Simple ingredients for a basic granola recipe. Granola is so much better homemade and you can throw in whatever dried fruit, nuts and chocolate combination you like.
It is healthy and only takes about 30 minutes to create. Well worth the wait slightly warm and topped with yogurt, fruit and a bit of honey! For more homemade breakfast staples see my homemade granola bars and pumpkin spice granola.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 20 minutes at 325 degrees F
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 16 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 166kcal per serving
- 🥣 Ingredients: 8 (rolled oats, cashews, almonds, olive oil, coconut oil, agave syrup, dried fruit, salt)
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Toasted oats and nuts with agave sweetness and chewy dried cranberries
- ✋ Difficulty: One bowl, one sheet pan, stir occasionally so the ends do not burn
Quick Answer
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Toss 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, ¾ cup unsalted cashew pieces and ¾ cup slivered almonds in a large bowl, then mix in ½ cup agave syrup, a dash of salt, 1 tablespoon coconut oil and 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil until the dry ingredients are fully coated. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the ends do not burn. Once out of the oven, immediately stir in ⅓ cup dried fruit, or let it cool and then add chocolate chips. Makes 16 servings at 166 calories each.
Jump to:
The start of 2015 has been all about embracing the moment. It took my 3 year old to reteach me the importance of that again.
It was having him give one of his (make me go nuts) tantrums that made me stop and try to embrace this challenging time having young children at home. The time where you feel lonely, defeated, constantly tired and walking around like a zombie, like you shouldn't be in public... but you are.
A time when the days seem longer but the years go by far too fast. And then you blink and your children are gone all day at school or off to college and you wish they were right back home again with you all day.
The boys and I were driving down the highway last week, heading to Target in Ventura. We stopped to get a coffee and bagel along the way. When Chase finished his bagel his hands and face were covered with cream cheese so I pulled off at the next exit to clean him up. We happened to stop at the bird refuge near Coast Village Rd. and boy was Chase excited when he saw all the birds swimming around the pond! As I was cleaning him up he kept saying "no mama, lets go!" I thought he meant to Target and as I got in the drivers seat he began to cry saying again "no mama, lets go!" and pointed to the birds and pond. I realized schedules can change, embrace this fun opportunity for random fun!
That moment is my favorite part of 2015 so far. We just hugged each other watching the birds flutter and swim around catching fish while Curren slept in the car. It was one of those moments you think you are too "busy for", "it will mess up our schedule", "we don't have time" to "stop and smell the roses". Children are amazing how much they can teach us.
That moment made all the tantrums seem to disappear from my mind, and was replaced with overwhelming gratitude to have this time to be with young children. When we got home from our adventures that afternoon we made a Basic Granola Recipe together.
Why This Granola Works
Click to see why it works
- Full coating before the oven. Mix in the agave syrup, dash of salt, coconut oil and olive oil until the dry ingredients are fully coated, so every cluster toasts evenly and sweetens.
- 325 degrees is the golden zone. The granola bakes until golden brown in about 20 minutes at 325 degrees F, gentle enough to toast the oats and nuts without scorching.
- Stirring saves the edges. Stir occasionally while it bakes so the ends do not burn.
- Dried fruit goes in AFTER baking. Once out of the oven, immediately stir in the dried fruit so it stays chewy instead of drying out in the heat.
- Chocolate waits for the cool-down. Or let the granola cool, then add chocolate chips so they do not melt into the mix.
- Two oils, two jobs. Coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil together coat the oats and nuts so they crisp in the oven.
Why You'll Love This Granola
- So much better homemade. Granola is so much better homemade and you can throw in whatever dried fruit, nuts and chocolate combination you like.
- Healthy and quick. It is healthy and only takes about 30 minutes to create.
- Best served slightly warm, topped with yogurt, fruit and a bit of honey. My Greek yogurt breakfast recipes have a whole list of ways to use it.
- 16 servings at 166 calories from one bowl and one sheet pan.
- Part of the homemade breakfast family with my homemade granola bars, strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars and no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cups.
Key Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats - the base of the granola.
- ¾ cup unsalted cashew pieces and ¾ cup slivered almonds - the nut crunch.
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon coconut oil - coat the dry ingredients so they toast golden.
- ½ cup agave syrup - the sweetener that binds the clusters.
- ⅓ cup dried fruit - I used cranberries; stirred in right out of the oven.
- Dash of salt - balances the sweetness.
See recipe card for quantities.
Mix-In Combinations
Granola is so much better homemade and you can throw in whatever dried fruit, nuts and chocolate combination you like. Stir dried fruit in immediately after baking, or let the granola cool and then add chocolate chips.
- Dried fruit - cranberries are what I used, stirred in warm so they soften.
- Chocolate - added only after the granola cools so the chips hold their shape.
- Nuts - cashews and almonds here, and whatever combination you like works.
- Serve it slightly warm topped with yogurt, fruit and a bit of honey, over a Greek yogurt berry bowl, or alongside stuffed peaches and cream.
How to Make Basic Granola
1Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2Toss and coat. Toss the oats, cashews, and almonds into a large bowl. Mix in the agave syrup, dash of salt, coconut oil and olive oil until the dry ingredients are fully coated.
3Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the ends do not burn.
4Add the extras. Once out of the oven, immediately stir in the dried fruit. Or let cool then add chocolate chips.
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
Expert Tips
- Stir occasionally in the oven so the ends do not burn.
- Time the mix-ins. Dried fruit goes in immediately out of the oven; chocolate chips wait until the granola has cooled.
- Coat fully before baking. Mix until the dry ingredients are fully coated in the agave and oils so every piece toasts evenly.
- Serve it slightly warm topped with yogurt, fruit and a bit of honey. Well worth the wait.
- Make it yours. Throw in whatever dried fruit, nuts and chocolate combination you like.
Ways to Serve Homemade Granola
Granola made at home is a breakfast staple around here. Spoon it slightly warm over yogurt with fruit and a bit of honey, pile it onto a Greek yogurt breakfast bowl, or shake it over a sweet potato smoothie for crunch.
For granola on the go, my homemade granola bars and no-bake homemade breakfast bars pack the same oats-and-nuts goodness into bar form, and the pumpkin spice granola version brings the fall flavors.
Basic Granola Recipe FAQs
325 degrees F. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the ends do not burn.
Immediately after baking. Once the granola is out of the oven, stir the dried fruit straight in so it stays chewy. Chocolate chips are the opposite: let the granola cool first, then add them.
Granola is so much better homemade because you control what goes in: throw in whatever dried fruit, nuts and chocolate combination you like. It is healthy and only takes about 30 minutes to create.
It is well worth the wait slightly warm and topped with yogurt, fruit and a bit of honey. Greek yogurt bowls and parfaits are the classic pairing.
This recipe uses ¾ cup unsalted cashew pieces and ¾ cup slivered almonds, and you can swap in whatever nut combination you like.
About 30 minutes total: 10 minutes of prep and about 20 minutes in the oven at 325 degrees F.
More Homemade Breakfast Recipes
Keep the breakfast table stocked with my homemade granola bars, pumpkin spice granola, Greek yogurt breakfast recipes and strawberry oatmeal breakfast bars. I hope this basic granola recipe becomes a staple in your kitchen like it is in ours! Follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a feature and more recipe inspiration! And don't forget to leave a comment below!
Easy Basic Granola Recipe
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Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup unsalted cashew pieces
- ¾ cup slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ cup agave syrup
- ⅓ cup dried fruit - I used cranberries
- dash of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Toss oats, cashews, and almonds, into a large bowl. Mix in agave syrup, dash of salt, coconut oil and olive oil until dry ingredients are fully coated. Bake until golden brown about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so the ends do not burn. Once out of the oven, immediately stir in dried fruit. Or let cool then add chocolate chips.
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