Simple Homemade Granola

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!

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.

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

Let’s Make Some Granola!

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients Together

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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).

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!