A favorite breakfast around here is homemade granola. I love this recipe! is super easy and really tasty —very crunchy and super healthy. There is no added fat!

I am baking up some to give as gifts! Gifts from the kitchen are always loved.

homemade granola packaging

Ingredients for homemade granola

  • Brown sugar, Maple Syrup or Honey
  • Vanilla extract
  • Salt (I use Kosher salt)
  • Cinnamon
  • Rolled oats (not quick or instant)
  • Chopped nuts (I use whatever I have on hand. My favorite is pecans, walnuts, and cashews)

This is a basic recipe. You might like to toss in a handful of dried cherries, raisins, craisins, shredded coconut, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or even chocolate chips.  Be sure to add in dried fruit when you pull out of the oven and it is still warm. Chocolate chips needed to be added to the cool granola.

How to make Healthy Granola

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Combine brown sugar and water. Place in microwave (use a large microwave-safe bowl –mixture will bubble) on high for 5 minutes or cook on stovetop until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from stove or microwave, add vanilla and salt.

how to make granola

Combine oats and nuts in a large bowl. Pour wet ingredients over the oats and nuts and stir until mixed. Spread the granola onto baking sheets with parchment paper. A very large jelly roll pan (12 x 18) also works. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden and crunchy.  Check at 30 minutes. You don’t want to burn.

You may add in dried fruit as it comes out of the oven. Cool completely.  Store cooled granola in an airtight container.

healthy granola recipe

Homemade Granola Recipe

This crunchy granola recipe is low fat! If you want to use a more natural sugar option maple syrup or honey works great.  This is what I use.  I really like both equally.  All you needed to do is substitute honey or maple syrup and OMIT the water. There is no need to heat this. Just add in the other ingredients and pour over the oats and bake.

So if you want to give friends a healthy gift or are looking for a way to start your morning off right be sure to make granola recipe with honey or maple syrup. After the granola cools package it up to give to friends or keep in an airtight container.

granola-1.jpg
5 from 4 votes

Homemade Granola

This healthy granola has no added fat and uses less sugar and also has options for using maple syrup or honey
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar OR 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup Splenda brown sugar OR 3/4 cup pure maple syrup or 3/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup water (omit if using pure maple syrup or honey)
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt I use Kosher salt
  • 8 cups rolled oats not quick or instant
  • 2 cup chopped nuts I use pecans, walnuts and slivered almonds
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
  • Combine brown sugar and water. Place in microwave (use a large microwave-safe bowl --mixture will bubble high for 5 minutes or cook on stovetop until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from stove or microwave, add vanilla and salt. If using pure maple syrup or honey omit the water and skip heating.
  • Combine oats, nuts, and brown sugar syrup mixture. Stir until mixed. Spread the granola onto cookie sheets or a very large jelly roll pan (12 x 18) and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden and crunchy. Check after 30 minutes. You don't want it to burn. You may add in dried fruit as it comes out of the oven. Store cooled granola in an airtight container.

Notes

  • Serving size is 1/2 cup.  I am always surprised that store-bought granola typically is only 1/4 cup. Who only eats 1/4 cup?
  • Nutrition is calculated using brown sugar.
  • Nutrition for maple pure syrup recipe:
293 kcal Calories
40g Carbohydrates
8g Protein
12g Fat
1g Saturated Fat
77mg Sodium
245mg Potassium
5g Fiber
10g Sugar
1mg Vitamin C
53mg Calcium
2mg Iron
  • Nutrition for the honey recipe:
301kcal Calories
43g Carbohydrates
8g Protein
12g Fat
1g Saturated Fat
77mg Sodium
219mg Potassium
5g Fiber
14g Sugar
1mg Vitamin C
38mg Calcium
2mg Iron
  • If using pure maple syrup or honey be sure to mix well.
  • Allow to cool completely in pan before removing to an airtight container. This will ensure there are some clusters.
  • Serve with fruit, over yogurt or with milk like cereal.  I like mine with coconut milk. YUM!

