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Home Recipe Index Breakfast Oatmeal Dishes

Simple Homemade Granola

★★★★★ 5 /5
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Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 2/13/21Updated: 3/21/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This simple granola recipe is one of the easiest and tastiest you will find on the Internet. I’ve been making this exact recipe before Thriving Home even started. It’s got 5 main ingredients but you can easily add more if you want to jazz it up. Such a simple, healthy snack!

Simple homemade granola in white bowls

Why Granola is so Good for You

The more I learn about oats, the more I want to find ways to squeeze them into the food I make for my family. They are crazy good for you! Here are just some of the health benefits of oats:

  • Oats are a storehouse of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin and minerals such as zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium.
  • New research suggests that children between ages 2-18 years old who have a constant intake of oatmeal lowered their risk of obesity. The research found that the children who ate oatmeal were 50% less likely to become overweight, when compared to those children that did not eat it.
  • Oats contain hundreds of phytochemicals (plant chemicals) which are thought to reduce a person’s risk of getting cancer.
  • A daily serving of whole oats rich in soluble fiber can reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, and so reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medication.
  • Oats help keep you regular. Enough said.
  • The soluble fiber in oatmeal slows down your digestive process. The result is that you’ll feel full longer, i.e. oatmeal can help you control your weight.
  • New research suggests that eating oatmeal may reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. In fact, the American Diabetes Association already recommends that people with diabetes eat grains like oats. The soluble fiber in these foods help to control blood glucose levels.

This granola recipe makes a fabulous Healthy On-the-Go Snack. You can easily bag it up and take it out the door on a busy morning. It’s also a great Packed Lunch Idea for Kids.

Homemade granola in a white bowl

What’s in the Recipe?

What makes our recipe stand apart from so many others is how simple it is! With 5 main ingredients (that you likely have in your pantry), you can whip up a batch in no time. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Oats – Old fashioned rolled oats are best.
  • Maple Syrup – Make sure it’s REAL maple syrup. Not table syrup.
  • Whole Wheat Flour – You can use all-purpose if you need to.
  • Vanilla – Use 100% real vanilla (or make homemade vanilla extract!)
  • Coconut Oil – Any flavorless oil will work but I use coconut because it’s healthy and adds a touch more flavor to the granola.
  • A pinch of salt
Ingredients for simple granola recipe

Let’s Make Some Granola!

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients Together

In a mixing bowl, stir together the oats, flour, and salt.

Oats and flour in a white bowl

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients Together

In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the maple syrup, vanilla, and oil. If you use coconut oil, make sure it is melted!

Maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla in a white bowl

Step 3: Mix Everything Together

Slowly pour the wet ingredients over the oat mix. Stir it until it’s well-combined and you no longer see dry flour.

Granola ingredients mixed up in a white bowl

Step 4: Spread the Mix Out on a Baking Sheet and Bake

This will make your house smell SO good. Bake for 25 minutes, stir and flip with a spatula, and then bake for another 25 minutes.

Granola spread out on a sheet pan ready to go in the oven

Congrats!

You did it! You just made a batch of healthy, simple homemade granola. Easy peasy, right?!

How Long Does Homemade Granola Last?

There are two good ways to store granola long-term:

  1. Store in the Pantry – Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months! Possibly a little less in a hot-humid environment. If you notice it becoming stale, move it to the freezer to extend its life a bit more.
  2. Store in the Freezer – Remove as much air as possible and it will last well past 6 months. To be honest, I’ve never stored it longer than that because we ate it. But from all of our freezer cooking experience, we know that food will be safe to eat indefinitely if properly frozen.

Granola is also a great meal to take to others. I regularly take it to new moms. It makes a great hospital snack. Kids like it too so it’s a great one to take a family who might need a meal.

Granola in a jar as a gift

Chunky Granola Tips & Tricks

I like having big clumps in my granola. If you do too, here are some tips on how to get it nice and chunky:

  • Let it chill. Give the granola plenty of time to cool before breaking it up.
  • Crowd the oats in the pan so they can stick together. I use a basic half sheet pan for this granola recipe. It’s the perfect size and the rimmed edges make sure no granola falls off.
  • Be sure to line the pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet to prevent sticking.
  • Gently press down on the granola with the back of a spatula after stirring the mixture at the half-way baking point. Then put the pan back into the oven to finish baking.
  • Store in a solid container (instead of a plastic bag).
Simple granola in a white bowl

Want More Healthy Snack Ideas?

Swing by our 30+ Healthy On-the-Go Snack Ideas! We include tricks on how to get your family to actually eat them, too!

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

★★★★★ 5 from 12 reviews

Simple Homemade Granola

This homemade granola is SO simple and SO tasty. Double the recipe because it will go fast!

Yield: 8 cups 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 50 minutesTotal: 1 hour
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Ingredients

  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (sub: all-purpose flour)
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup PURE maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup melted coconut oil (sub: avocado oil or another neutral oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F degrees.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together oats, flour and salt.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, combine syrup, oil and vanilla.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture, and stir until well coated.
  5. Spread oats out on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 25 minutes. Then, stir and flip the granola with a spatula. (You can add raisins or other ingredients, like nuts, shredded coconut, or other dried fruit, at this point.)
  7. Bake another 25 minutes.
  8. Let cool. Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 6 months or even longer in the freezer.

Equipment

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Notes/Tips

I almost ALWAYS double this recipe when I make it. 

© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine: American Method: Baked

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. AvatarKat says

    Posted on 4/30/23 at 3:32 pm

    I am impressed. Easy and delish. This recipe is a keeper.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 4/30/23 at 4:41 pm

      Thanks Kat! We love it too.

      Reply
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