Simple Is Best
You’ll hear me talking a lot on this blog about the impact cooking from scratch can have not just on your budget (you can read more about that here) but also your health. Which is why I’m excited to share this incredibly simple granola recipe which utilizes natural sweetener and whole grains. For this recipe, we will start with a base ratio and you can adjust from there with different additives.
Now for Some Details –
This recipe makes 4 cups of granola once we have everything mixed together. We then bake at 300F for 20 minutes with a toss at 10 minutes. You can easily double the recipe on two pans. I have doubled this before on one pan, you will just need to add another 10 minutes to your baking cycle and toss every 10. You’ll also want to store your granola in an airtight container and it will last for nearly 3 months (although we always eat it much quicker than that.) I have also included a few affiliate links in this post to products I use in my kitchen regularly and absolutely love!
Our simple granola recipe ingredient list:
- Rolled Oats
- Honey – I have also substituted honey for agave nectar or maple syrup
- Oil – Olive oil, canola oil, seed oils
And here are my favorite additives and suggestions:
- Dried Cranberries – Also sub for raisins, golden raisins or other dried fruit of your choice.
- Flax seed – Adds great fiber and aids in digestion
- Corn flakes – Good way to add crunch to your granola and also keeps it gluten free!
- Vanilla – I’ve considered orange, lemon, or almond extract as well, but personally never tried. I’d love to hear what you think if you give it a go!
- Cinnamon – I would suggest nutmeg and/or a pinch of salt, if you’re so inclined.
- Your nut of choice. Almonds, walnuts and pecans are all good choices!
Alright, so it all comes down to this ratio… Basically, you’re going to have 4 cups of dry ingredients to 1/2 cup of binding liquid. For my binding liquid I use 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup honey. For my dry ingredients I use 3 cups of oats and 1 cup of additives. Here are a few adjustments you can make – 1)You can use more binding liquid if you prefer your granola more clumpy, I suggest adding another 1/4 cup of honey since the sugar will clump it better than the oil. 2)You can use less oats and more additives. Ok, that should be all the details we need… Lets get into it!
Simple Granola Recipe
- Gather your ingredients. I have my choice of ingredients listed to the right. As long as you have a total of 4 cups dry and 1/2 cup binding, you’ll be set!
- Pre-heat your oven to 300F
- Start by mixing all my dry ingredients in a large bowl. I prefer a wooden spoon for this. I also like to make sure my diced fruits are coated in oat powder, this will keep them from sticking to one another in big clumps.
- In a small sauce pan, heat your honey, or other sweetener, until it begins to thin and add the oil. whisk together to combine. I find that with honey and olive oil you will want to whisk until it becomes slightly foggy, no longer clear.
- Dump your warmed and whisked binder into your dry ingredients and mix thoroughly, until completely coated.
- Dump your granola mixture onto a prepared baking sheet. You can use parchment paper, however, I LOVE these Non-stick Silicone Baking Mats. They’re super easy to clean and I’ve had them for years!
- Spread the mixture evenly and bake for 10 minutes at 300F. After the first bake, toss with a spatula or spoon and spread evenly again, bake for an additional 10 minutes. Depending on how crunchy you like your granola, you can bake for longer, just be cautious not to burn it!
- Allow to cool completely before placing in an airtight container. I keep this right on my counter top.
- Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups of oats
- 1/2 cup diced cranberries
- 1/4 cup of flax seed
- 1/4 cup of cornflakes, lightly crushed
- Binder:
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
Final Words
I hope this simple granola recipe has inspired you to get in your kitchen. It’s so versatile and healthy – and an easy way to shave a few dollars off your monthly grocery bill. Leave a comment if you give this a try!
Love, Jean