and coconut is definitely healthy. If your coconut oil is the creamy kind you’d need to warm it up first to make it spreadable. Would love to hear how your granola experiment goes.
I don’t care for most granola because it has nuts. I’ve never tried making my own but this seems straightforward enough.
That’s the beauty of homemade! You can make a totally nut-free version 🙂 and yes this it can’t get more straightforward than this.
Oh, I love this! I totally agree that homemade is better than store bought. So true and I love how you can control the quantities and know exactly every single ingredient that goes into what you are making. Great ratio tip. Definitely keep that in mind!
I’m totally with ya with chocolate in granola and I do think that Nutella would be a delicious ingredient in there. Nutella makes everything better, lol 😀 Pinning this one and would love to try this weekend!
Thanks for the pin Dawn! And yes on the Nutella! The only thing that’s stopping me is I’m not sure if Nutella is classified as healthy so that might defeat my healthy granola lol but what the heck I’ll do it anyway one of these days! Hope you have much success with the magic ratio!