Healthy ingredients like pure maple syrup, almonds, and sesame seeds make this homemade granola recipe simple to make and delicious to eat!
My favorite breakfast cereal growing up was (and still is) Cocoa Pebbles and Cocoa Krispies. Seriously. But long gone are those days of eating all that sugar first thing in the morning. The best I can do now is those chocolate rice cakes, but I admit that I am a big fan of rice cakes anyway so it’s a no brainier for me.
My tastes have matured as we all have experienced. Now I love granola. Granola in oat milk for breakfast and granola bars for an afternoon pick me up. Along with my tastes changing as I age, I also have become keen to making my own healthy takes on many things- granola included.
Homemade granola is so easy to make and it’s very simple to customize. My recipe uses almonds, coconut, and sesame seeds but all of this is interchangeable. You can mix or match your homemade granola with ingredients from this list:
Choose a nut (s): raw almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts
Choose a binder: pure maple syrup, honey, flavored honey, sugar syrup, egg whites, light corn syrup, peanut butter
Savory Mix-Ins: sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, rolled oats, flax seeds, chia seeds
Sweet mix-ins: chocolate chips, coconut flakes, chocolate candies, dark brown sugar, dried cranberries, raisins, blueberries
Of course this list is merely a guideline, there are many possibilities to making your own homemade granola.
I make a big batch of granola then keep it in an airtight container on my kitchen counter for when the mood strikes. The healthy options are endless and you can cater your homemade granola to serve your sweet or savory side.
Peanut butter and chocolate is a favorite of mine. A healthier alternative to my beloved store bought peanut butter cups.
Enjoy this delicious alternative to those sugary mass market breakfast cereals!
Homemade Granola Recipe
Healthy ingredients like pure maple syrup, almonds, and sesame seeds make this homemade granola recipe simple to make and delicious to eat!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup raw almonds, coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3 tablespoons raw sesame seeds
- 1/3 cups dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, olive oil, vanilla, and salt until well combined.
- Fold in the oats, almonds, coconut, and sesame seeds until evenly coated.
- Transfer the granola mixture to the prepared baking sheet and spread into a thin, even layer. Gently press the mixture until compact.
- Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, rotating pan about halfway through.
- Let cool for 1 hour.
- Break granola into small pieces and stir in cranberries before serving.
- Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
Try these store made granola combinations for inspiration: