Why you’ll love this recipe
Ingredients
Oats - I have used old-fashioned oats. If you are looking for gluten-free granola, make sure you use certified gluten-free oats. Almonds - Along with the goodness of almonds, it adds crunch to the recipe. You can add any combination of nuts of your choice. Olive oil - Mainly used to help the granola become crispy and crunchy when baked. Add olive oil or coconut oil based on the flavor you love. Honey - a natural sweetener. Use maple syrup for vegan granola. Salt - Don’t forget to add salt. Just a pinch of salt enhances the flavor and makes your granola delicious! Cinnamon - I have added cinnamon to flavor the granola. Feel free to add your favorite spices like cloves, ginger, nutmeg, or all-spice powder.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
You can substitute oats with other grain flakes of barley, quinoa, hard red wheat, rye, flax, other millets, etc. You can add vanilla extract to flavor the granola in place of cinnamon. For holiday-flavored granola, you can add pumpkin spice or consider adding individual spice powders such as nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, etc. In place of olive oil, you can also use coconut oil, melted butter, or any other neutral oil of your choice. Although honey is my favorite sweetener, you can also use maple syrup, agave nectar, melted jaggery, molasses, or other liquid sweeteners of your choice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Tips
Don’t overcrowd the pan, as it prevents the oats and nuts from roasting evenly and becoming crunchy. Using a parchment-lined baking pan ensures the sweetener attaches to the oats instead of the pan. Overbaking may make the granola bitter. Remove them from the oven when they turn slightly golden brown, and let them cool completely. While they are cooling, they continue to dry and become crispy. If you plan to add chocolate chips or peanut butter chips, add them after the granola cools completely. Else these chips will melt and ruin the dish. If you plan to add dried fruits, such as cranberries, raisins, etc., make sure to add them after the granola cools completely. Adding them during baking can occasionally burn them and make them hard and chewy. For gluten-free granola, ensure that the oats are certified gluten-free. To make this granola toddler friendly, make sure to chop the nuts into smaller pieces. You can replace honey with unsweetened apple sauce. Before serving, let it hydrate in milk or yogurt for a few minutes.
Storage and Make Ahead Instructions
This healthy homemade granola can be made ahead of time. Once the roasted granola cools down completely, transfer it to an airtight container to retain the crunchiness of the granola and almonds. This remains fresh at room temperature for up to a week. It stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 weeks. Step 2 - To the same bowl, add oil and honey and toss till it is evenly mixed. Step 3 - Pour the oats and nut mix into a parchment-lined baking pan and spread it evenly using a spatula. Step 4 - Bake in a pre-heated 350 degrees F oven for about 20 minutes. When done, the oats and nuts will be fragrant and golden brown in color. Don’t forget to stir the mixture halfway through the baking process. Step 5 - Let the granola cool down completely. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
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Recipe card
