Hey friend! Are you looking for a way to cut back on your grocery bill? I’ve been making this Easy Homemade Simple Granola Recipe for years! It’s packed with whole grains, nuts (you can leave out if you want), and a touch of yummy sweetness! Its super cheap to make, easy, AND it’s made in 20 minutes!

This is the perfect easy granola recipe for yogurt too! We LOVE to make Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits! You can either whip this up on a busy weekday morning or batch cook it on the weekend, so that you have it the rest of the week!

When you make granola yourself, you get to choose each ingredient that your family likes and leave out what they don’t!

Reasons Making Healthy Granola Recipe is Smart

One of the main reasons that I love to make my own basic granola recipe is because it’s VERY versatile and cheap to make!

homemade granola in a mason jar with scoop on top and words saying 20 minute granola, quick, easy and cheap. Oh so deelish

Ingredients: By choosing oats, nuts, and sweeteners… by brands you already love, you know that you are getting a delicious outcome when you make your own granola. Homemade granola means you’re in control and can use natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup if you like.
SUPER Cost-Effective: I estimate that this small batch of homemade granola cost me about $2.00! Note: I do buy my Oatmeal in bulk…it’s cheap!

scoop of granola sitting on top of mason jar.

Homemade Granola is MUCH cheaper to make than buy!

Bulk Buying: When you buy ingredients like oats, nuts, and seeds in bulk, it is much more cost-effective.
Made with Basic Pantry Ingredients you already have in your cupboard.

A typical bag of organic granola can cost upwards of $6 or $7 (when it’s not on sale) these days, so buying the ingredients in bulk will cost you less than half of that for a much larger quantity. So, making your granola at home can lead to significant savings.

Making your own easy homemade simple granola recipe is about more than just saving money. It’s about creating yummy foods for breakfast or snack options tailored to meet YOUR family’s needs and preferences.

This easy granola also makes a great Homemade Christmas Gift!!

Basic Ingredients for This Granola

Making your own granola gives you the freedom to choose the best ingredients and create a mix that’s not only healthy but also incredibly delicious.

Here are the must-have essentials and some fun optional add-ins that you can mix and match to suit your taste.

To get started, you’ll need a handful of simple ingredients. These ingredients will give you the perfect balance of crunch, sweetness, and healthy fat. Plus you probably already have most of them as Pantry Staples!

ingredients for granola recipe, whole oats, coconut oil, vanilla, honey, salt, cinnamon

In this basic recipe, I used the following simple ingredients:

Oats: Rolled oats are the main ingredient of any granola recipe.
Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, pecans, or any nuts you prefer. They add crunch. BUT you don’t have to add them if you don’t want to!
Honey: Natural sweeteners like honey, real maple syrup, or agave nectar add a touch of sweetness without using refined sugars, like white sugar.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil or olive oil helps to bind the ingredients and gives the granola a golden-brown color when baked.
Dried Fruit: Anything your family loves!
Spices: Cinnamon
Vanilla
A Pinch of Salt ~ Which means just a sprinkle!

See the recipe card for measurements…but read on for important tips to make the best granola recipe!

IMPORTANT TIPS!

Don’t use quick oats. Quick Oats are actually just Whole Rolled Oats that have been put into a blender so they cook faster…there’s nothing wrong with them but they don’t make good Granola.

ALWAYS add your dried fruit after you bake and your granola has cooled ~ dried fruit that is baked with the granola will turn as hard as a rock!

ALWAYS add chocolate chips after you bake and your granola has cooled down ~ the chocolate chips will melt!

Add Coconut Flakes HALFWAY through your baking time or they could burn.

Step by Step Instructions:

Follow these easy steps for a delicious and healthy batch of granola that your family will devour. Let the kids help too!

Step One: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Use a large bowl for your ingredients. I use a pasta bowl because I find it easier to stir the dry ingredients and wet ingredients together, because it’s shallow.

Whole oats being stirred with other ingredients.

Step Two: Measure all of your ingredients and dump into your large mixing bowl.

Step Three: Mix all of your ingredients together well to make sure all of the Oats are evenly coated to the best of your ability.

Step Four: Pour your uncooked Granola onto a parchment paper lined large baking sheet or baking dish. If you don’t have parchment paper…it’s perfectly ok! I just use it for easy clean up.

pile of whole oats mixed with ingredients to make granola. on a sheet pan

Step Five: Spread the granola mixture evenly on the sheet. (Sorry forgot to take a pic of that.) Make sure it’s a somewhat thin, even layer for consistent baking.

Step Six: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for about 15 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even cooking and to prevent the edges from burning. Keep an eye on the color; the granola should turn light golden brown.

Granola can burn quickly so better a lighter golden brown than a darker golden brown.

granola in a mason jar with scoop of granola beside it.

For larger clumps or to make this a more chunky granola recipe, simply use a spoon or spatula to press the granola down (after you stir) when you remove to stir halfway through.

Step Seven: Remove the granola from the oven and let it cool on the baking sheet. This is when your Granola will become crispy perfection!

Step Eight: After your Homemade Simple Granola is cooled thoroughly, is when you can add things like dried fruit and chocolate chips and other add ins. You can experiment with lots of different flavor boosters and customize your granola to suit your families taste perfectly! That’s what I LOVE about this basic recipe!

chopped almonds and dried cranberries in a bag

Optional Add-Ins

Want to make your granola even more delicious? Here are some optional ingredients you can experiment with!

Dried Fruits: Raisins, cranberries, apricots, or any dried fruit of your choice. They add a chewy texture and natural sweetness. Remember to add AFTER cooling your granola.
Coconut Flakes: Unsweetened or sweetened coconut flakes.
Chocolate Chips: For a little indulgence, add dark chocolate chips once the granola has cooled.
Seeds: Options like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds or flax seeds give a great nutrient boost.
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla extract can add a warm, aromatic flavor.

Be sure and check for more easy recipes in the recipe index!

Storage Tips:

To keep your granola fresh and crunchy you’ll want to store properly. Here’s how to store your homemade granola to extend its shelf life (if it even lasts for more than a day or two!):

Airtight Containers:
- Store your granola in an airtight container to keep moisture out. I use Mason jars but you can use any kind of airtight container that keeps the moisture out.
Cool, Dry Place: Keep the container in a cool, dry place, like a pantry. Avoid storing it near a warm place that gets a lot of humidity…like a stove.

Making the best homemade simple granola recipe is a win for anyone wanting to make a healthy, budget-friendly breakfast and snack for their family!