This homemade granola is packed with flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg and coconut. It’s a delicious accompaniment to yogurt for one hearty, filling breakfast!
Happy (almost) Friday! How is March treating you so far?
For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been enjoying “Meatless March” where I’m only eating vegetarian meals for the whole month.
My mother texted me wanting to partake in the challenge. She dropped out. On day 1. No lie. So, I texted her:
Me: “How goes day 1?”
Mom: “Oh, not good. Had chicken. Still trying though.”
So, I think about it, feeling a little perplexed.
Me: “It’s literally one day and you had chicken?!”
Mom: “I’ve got to try harder.”
Me: “Yep. I have a feeling that you’ll have something this weekend too.”
Mom: “Maybe.”
So, now I know that as much as mom enjoys the occasional vegetarian meal, she will never become a vegetarian.
Snacks like this homemade granola make things a lot easier, vegetarian or not.
How To Make Homemade Granola
The thing I love about homemade granola is that you literally just stir all the ingredients together, place on a baking sheet and way to go!
I’ve tried different techniques to get the best possible granola. For instance, I tried stirring the granola partway through baking.
However, what I’ve discovered works best is just leave it be. Partway through baking, rotate the baking sheet. Then the last few minutes of bake time, throw the coconut on top to get all toasty!
So, basically, to make homemade granola:
- Mix together oats and almonds.
- Whisk together wet ingredients and spices.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir.
- Spread out evenly on a baking sheet and bake, rotating partway through.
- Add coconut and bake a few minutes more.
- Let cool completely before breaking into clusters.
- Stir in dried fruit and/or chocolate chips if you want.
Full details are in the recipe card below.
Best Type of Oat To Use
Use large flake or old-fashioned oats for any homemade granola recipe. Don’t use quick oats.
How To Get Big Granola Clusters
The hardest part about making granola is waiting for it to cool! But, please do.
If you wait for it to completely cool, you are left with those larger clusters of granola (the best part, if you ask me).
Upon stirring, you will break those pieces up, so the more you stir, the smaller the clusters you will have.
How Long It Lasts
Once granola has been completely cooled, break up and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Homemade granola can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, like your pantry cabinet.
Granola Additions
The fun thing about making granola from scratch is that you can customize to your taste buds. After you’ve baked and cooled your batch, you can add some additions to taste. Some options are:
- Dried apricots
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Dried figs
- Chocolate chips
Tips for Making This Recipe
- To get those big clusters, ensure that the granola is in an even layer on the baking sheet and press down before baking. Also, let the granola cool completely before breaking into clusters.
- Don’t want to use coconut oil? Try olive oil instead!
- Want a combo of nuts and seeds? Try some pumpkin seeds too!
How To Enjoy It
- Serve with milk like a cereal (enjoyed right away because I love the crunch factor).
- Pour some over yogurt and enjoy with fresh berries (my fave).
- Use in bark! Sprinkle some over melted chocolate, let cool and break into pieces for a tasty treat.
- Enjoy as is!
More Recipes You May Enjoy
Hope you enjoy this easy homemade granola! Have a tasty food-filled weekend and see ya back here next week.
If you make this homemade granola recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Homemade Granola (Crunchy Clusters)
Ingredients
- 4 cups large flake oats (rolled oats)
- 1 cup almonds
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar, optional
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup coconut flakes, or unsweetened shredded coconut
Optional Granola Add-Ins
- Chocolate chips
- Dried cranberries
- Dried figs, chopped
- Dried apricots, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix oats with almonds.
- In another bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar (if using), vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg until well combined. Pour over oat/almond mixture. Stir well to combine.
- Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet, pressing down so it's an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Rotate the baking sheet and bake the granola for another 15 minutes.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven, add coconut chips (or shredded coconut) over top and bake for another 3 to 4 minutes.
- Allow the granola to cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking up into clusters. The more you handle, the smaller the pieces you will have. If desired, stir in optional granola add-ins to taste. Serve and enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Sarah
Your mom dropped out on day one… LOL.. that’s hilarious. Keep it up Dawn! You’re 1/3 of the way there lol. This granola looks so good- it’ll keep you full 😉
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I always have homemade granola on hand in the house. It’s just the best snack or quick breakfast. I rarely ever buy it anymore because I find the homemade stuff way better! Love this recipe Dawn! Those are some awesome clusters, and I’m all about the granola clusters!
