Easy Homemade Baked Crunchy Granola

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This homemade baked granola takes 10 minutes to prep and one sheet pan. The oven handles the rest, and you end up with big, craveable clusters that beat anything from a bag. Fair warning, you’ll be eating it straight from the jar.

There is a wooden bowl with granola in it. The bowl is on a light gray surface. There are pieces of granola laying around the bowl.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes + 45 minutes cooling time
Total Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Preparation Level: Beginner +

There is a mound of baked granola on a piece of brown paper laying on a light gray surface.

What I Love About This Recipe

How easy it is – This crunchy granola recipe is incredibly easy to make with just a few pantry staples and a little creativity. It’s a great recipe that kids can get involved in!
Versatility – You can add your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to create a granola that’s tailored to your liking. Whether looking for a healthy quick breakfast, the perfect snack for road trips, or a topping for your favorite yogurt, this easy recipe covers all the bases.
Healthier – Homemade granola is made with healthy fats and less sugar than grocery store brands.
Cost-effective – Store-bought granola can be a little pricy. Making granola at home is often cheaper. Buying bulk ingredients can be more economical, and you can make large batches.

Ingredient Notes

Dry Ingredients

Oats: Rolled old-fashioned oats are the main ingredient in granola. It’s a great source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. Steel-cut oats can be substituted.
Raw nuts and/or seeds: A mixed variety of your favorite nuts. I like to use pecan pieces mixed with roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Other popular nuts and seeds are almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds.
Dried fruit: Mix up your favorite. I used dried cherries, cranberries, apricots, and dates for this recipe. Raisins are a popular fruit for homemade granola bars.
Salt and spice: Sea salt or kosher salt works best. Cinnamon adds a touch of spice and warmth to sweet dishes.
Optional mix-ins: Mini-chocolate chips and/or coconut flakes. I love the taste of toasty flavor of shredded unsweetened coconut. It adds a delicious nutty tropical flavor to the granola.

Wet Ingredients

Unrefined oil: Coconut oil provides a healthy fat source and helps make the granola crispy and crunchy when baked.
Sweeteners: Maple syrup adds a sweet distinctive flavor of caramel and toffee. Its stickiness helps bind the oats and other ingredients together. Local honey is a great alternative to syrup. Brown sugar adds sweetness and helps give the granola a crunchy texture when baked and then cooled. If you want to make a low sugar granola, replace the brown sugar with almond butter or natural peanut butter.

There is a white plate with pieces of baked granola on it. There are small pieces of granola on the surface around the plate. Plate is on a light gray surface.

Step-by-Step Instructions

There is a large clear glass bowl with oats, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, and dried fruit with sprinkled salt and cinnamon in it. There is a wooden spoon laying next to the bowls. Items are on a light gray surface.

There is a large clear glass bowl with oats, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, dried fruit, salt, and cinnamon mixed together. There is a wooden spoon resting in the bowl. Items are on a light gray surface.

Preheat and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, dried fruit, coconut flakes (if using), salt, and cinnamon. Stir to blend.

There is a clear glass bowl with brown sugar in it. There is a spoon resting in the bowl. In front of the bowl are 2 white bowls. One has maple syrup in it and the other has coconut oil in it. There is a very small bowl with vanilla extract in front. Items are on a light gray surface.

There is a clear glass bowl with a brown liquid mix in it. There is a spoon resting in the bowl. The bowl is on a light gray surface.

In a medium mixing bowl mix together the oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, and vanilla.

There is a large clear glass bowl with oats, nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, dried fruit, salt, and cinnamon mixed together with a brown liquid mixture poured on top of the dry mixture. There is a wooden spoon resting in the bowl. In the background there is an empty clear glass bowl. Bowls are on a light gray surface.

There is a large clear glass bowl with a granola mix in it. The bowl is on a light gray surface.

Pour the wet mixture over the oats and combine until the oat mixture is lightly coated.

There is a lined large baking pan with granola mix spread out in it. There is a wooden spoon resting on the granola. Pan is on a light gray surface.

There is a lined large baking pan with granola mix spread out in it. There is a brown piece of parchment paper covering the granola. Pan is on a light gray surface.

Pour the granola onto the prepared pan and use a large spoon or rubber spatula to spread it in an even layer. For clumpy granola, cover the granola with a piece of parchment paper and press the stirred granola down with your fingers to create more of a single layer of granola. The granola will further crisp up as it cools.

There is a lined large baking pan with baked granola mix spread out in it. Pan is on a light gray surface.

There is a lined large baking pan with pieces of baked granola mix on it. There is metal pancake flipper resting in the pan. Pan is on a light gray surface.

Bake until lightly golden brown. For flaky granola, stir halfway through baking time. The granola will continue to crisp up as it cools. Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed. Add the optional mini chocolate chips, if using. Break the granola into pieces with your hands or a large spoon.

See the recipe card below for complete measurements and cooking times.

Storage

The granola can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Place granola in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying it.

There is a small white bowl with yogurt and fruit in it. There is granola sprinkled over the top. There are pieces of granola laying in front of the bowl. Items are on a light gray surface.

What to Serve with Granola

Yogurt – Sprinkle on top of fresh Greek yogurt with sliced bananas or berries.
Milk or Plant-Based Milk – Pour milk over a bowl of crunchy granola.
Fresh Fruit – Serve alongside of sliced apples, pears, or your favorite fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I get big clusters?

Press the granola firmly into an even layer before baking, and let it cool completely on the pan, then break it into chunks.

How do I make it extra crunchy?

Bake it slow and low., around 300°F (150°C) for 20-30 minutes, until golden brown. It crisps up further as it cools, so don’t pull it too late or too early.

Why is my granola chewy instead of crunchy?

Too much sweetener or oil, or humidity during storage. Measure carefully and store in a truly airtight container.

Can you make granola without oil?

Yes. Use extra maple syrup or honey or swap un unsweetened applesauce. The texture will be slightly less crisp.

Yield: 12 servings

No Ratings

This granola recipe is super easy to make and incredibly delicious. Packed with oats, your favorite nuts and dried fruit, it's the perfect snack or breakfast on the go!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

3.5 cups oats (old-fashioned rolled oats or steel cut oats)
1.5 cups raw nuts and/or seeds
3/4 cup dried fruit (mixed to your liking)
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt (kosher can be used)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional – 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup coconut oil – melted
1/2 cup maple syrup (or local honey)
1/2 cup light brown sugar – lightly packed
2 teaspoons extract vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the oats, nuts, dried fruit, coconut flakes (if using), salt, and cinnamon.
In a separate bowl mix together the coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, and vanilla.
Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture and stir until the oat mixture is lightly coated.
Pour the granola onto the prepared pan and use a large spoon or rubber spatula to spread it in an even layer.
For clumpy granola, cover the granola with a piece of parchment paper and press the stirred granola down with your fingers to create more of a single layer of granola. The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
Bake until lightly golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. For flaky granola, stir halfway through baking time. The granola will continue to crisp up as it cools.
Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed. This will take about 45 minutes. Add the optional mini chocolate chips, if using. Break the granola into small pieces with your hands or a large spoon.

Notes

Helpful Tools and Equipment

Large mixing bowl
Medium bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Wooden spoon
Parchment paper
Rimmed cookie sheet
Oven mitts

Storage

The granola can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Place granola in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for a few minutes before enjoying it.