This easy homemade granola recipe has no refined sugar (you use maple syrup or honey), it only needs six ingredients, and it makes the house smell amazing! It is perfect for breakfast and can be flavored with vanilla, maple or almond extract.
Jump to Recipe Jump to VideoIt has taken me a lot of trial and error with multiple granola recipes, but I have finally discovered an easy homemade granola recipe that works for my family that I’m excited to share with you. This recipe is from a generous friend of mine named Cami that I met when I lived in Boulder, Colorado. Cami was kind enough to share it with me when she noticed on instagram that I was experimenting with granola-making.
The reasons why I love this recipe more than any other one I’ve tried is that it has no refined sugar (hello maple syrup), it only needs six ingredients, and it makes my house smell amazing! I’ll be honest, my kids don’t love it as much as the sugar-packed granola I used to buy from Trader Joe’s but it still gets the job done in our morning breakfast parfaits and breakfast bowls.
This granola is also a nice DIY gift idea, although we always eat it before I get the chance to share! I normally double the recipe and use two baking pans that I rotate half way through. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, thanks again Cami for letting me share this awesome recipe!
Ingredients for Easy Homemade Granola Recipe
Old Fashioned Oats are the base of this granola. Old Fashioned oats hold up better in this recipe than quick oats (I’ve tried) so I recommend sticking with them. Oats are very nutritious and rich in antioxidants and fiber.
Maple Syrup is the sweetener for this recipe, and also adds amazing flavor. You can also play around with other sweeteners in this recipe like honey.
Oil You can use a variety of different oils in this recipe. My favorite are walnut oil or coconut oil, but you can use avocado oil, olive oil, almond oil or vegetable oil too.
Nuts add nice texture to this easy granola recipe. You can really add any chopped nuts you’d like, silvered almonds are delicious in this.
Cinnamon adds a nice flavor to this granola recipe. You can add just a pinch or be a bit more liberal, just be sure to mix it well so you don’t have some pieces with a lot of cinnamon flavor and others with none. You can also substitute with other favorite flavors…. pumpkin spice is great in the fall.
Salt really brings out the flavors of this granola; just a pinch is needed.
How to Make this Granola
Making this granola couldn’t be easier! First, preheat your oven to 300F. Then, simply add all the ingredients to a large bowl, give it a good mix, and spread evenly on a baking sheet.
Bake for about 45-50 minutes, stirring once half way through. Take out of the oven and let cool. Enjoy! Store in an airtight container.
Easy Homemade Granola Recipe
This easy homemade granola recipe has no refined sugar (you use maple syrup or honey), it only needs six ingredients, and it makes the house smell amazing! It is perfect for breakfast and can be flavored with vanilla, maple or almond extract.
Ingredients
- 3 C old fashioned oats
- 1 C chopped nuts My favorite is to use raw, thinly sliced almonds from Trader Joe’s.
- 1/3 C pure maple syrup
- 2 T walnut oil, olive oil, coconut oil My favorite is walnut oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract can easily substitute with almond extract
- pinch salt
- pinch cinnamon
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 300. Mix old fashioned oats, chopped nuts, oil, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla in mixing bowl.
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Spread mixture out evenly on baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, stirring once after about 25 minutes.
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When it is finished baking, let cool and then store in airtight container.
Recipe Video
FAQ
How can you tell when the granola is finished baking? Take a spoonful of granola out of the oven when you suspect the granola might be done and give it a minute to let it cool. If it is crispy then your granola is done, if it is still soft then it needs more time.
How long does homemade granola last? Homemade granola stays fresh for about two weeks when stored properly in an airtight container. It can last longer if stored in the freezer.
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If you make this easy homemade granola recipe please share on instagram using hashtag #rainbowdelicious & and tag me at @rainbowdelicious , I’d love to see what you are up to in your kitchen!
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Editors Note: This post was originally published in 2018 and has been completed revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness
Homemade granolas are one of my favorite breakfast items and your recipe looks so delicious!! I also love how simple it is and we don’t need any fancy stuff to make it 🙂
Thanks so much Molly! For recipes that I know I will make over and over I like to keep it simple too!
I love making my own granola! Ohhh going to try this recipe next batch I make 🙂
I hope you love it, thanks Patty.
This is granola perfection! I personally think homemade granola is better than any store-bought version. I love that you know exactly what’s in it. This sounds deliciously simple. Pinning!
I prefer homemade as well, I’m just hoping my kids eventually do too. Thanks Kristine.
Yummy, I could grab some milk and chow down on this. I would add like Pumpkin Spice to give it a little more flavor.
Pumpkin spice would be a perfect flavor addition, thanks Luci.
I love my granola over strawberry yogurt – can’t wait to try this – yum!
I haven’t had strawberry yogurt in forever, that sounds amazing. Thanks Jillian
Yay! I am SO glad you loved this recipe! I did my last batch with sliced almonds as well. So delicious and simple and will forever be a staple.