Kevin O'Leary
Homemade granola is so much better than anything I’ve bought at the store. I could eat it morning, noon, and night!
Girl Heart Food
So true!! Thanks Kevin…I think I could too 😉
Thao @ In Good Flavor
I love your Mom story! She is too funny! Congrats on making it past your week+ of Meatless March! I pretty sure that I would have lost the battle already. Homemade granola is wonderful, but I’ve only made my own a handful of times. This is looking so good that thinking I’m way past due and need to make some of these!
Girl Heart Food
Haha – I know, right?! Thank you Thao! It has not been easy, that’s for sure! Thank you so much! Happy Friday 🙂
Milena
OMG, I cannot believe your mom had chicken on day one!!! You are a total hero in comparison. I think that you will make it through the month. This granola is the perfect ally, just as you say. Looks incredibly inviting. Pinned!
Girl Heart Food
Haha – I know!! It was so funny when I read her text! Thank you Milena 🙂 Cheers to the weekend!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Hahaha! Your mom is adorable. And your convo with her sounds exactly like mine with my mom would go except she’d have had steak instead of chicken. I know you can do this vegetarian thing! It’s just a few more weeks! As for this granola, I think I have everything I need in the pantry right now so you know I’ll be making it soon. YUM! Have a great weekend, Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Happy to hear that! Thanks so much, Kelsie, and have a lovely weekend too!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I’m a homemade granola girl through and through Dawn! I don’t think I’ve purchased it from the store in like forever! I’ll be adding your recipe to my list! Sounds fabulous! Happy weekend! XO
Girl Heart Food
Right?! Thank you Mary Ann! Happy weekend to you too, my friend! XO
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
We don’t eat a lot of meat, but chicken breasts and fish (although not sure if you can consider fish to be meat. Well in terms of a vegetarian diet yes, I guess) are the foods I cannot reject, at least a couple of times per month. So good luck with your challenge!;) This granola looks and sounds great. Love the addition of coconut and nutmeg – interesting touch.
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Ben! Usually, it’s fish and chicken in our home when we aren’t trying to eat all vegetarian. It’s not easy, but very interesting in coming up with new ideas! Have a great weekend 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I love granola and when it’s homemade it’s even better. I love all those chunks! Perfect for nibbling on or sprinkling on granola. You might need to plan a menu out for your mom – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maybe then she could meet the challenge.
Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thank you Kathy!! Have an awesome weekend 🙂
David @ Spiced
Yes! I love homemade granola, and this recipe sounds a lot like my go-to version. We always keep some of that in a container in the pantry. Yum! Also, I agree with you that the hardest part is waiting for it to cool. I’ve definitely burned my fingers because I reached in too soon. Oops! It was worth it, though. Haha! Love that text exchange with you and your mom! I’m thinking I’d be on your mom’s side as I couldn’t give up meat for an entire month. No way, no how. But it’s fun hearing your thoughts about it…hang in there, my friend! Either that, or throw it out of the window and go get a delicious burger this weekend. You made it a week, that’s good enough. 🙂
Girl Heart Food
You win an award for best comment of the day 😉 I seriously burst out laughing reading it – ‘you made it a week, that’s good enough’. Tooooo funny, my friend! Seriously, though, it ain’t easy!! Thanks David and have a lovely weekend!
annie@ciaochowbambina
Your mom and I would get along very well! hahahha! Love it! And I love this granola! Wish I had a big bagful for our road trip this weekend! One of my favorite snacks, and there’s no better topping for yogurt! Have a great weekend, my friend! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
Haha!!! Wish I could send ya some!! Have an awesome weekend, Annie! XOXO
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Beautiful granola and lol at your Mom 🙂 Not sure how many days I’d last, but maybe more than 1 😉 Then again, maybe not. Good for her for trying it!
Girl Heart Food
Thank you Jennifer!! I know, she’s too funny! I seriously laughed out loud reading her texts! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I’m reading this in the middle of the night with a severe case of insomnia haha and this is just making me want to get up and go to the kitchen to make some!! I love homemade granola! It’s one of my fave snacks, day or night. And I’m with you on the big clusters – it makes eating granola like a search and find activity haha!!
You’re inspiring me to eat more meatless, but you’re right, it’s hard!! I’m always looking forward to hearing what you’ve been munching on!! Have a great weekend my friend!!
Girl Heart Food
Oh no! That’s the worst!! Thank you so much, Katherine. Hope you have a restful, relaxing, food-filled weekend, my friend! XOXO