There is only one basic granola recipe you need to remember. Master this and you can mix and match your favourite ingredients for countless homemade granola possibilities!
(A fan of grab-and-go breakfast that’s also good for you? You’d love these Healthy Superfood Breakfast Cookies!)
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!
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 you need to remember
The magic formula is this: 1 cup wet ingredients to 6 cups dry ingredients. That’s it!
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.
Related: How to Make No-Churn Ice Cream
What to use to sweeten granola
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.
Related: Soft and Chewy Cookie Butter Blondies
Do you put oil in granola?
In case you’re wondering if you need to add oil to your homemade granola, the answer is yes. Otherwise, you would end up with a very dry batch.
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
– 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!) like cranberries, blueberries or fig, 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.
– 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?
, 
or 
, 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.
. But you can put 
, 
, whatever you think would complement the rest of your ingredients.Granola variations
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.
Related: The Ultimate List of Breakfast Ideas
Basic Granola Recipe
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- egg whites from 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- peanut butter to round off your 1 cup see notes
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup almonds
- ¾ cup walnuts I don’t bother to chop the nuts
- cinnamon to taste (see notes)
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup dried cranberry
- ¼ cup dried apricot chopped
- ¼ cup dried fig chopped
- ¼ 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.
Video
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.
- Because the recipe doesn’t have to be exact, I did not provide weight equivalents for the ingredients.
- Seasoning doesn’t count as part of your dry ingredients.
- Like I mentioned in the post, this is just one of the many variations you can make. Go and experiment with your favourite ingredients.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
(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?
And let’s get social! Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter.
Lauren
There is so much good information in this post! I can’t wait to make some granola now. I was really surprised to see egg white but it makes sense both as a binder and to give the granola some shine!
Marisa Franca
We love homemade granola. It is superior to the store bought garbage. And as often as we’ve made granola, I’ve never made it with olive oil or used an egg white. I am completely fascinated by what our granola would turn out with using both. We usually use coconut oil but olive oil is easy enough for us — we always have olive oil on hand. I’ll be picking up some supplies to make this.
Lois Christensen
I love granola for breakfast and it makes a great snack. Your basic recipe looks very easy to follow! Thanks!
Veena Azmanov
This is like the best of everything. I love granola and you have just the right mix of nuts, fruits and flavors. Love how easy this is too.
Arlene Mobley
The possibilities are endless when you start with a basic recipe like this!
Denise
This is possibly the most thorough granola recipe I have ever seen! I love all your tips as I make granola a lot and did not know alot of those things, like the egg whites for instance. Great post!
Jolina
Thanks Denise!
Gloria
Homemade granola is the BEST. You can make it just the way YOU like it. A great way to use stuff up in the cupboard. I love giving this as a “food gift” too. Always welcomed!!
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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.
Juliana
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!
Dunja
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 😀
Jolina
Hi Dunja! I encourage you to give it a try once; you might just stop buying ready made too! 🙂
Jennifer
Sounds delicious! Thanks for the tips too especially about adding the fruit after its baked.
Jolina
You are most welcome Jennifer! Hope you get to make your own granola soon!
Cat
Such an informative post !! Nothing beats homemade stuff! Your photos are so stunning !! Love, Cat
Jolina
Thanks Cat! Homemade is pretty great 🙂
Allie
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!
Jolina
It really does, doesn’t it? 🙂 Thanks Allie!
Anne
Wow what a great idea! I spend a fortune on granola so i’ll definitely be trying out your recipe thanks 🙂
Jolina
Nice! Making homemade granola might just change your life lol! Hope you have great success the recipe, would love to hear how it goes.