I seriously make like a quadruple batch every week or so! It is the best, thanks so much for sharing!!
This sounds so simple and awesome! It took me a while to get used to the less sweet homemade version of granola, but now I find the grocery store stuff way too sweet! Maybe your kids will find that true too, after a while 🙂
I hope my kids get to that point too! I definitely agree, the store stuff is way too sweet!
Granola and fruit in a bowl is my favorite snack. It’s great to have a basic granola recipe like this to have on hand.
I agree! It’s a snack I don’t mind my kids having between meals. Thanks Emily.
I do love granola, I’ll have to try making it myself. I bet using maple syrup means it tastes much nicer than the over sweet store bought variety (though of course unrefined sugar isn’t much different nutritionally).
The maple syrup definitely adds a nice depth of flavor! Thanks Lizzie!
Wonderful if you add some vanilla extract! I love the smell of it! 🙂 Great to start your day with granola, it’s just so easy and yummy. 🙂
Vanilla extract is amazing in this, and even almond extract! Thanks Hannah!
We love to make our own granola…it is so popular with the kids!
It is a win-win because the whole family loves homemade granola! Thanks Sandi!
I love to make granola, not only is it great for breakfast but I like to sprinkle it over ice cream as a quick dessert idea.
Love the idea of maple and cinnamon!
Ohh I don’t think I’ve had granola over ice cream before- great idea! Need to try that soon.
I am a granola fan but never buy it because it has so much sugar and other additives. Niceto have a homemade option that it is easy to make and so yummy!
Yes, the homemade option has a much cleaner ingredient list for sure!
I like that you give the option of various flavored oils. I can imagine that walnut oil would taste great. Let’s imagine with almond oil! =D Such a greatly flavored granola!
Walnut oil is so amazing in granola, almond too! Sometimes I even use avocado oil!
I love making my own granola. It beats store-bought versions hands down. And like you I love using maple syrup.
I couldn’t agree more- homemade is the way to go!
Oh, I love homemade granola! It looks utterly delicious with that yogurt and berries too, thank you for the tips!
Thanks Dawn!
LOVE granola. We always have a jar sitting on our counter ready for quick breakfasts or the perfect snack! This one looks great and only 6 ingredients! Woo hoo!
Granola is such a great staple, I totally agree. Thanks Kaitie.
I’d love to put this on my yogurt in the morning!
This granola tastes delicious with yogurt! Thanks, Jessica.
I love such simple Homemade Granola recipe!! And the fun with such great recipes is that we can add more flavouring ingredients or leave it simple!
Thanks Sandhya! We love playing around with the flavors too!
I love homemade granola and that this has no added refined sugar. Perfect way to start off a busy day.
Granola is such a good way to start, or end, the day!
Its fantastic! I LOVE how easy and delicious this is!! One of my favs! I am in love how simple and short the ingredient list is. Yum!
Thanks Veena! It has become a staple in our household!
This is great……..please, what are the other nuts to add……this is awesome
Thanks! You can really add whatever nuts you’d like, I prefer to stick with almonds.
We love adding granola to our yogurt in the morning and this recipe is perfect for the fall.
your granola recipe was a big hit in our house! I’ll be making my own granola from here on. No more of the store bought stuff!
I love how customizable this granola recipe is. I love using pecan nuts for a delicious fall granola!
It’s hard to beat a recipe with so few ingredients, and it’s easy enough to make to keep me from buying those sugary granolas. Great suggestion to try it with almond extract.
Granola is one of my favorite breakfast meal, so easy to make and it’s delicious!
I can’t wait to make this granola! My kids love granola with yogurt for breakfast and I love that this recipe has no refined sugar.
Emily this homemade granola recipe looks easy and delicious! What a perfect way to prep for the chillier mornings that are starting here in California.
Your Easy Homemade Granola Recipe is absolutely perfect! It’s so easy to make and so tasty!
Wow! Sounds delicious. Love homemade meals. Thanks for the recipe.
What a great easy granola recipe! I love that this comes together with so much less sugar than packaged granola. SO tasty too.
Homemade granolas are the best. This looks like perfect way to start busy day. Thanks for sharing
I have been planning for some time to make my own granola and kept on postponing it for some reason until I saw this recipe. So easy to make and delicious. Thank you for sharing!
Homemade granola is truly the best! Better in flavor and totally fresh-tasting and not stale like the store-bought ones! Love that this is yummy as a topping for my favorite parfait, too!
I needed a quick granola recipe for a recent trip, this one was perfect and so delicious.
Thanks Alexis, I’m so glad you liked it!
LOVE this simple recipe! This my first foray into granola making and my husband and I are hooked! I have a quick question though, I need to track my calories as of late and am curious as to how much granola equals one serving? Thank you so much!!
Hi! I’m so glad that you like this homemade granola recipe, Laura. The calories posted (351) is for 1/8th of the recipe.
And as a side note regarding nutrition info on this site- these figures should be considered only as estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe.