I enjoy this healthy homemade Granola recipe almost every morning for breakfast because it’s packed with all the good stuff, with the big granola clusters I love, and the perfect flavor and crunch.
Can’t stop, wont stop, my obsession with this Healthy Granola
Can’t stop, wont stop, my obsession with this Healthy GranolaMy relationship with this homemade Granola recipe has been healthy and strong for over a decade. I’m not exaggerating when I say I enjoy it every. single. day, usually in the form of a hearty handful on my favorite two good vanilla yogurt, with cottage cheese and fresh berries. And when I’m feeling extra, it’s an essential topping on my Pitaya smoothie bowls or my toast with peanut butter, thinly sliced apple and a sprinkle of cinnamon and granola. YUM!
More reasons to obsess over homemade granola:
Healthier: it has less sugar and is lower Calorie than anything you’ll find at the store.
Freezer Friendly: It will keep for months in the freezer, stored in a freezer safe bag.
Great for Gifting: food gifts are how I show love, and giving a little bag of homemade granola with our cute tags (see below) is fun for Christmas neighbor gifts, friends birthdays, or as a healthy snack for a new moms when I drop off dinner.
Now that we’ve established it’s the BEST, let’s make it, shall we?
How to Make Granola:
Mix Dry Ingredients in a bowl: whole grain oats, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, raw sesame seeds and raw unsweetened coconut flakes.
Make Syrup: Combine the butter, sugar, honey, salt, and vanilla in a saucepan. Cook the mixture until it boils, then remove it from heat and stir in baking soda.
Combine: Pour the syrup over the oat mixture then toss everything to evenly coat it.
Bake: Pour the mixture out onto a parchment lined or greased baking sheet and bake for about 18-20 minutes, tossing once during baking.
Serve: Allow the healthy granola to cool completely in the pan to allow it to harden up and create those clusters of granola that we love.
Recipe Variations:
- Vegan: Substitute coconut oil for butter and agave nectar for honey.
- Add Dried Fruit: Reduce oats by about ½ cup and add a heaping ½ cup raisins, craisins or dried cherries, mango or fruit of choice.
- Nut Free: Substitute seeds (like pumpkin or sunflower), or dried fruit.
- Gluten Free: Use gluten-free oats.
Give Granola as a gift!
If you’re like me and enjoy spreading love in the form of homemade goodies, I’ve got you covered with the details you need to package this granola for gift giving. these up cutely.
My TBFS amazon storefront contains all of the items needed, including the labels and bags I used.
FREE Printable Granola Labels: Front Side / Back Side
Christmas Granola Gift Labels: Front Side / Back Side
More Healthy Snack Ideas:
- Applesauce Oat Muffins
- Granola Bites
- Protein Bars
- Kale Chips
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- Crispy Bean and Cheese Burritos
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Recipe
Healthy Granola
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cook or steel cut)
- 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (I like Bob's Red Mill)
- 1 cup sliced raw almonds
- 1/3 cup raw brown sesame seeds , or flax seeds
For the Syrup:
- 1/3 cup butter or coconut oil
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: Add oats, sunflower seeds, coconut, almonds, and sesame seeds to a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Make Syrup by adding butter to a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, honey and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and once boiling, remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
- Combine: Pour syrup over the dry oat mixture and mix well until everything is evenly coated.
- Bake: Pour mixture onto prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and toss mixture, then gently press down on it with your spatula to flatten it back into the pan. Bake for another 8-12 minutes until golden brown.
- Press and Cool: Remove pan from oven and use the back of a metal spatula to press the hot granola firmly down into the pan. Allow granola to cool completely in the pan before stirring or breaking it up (this will yield clusters that stick together).
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe January 2019. Updated June 2020 and April 2024.
This recipe is adapted from a family friend from many years ago–thank you Glinda Straddeck!
This post contains affiliate links.
What size pan? – A “ large sheet pan” officially measures 18×26! That’s huge! I suggest two 1/4 pans, each measuring standard 9×13.
I’ve tried several granola recipes and they’ve not been successful. I was resigned to having to eat expensive store-bought granola until now. Oh my word this is the best granola recipe so easy and tastes perfect! It’s an excellent base with so many add n possibilities.
The only fundamental change I’ll make next time is to omit the 1/4 tsp of salt – with the baking soda in there it was a little on the salty side more than my liking.
Thank you for posting this recipe!
Hi Lauren, could I use the same amount of banana to replace the oil? Thank you.
Thank you for this easy recipe, I’ll definitely try it out asap. One question (if you don’t mind): at which temperature would you recommend to bake granola?
Hi Lauren…It’s Auntie Sharron. I’m always making a recipe from your site and feeling connected to you and your awesome momma!! I wondered if you might have the “granola label” that you offered at Christmas. I’d like to use it year round! Thank you! Have a great Easter!! Love, Sharron
Easy to make, delicious and very crunchy. Love the baking soda trick and will try that with other granola recipes I will make in the future.
So good! Nervous to try; only made granola once and it was a disaster from a woman know for “pioneering” recipes. Can’t afford to throw out food, had to keep adding more ingredients to make edible. Really made me angry! So I read all your reviews first. Love how versatile your recipe is. Hate coconut so used pecans, walnuts, almonds, dried pineapple and apricots and of course oats. Used up maple flavored margarine instead of butter, thought might be too sweet so only added 1/4 cup honey. Appreciate food science of baking soda in this. It came out fabulous even though I burned it a little, more brown than golden. Still yummy. Can’t wait to try again with other fruits, nuts. Thanks!!!
Where did you get the cute packaging bags for the granola? Would love to give
the granola for gifts. K
Here is the link for the little bags! https://amzn.to/3S367ov
Is ¼ cup really a serving?😂 Especially if you’re eating it with a bowl of milk like it says in the post, that’s barely a sprinkle it the bowl. Anyway I’m about to try this recipe and see how it goes!
Yes, the standard size on any kind of granola you buy will be between 1/4 and 1/3 cup.
This is a keeper! Some many ideas for additional things to switch out or add.
Thanks for sharing your great recipes.