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.
(Try making homemade chewy granola bars too!)
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
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.
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)
Borka
I mostly eat oatmeal for breakfast, and I love to add everything, nuts, strawberries, and raisins!
Jolina
Sounds like a pretty awesome start to the day! 🙂
Tina
Thanks for this granola recipe! I didn’t know that it would be good to add egg white!
Jolina
Thanks Tiina! Yes, egg white makes a subtle yet big difference (does that make sense? haha)
Maureen
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!
Jolina
Thanks Maureen! Hope you like it!
Ave
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!
Jolina
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 🙂
Adriana Lopez-Martin
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.
Jolina
Thanks Adriana! Lots of recipes are like that I find. Unless I try it I wouldn’t know how simple it really is.
Nina
I love eating granola and mixing it with things! Such a good and healthy breakfast! Thanks for sharing your tips!
Jolina
You are most welcome Nina! Have you tried making your own? You’ll enjoy it I think 🙂
Rose
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.
Jolina
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 🙂
Tammilee Tips
I love granola!!! I try to keep some on hand for yogurt, love making it at home too!
Megan Ogden
I have never thought to make my own granola bar! Awesome!
Jolina
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!
Elizabeth O.
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!
Jolina
Thanks Elizabeth! Happy to hear you guys make homemade granola too 🙂 Do you guys work with your very own magic ratio?
Heather
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.
Jolina
Hi Heather! Thanks for tip (and sounds like you have a very interesting story to tell lol!)
Julie
Love homemade granola. Will try this recipe!
lex
Sounds like something I will like to try out by myself, delicious by looks and am hoping its same by taste. Hahaha, greatnfun read.
Ana
This looks healthy and perfect for breakfast! Thanks for the recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
Daisy
Great recipes! The pictures are delightful too. Granola bars in France suck so hard. I will have to try your recipe ASAP.
Jolina
Sorry to hear that! Do make your own, they are sure to be better 🙂