Toss this simple to make Homemade Granola on everything from yogurt to smoothies for a filling and healthy snack or breakfast.
I am a snacker -a person who likes to eat constantly throughout the day. It’s partially because I’m running around chasing my kids all day and don’t have a moment to make a real meal. But if we get down to the bottom of it, it’s because I’m lazy. Often the things I snack on are unhealthy items because they are easiest to get to but lately I’ve been making this Homemade Granola for a healthier option.
The BEST Homemade Granola VIDEO TUTORIAL
Sometimes I grab a couple pieces to munch on but my favorite way to eat it is over Greek yogurt and fresh berries. It’s the ultimate healthy summer snack! I love summer and all the yummy fresh and inexpensive fruit it brings.
There are so many other ways you can eat this granola. Another favorite is to eat it with a smoothie. My husband loves my Berry Topper Parfait {Jamba Juice Copycat} but if you’re into smoothie bowls, my Nuts About Berries Smoothie Bowls tastes awesome with it too.
This granola is pretty simple to make. You just mix everything together, bake, stir, and bake some more and then wait for it to cool. Waiting is the hardest part! But if you wait and let it cool completely before laying a finger on it, you’ll get gigantic clusters. I like big clusters for snacking on but in my yogurt I actually prefer it pretty broken down. What’s great is that you can break the granola into whatever size you want! 
My family loves this granola and I know yours will too. It only takes us 2-3 weeks to go through a batch of this Homemade Granola. It’s so good!!! Enjoy!
The BEST Homemade Granola
Basic Granola
Ingredients
- 5 cups old fashion oats
- 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
- 4 ounces about 1 1/2 to 2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup wheat germ*
- 1/2 cup flax seed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup coconut oil, melted (canola or vegetable oil works too)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, almonds, coconut, brown sugar, wheat germ, flax seed, cinnamon, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine coconut oil and honey. Heat until warm and coconut oil is liquid. Add the vanilla and then pour over the dry ingredients. With clean hands, mix thoroughly.
- Spread granola evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring at 10 minutes and at 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let it cool completely before touching it (do NOT stir!).
- Once cooled, break into whatever size chunks you want and then store in an airtight container.
- Eat plain, with milk, on top of smoothies, or with yogurt.
Notes
This granola is so much better than anything you will buy at the store! It lasts a lot longer for us than three weeks. We also prefer to use canola oil rather than coconut oil.
I’m so glad your family loves it! Yes, canola oil is just as yummy in it.
I didn’t have parchment paper, so I used a buttered sheet of tin foil. My granola ended up very burnt. I will retry using parchment paper, since it smelled great at 10 minutes in!
Bummer! That’s weird it burned though. Did it burn on the bottom? Did you have the pan in the middle of the oven? Did you remember to give it a stir?
could you make this recipe without the wheat germ? I am gluten free so I know I can get gluten free oats
Yes! It still turns out just fine without it.