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg
Servings: 16
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Author: Cindy Hopper

Recipe Notes:

  • Serving size is 1/2 cup.  I am always surprised that store-bought granola typically is only 1/4 cup. Who only eats 1/4 cup?
  • Nutrition on recipe card is calculated using brown sugar.
  • Nutrition for maple pure syrup recipe:

293 kcal Calories
40g Carbohydrates
8g Protein
12g Fat
1g Saturated Fat
77mg Sodium
245mg Potassium
5g Fiber
10g Sugar
1mg Vitamin C
53mg Calcium
2mg Iron

  • Nutrition for the honey recipe:

301kcal Calories
43g Carbohydrates
8g Protein
12g Fat
1g Saturated Fat
77mg Sodium
219mg Potassium
5g Fiber
14g Sugar
1mg Vitamin C
38mg Calcium
2mg Iron

  • If using pure maple syrup or honey be sure to mix well.
  • Allow to cool completely in pan before removing to an airtight container. This will ensure there are some clusters.
  • You can add in more nuts and other seeds and fruit. Just remember this increases the calories and fat.
  • Serve with fruit, over yogurt or with milk like cereal.  I like mine with coconut milk. YUM!

Why is granola so bad for you?

Granola can often not be good for you. Oats deliver loads of fiber and iron, and nuts add heart-healthy unsaturated fats and some protein, However, most store-bought granola is loaded with sugar and fat making it high in calories and loaded with fat.

The good news is this homemade granola recipe doesn’t add fat and cuts back on sugar and also has options to use honey or maple syrup (how I make it). I feel pure maple syrup is the best choice nutritionally.

How Long Will homemade granola last?

Granola will last several months in an airtight container.  Check the expiration dates on the oats and nuts you use and use that as your guide.

I hope you love this extra crunchy granola that is good for you! It is easy to make gluten-free granola, just make sure the rolled oats you buy are gluten-free. Here are some more breakfast ideas.

If you are entertaining overnight guests or hosting a brunch I promise you this quiche recipe will not disappoint and I am always asked for the recipe for this breakfast casserole. An easy brunch menu is homemade granola, yogurt, egg casserole, fruit, and juice. You can add in something sweet like overnight coffee cake, monkey bread raisin bran muffins or chocolate chip banana muffins if you wish.

homemade granola gift

If you want to gift this delicious granola you can download the tags here. You will find so many ways to wrap up delicious gifts from your kitchen.

collage of edible gifts

 

 


About Cindy Hopper

Learn More

you may also like

Comments

  1. What a great way to start my day; I will definitely be making this over the weekend! Looks delicious!

  2. I love homemade granola! This is such a lovely, versatile recipe! Thank you for providing the sweetener options. …and I’ll definitely be adding chocolate chunks to mine! 🙂

  3. The granola is fabulous!! My kids and I love it by itself or in a bowl with milk. I have both ways with brown sugar and with brown sugar splenda. Both are wonderful. I will add that I added LOTS of nuts: cashews, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. After it was done baking I added raisins and snipped apricots. DELICIOUS!!!!!!

  4. Sounds yummy! We’ve evolved a favorite granola at our house, with fruit juice serving as part of the sweetener and moisture–so a little less sugar and oil. Highly kid-approved. Thanks!

  5. We made this two mornings ago and are still munching away on it. Amazingly, it’s the first granola my gal has liked. Yay!

    May I also please have your address? I’ve no plans for stalking you – but would love to mail a thank you card for the tag blankie!

  6. Cindy,
    I “borrowed” your picture of Toll House Pie ( my camera is acting up) and gave you credit and linked back to here. Maybe you will get some new readers.

    Janet

  7. Yea! You are back! I have missed your posts! Thanks for the yummy recipe! I am so going to try it soon.
    Hugs,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating