When I was in law school, granola was one of my favorite things to snack on. It was a healthier alternative to buying a bag of candy to get through those long hours of reading cases. A lot of granola was consumed during that 3-year period.
In the last few years, my taste for granola changed. Store-bought granolas that I previously enjoyed are now a touch too sweet for me. That’s why I developed this healthy granola recipe. I can control the amount of sugar I put into homemade granola, I can pack in all the ingredients I enjoy.
In general, I follow this basic granola recipe formula:
1 1/2 to 2 cups oats/grains
+ 1 1/2 to 2 cups nuts
+ 1/3 to 1/2 cup coconut
+ 1/3 cup coconut oil
+ 1/3 cup sweetener (usually maple syrup or honey)
= a batch of amazing granola
No granola is complete without a healthy amount of cinnamon and spice. Feel free to tweak this recipe with whatever nuts and grains you have on hand. Once you make a batch of homemade granola, you’ll never look back!
COOKING NOTES ON THE HEALTHY GRANOLA RECIPE
- Bake with low heat: This granola takes about an hour to make, which sounds like a long time but is worth the wait. The key to a good batch of granola is low heat. Baking granola between 350 to 375 degrees F does save time. However, the ingredients in your granola with a higher fat content (nuts, seeds, coconut, etc.) can burn easily. Having burned about 6 batches of granola in the past, I learned that baking it at 275 degrees (135 degrees C) is the sweet spot. Plus, I think that the granola tastes better when cooked at a low heat.
- CLUSTERS: If you like granola clusters, here’s what you need to do. DO NOT stir the granola during the baking process. The granola will bake into a solid block and you can break it up once it cools off.
TOOLS I USED
LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO COOK WITH OATS?
Easy Healthy Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (225g) rolled oats
- 1 cup (110g) walnuts
- 1/2 cup (60g) sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup (80g) pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup (40g) flaked unsweetened coconut
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup (105g) honey
- 1/3 cup (80ml) coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix oats, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, cinnamon, ginger, and a pinch of salt. Add honey, coconut oil, and vanilla. Stir until incorporated.
- Spread out granola on baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring midway through. If you want clustery granola, do not stir.
- Let granola cool for 20 to 30 minutes before eating. The granola will crisp up after it is out of the oven. I didn’t want big clusters this time, so I stirred the granola after 10 minutes of cooling to break up everything.
- Serve with yogurt or eat them by the handful! Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life says
Not only does this granola look damn good, but your pictures and videos are amazing! Are you using your DLSR for the videos? I was so sad to realize that my Dad’s DLSR which I adopted for my blog doesn’t have video capabilities. A new camera is a big investment but it might have to happen.
Lisa Lin says
Thanks, Katie!!! So, I upgraded my DSLR in January (there was an end of the year sale for refurbished products on Nikon), and I’m using that to take all my videos. I’m playing with shooting with two cameras for my videos now, and I have yet to see the video quality from my old camera! I definitely prefer shooting videos with my new camera because I can control the lighting waaay more.
Joanne says
Hi Lisa! I just stumbled upon your blog, and I love it. I’m so happy that you’ve found something you truly enjoy doing. I am currently trying to figure out my career, and seeing your food blog is so inspiring. I also live in the Bay Area. 🙂
I’ve thought about making my own granola numerous times but never got around to it. Maybe this is finally the time!
If you don’t mind me asking, what start-up company do you work for during the day?
Lisa Lin says
Hi Joanne, thank you so much for stopping by! You definitely need to try making granola at home. It seems like more work than buying it from the store, but the effort is well worth it.
Your comment also reminds me that I need to change my “about” section. I’m actually based in Sacramento now, though I visit the Bay often. I work for a company called ONE ORGANIC.
Michelle says
Hi!
Could you tell me what oil could I use instead of coconut oil?
Thank you!
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Michelle! Any mild-tasting oil (such as canola, sunflower or safflower oil) works! Hope this helps!
Mark says
I have just finished cooking the honey nut granola still hot so when it’s cooled down I will offer it to all. I have had a sneaky taste it is great, thank you for the recipe.
Lisa Lin says
Mark, thanks for trying the recipe! Hope everyone enjoys it!
Inga says
Before trying this recipe, I tried another one with a 20 min session in the oven at 180 Celsius temperature and I didn’t like it much, since oats were hard and Pecans burned. Then I came across this recipe and tried it out today – the result is beyond my expectations! Very crunchy oats and amazing mix of ingredients and flavors. I added less maple syrup than in recipe, since I don’t like it too sweet and it still tastes great. I also love the hint of ginger. I just had my first portion with the oat milk and no other additions – super tasty!
Lisa Lin says
Thank you, Inga!
Wendell Estate says
I’m grateful that I saw this post. Thank you for sharing these healthy recipes with honey. Indeed, honeys have a lot of benefits, especially to our health. That’s why I really love having one in my home. I also find a brand that sells the best creamed honey, you can check their website at https://wendellestate.ca/ to know more about them. You’ll surely won’t regret it!