Healthy Homemade Granola

Healthy Homemade Granola is full of big clusters and is the best way to start your day or for a quick afternoon snack! This recipe is so quick and easy, simply make a base out of oil, maple syrup, and sugar, then mix it with oats, dried fruit, seeds, nuts, coconut flakes and then bake in the oven. These clusters are delicious on a camping or road trip, or on top of your morning yogurt.

This homemade granola recipe is seriously the BEST recipe out there for a few reasons:

• There are big clusters in every bite thanks to a trick you’ll learn below.
• It’s made healthy by using gluten-free old-fashioned oats and can be made refined sugar-free.
• Vegans can also get down on this recipe since pure maple syrup is used instead of honey.
• It has the perfect balance of sweet and salty so you’ll never get bored of it after a week-long trip!
• You only need 10 minutes of hands-on time to prepare it!

Over the years I have gone on numerous backpacking trips and this granola is what I always look forward to the most.

The moment I start to get a little anxious about the amount of physical exertion these trips will entail…

I quickly remember that I will have the BEST homemade granola on hand to fuel me through it.

You don’t need to be hiking or paddling vigorously for hours to enjoy this, either.

It also tastes great on top of some yogurt for breakfast, or as a car snack on a long road trip!

Ingredients

The ingredients you will need to make this homemade granola recipe include:

• Old-fashioned rolled oats. You’ll want to make sure to get gluten-free oats if you or someone you know is Celiac or sensitive. Also, do NOT get the quick cooking oats as they will not be as thick as you need for this recipe.
• Pure maple syrup. Make sure you get pure maple syrup and not the pancake syrup. Feel free to substitute with honey if you are not vegan.
• Coconut sugar. Using unrefined coconut sugar makes this recipe Paleo. However, you can use brown sugar if that’s what you have on hand.
• Olive oil. It may sound weird, but olive oil is what gives this recipe a unique taste and flavor.
• Salt. A little bit of salt makes it perfectly sweet and salty.
• Pecans. Coarsely chopped pecans give it a nice crunch and nutty flavor.
• Pumpkin Seeds. Make sure you get raw, and not salted or roasted, pumpkin seeds, or pepitas.
• Coconut flakes. Get large, unsweetened coconut flakes and preferably not shredded coconut.  Shredded coconut will work, but the big pieces taste and look so much better.
• Cherries. Dried cherries are added once the granola is done baking.  If you are Paleo, make sure you look for an unsweetened variety.

How to Make Homemade Granola

To make this recipe, there are a few quick and easy steps you will need to follow:

Make the Syrup Base

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Add oil, syrup, and sugar to a small to medium-sized skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture starts to boil, stirring occasionally.

When it’s boiling, reduce the heat to low.  Continue stirring for an additional minute.

Add the oats to a large bowl. Pour the sauce over them, and toss to coat.

Mix in the Extras

Pour the pecans, pumpkin seeds, and coconut flakes over the coated oats. 

Stir with a spatula until everything is well combined.

Bake in the Oven

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.  Spread granola mixture evenly into the pan.

Place everything in the preheated oven and bake for 20-22 minutes. Be sure to watch or the granola might burn.

How to get big clusters of granola?

There are two things you must do in order to get big clusters of granola:

1. Do not toss the granola while it is baking in the oven.
2. Let it sit after baking, undisturbed, until it is to room temperature.

Tossing while it is still baking in the oven breaks it apart and prevents it from clumping together.

Allowing the granola to sit at room temperature gives it enough time to caramelize.

Once cooled, break apart the granola into pieces and mix in the dried cherries.

Serving

There are a few ways you can serve and enjoy:

• Eat it by the handful.  <– My preferred method.
• Top a container of yogurt with it and eat for breakfast.
• Make a parfait with some homemade coconut whipped cream.
• Add a crunch to a bowl full of berries.

Granola Variations

The ingredients you see in this homemade granola recipe are the best I have tried so far.

But you can always switch up the ingredients depending on what you have on hand:

• Substitute the pure maple syrup for honey or agave nectar.
• Use walnuts or almonds in place of the pecans.
• Dried cranberries and raisins are more affordable and easier to find than dried cherries.
• Add in a handful of chocolate chips.
• Use avocado oil or coconut oil instead of the olive oil for a less robust flavor.
• Swap out the pumpkin seeds for flax seeds or sunflower seeds.

Package as a Food Gift

This granola is one of the best and easiest food gifts to give.

Not only is it dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan, but it’s also completely gluten-free, too.

So almost everyone can enjoy it!

To make this into a DIY food gift:

1. Add to a glass mason jar.
2. Tie a pretty ribbon around the next of the jar.
3. Optional: Attach a hand written recipe to the ribbon so your recipient can make it again!

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: Because this granola lasts on the counter for a couple of weeks, you can easily make it days before you need it.
• To Store: It can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
• To Freeze: I would not recommend refrigerating it or freezing it.  The taste and texture will be greatly affected.

What is granola?

Granola is a combination of oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit that is baked in the oven until crunchy.

It is typically served over yogurt for breakfast or eating as a camping or car trip snack.

Is granola gluten-free?

Not all granola is gluten-free since oats can be cross-contaminated with gluten. You can make it gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats.

Is granola good for you?

Granola is relatively healthy since it is full of fiber from the oats, healthy fats from the nuts, and antioxidants from dried fruit.

However, granola can be full of sugar so making it from scratch is the best way to ensure you are eating healthy granola.

Other Healthy Oat Recipes

Oats are incredibly versatile! It’s great in breakfast recipes, like Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats. Or, check out these 20+ Quick & Easy Overnight Oats Recipes.

Snacks like 4-Ingredient Almond Butter Oatmeal Cookies are delicious.

Of course, Healthy Banana Split Trail Mix and Homemade Coconut Trail Mix are perfect for a quick bit of energy.

And don’t forget to try Strawberry Granola!