This homemade recipe for granola is super yummy and so flexible! Below is our favorite cereal version, but there are many ways to tweak the recipe depending on your preferences.
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Homemade Granola Bar and Cereal Recipe
For the nuts you can put either all almonds or all cashews (or split them as listed below or even try a totally different type of nut). Also, the same thing works for the seeds – you can either put in all pumpkin seeds or all sesame seeds or put in half and half. You could easily play around with the amounts of sesame seeds and flaxseeds as well. If you can’t find unsweetened shredded coconut you can leave it out completely.
If you want granola cereal make it with rolled oats. If you want granola bars then substitute steel cut oats for the rolled oats, and I also like to add dried fruit bits before baking the bars.
How to Make Cereal Homemade (Or, Granola Bars)!
For the cereal, once it has baked and cooled completely, you want to put it in a gallon zip lock to break it up into small cereal pieces. If you are making granola bars just break off big chunks instead of using a bag. Don’t expect perfectly uniform rectangles for your granola bars, these are homemade after all!
The oats, nuts and spices are seriously what make these bars come together! That being said, you can add any number of ingredients to make this cereal homemade with some fun, seasonal flavors. Simple modifications in the ingredient ratios can make for a festive mix, too. For instance, amp up the cinnamon and nutmeg for a perfectly fragrant winter-themed granola.
Looking for a protein granola that can help you last through those late-afternoon cravings? Fill your homemade granola mixture with some flax seeds, chia seeds or even powdered peanut butter to make those macros skyrocket! Dried fruits like raisins (or craisins, a personal favorite) can also make for a granola bar or homemade cereal that is perfectly crafted to fit your palate. Besides, the best way to add more nutrients to your family's diet is by making recipes you'll actually want to come back to!
How Long Does Homemade Granola Last?
This homemade granola recipe will stay crunchy and flavorful for about a month when stored in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. After that, you should probably start to plan your next batch! Side note: finished granola bars might fare well in the freezer if sealed properly although you should expect to lose some of that desired 'crunch' in doing so.
Granola Recipe (Cereal or Bars)
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups oats (rolled, (if you want bars use steel cut oats so it will stick together better))
- 1 cup almonds (raw, sliced)
- 1 cup cashews (or walnuts or pecans)
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ cup sunflower seeds (raw)
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds (raw)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon (ground)
- 1 ½ teaspoons ginger (ground)
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg (ground)
- 6 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
- ½ cup honey
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Cover a rectangular baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry oats, almonds, cashews, coconut, seeds and spices together in a large mixing bowl.
- Heat the butter and honey together in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the butter melts stir in the vanilla and salt.
- Pour the hot liquids over the dry ingredients and stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
- Spread mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer. Bake for 75 minutes.
- The granola will become crisp as it cools at which point you can break into pieces (if making bars) or break it up into small chunks by pounding it in a zip lock bag (if making cereal). Store in air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
More Homemade Breakfast Ideas:
- Fluffy Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes
- Blueberry, Fruit and Nut Whole Wheat Muffins
- Freezer Friendly Breakfast Burritos
Arline says
Can this granola be frozen in batches? I am not sure we could get through all of it in two weeks and definitely don't want it to go to waste?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hello Arline. It can! :)
Mercy says
This is a great recipe that I am now fond of. It is very easy to make too. I was able to keep the large batch I made for two months. I just wanted to let you know that it keeps without going rancid in airtight container. for busy mums, you can make big portions to keep in the fridge without fear.
Laura says
My husband is dairy free and we have been using EarthBalance soy free dairy free butter substitute for a lot of things. It's an oil blend of Palm fruit oil, canola, safflower, etc...
Does anyone know if this type of thing would work in this recipe? I may end of trying it anyway, but I wanted to see if anyone had experience with this. Thanks in advance!
Nana Phyllis says
Granola is baking and the house smells wonderful. This is the only granola I eat!
Aura says
Hi Lisa,
I just made this granola and it turned out pretty good. Thank you! I added chia and hemp seeds (1/4 of each). Your recipe says it makes 3 lbs, what do you do for a serving? 1:/4 cup, 1/2 cup.
Thank you!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi. Anywhere between 1/4 cup to 3/4 cup, depending upon the individual, the appetite, and the meal. :)
Andrea says
Hi there! I want to make this granola recipe but have a kid who is allergic to nuts. Would you still at the same amount of butter if you didn't add the nuts? Thx!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. You could add more seeds and oats and keep the butter amount the same.
Ayman says
Hi,
Is there any way to make this without nuts and coconut? My daughter has allergies but I would love to make this. Will it taste too bland without them? Anything else I can put in it instead?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi. You can replace the nuts with more of various seeds such as pumpkin, sesame, flax, chia, etc. and just leave out the coconut.
Angela says
I just tried this recipe using steel cut oats and subbing coconut oil for the butter. I also added chocolate chips and raisins since we have those on hand. I baked the granola at 250 for the time allowed, but nothing has stuck together. I even tried to put it back in the oven for 20-30 more minutes. It is just very loose. It's delicious and will probably be ok as cereal but wondering if you have any suggestions on why my granola bars never formed together. Thank you!!
Baker says
You have to use butter as the coconut oil is too viscous and at above room temps will turn to liquid. Ive made this recipe many times and it binds pretty well considering the agent is just butter and honey.
Kari says
Yes, I read that coconut oil turns to liquid at about 76 degrees, so baking it would for sure give you that problem.
Isabel says
I used butter in mine and it wouldn't stick either. I am still going to use it as cereal, but I would also like some tips on how to make them into bars.
Cindy says
Hi, thanks for adding me to your site. I love the idea of eating in a more healthy way and eliminating processed foods. My son has gluten allergies and I have some weight to lose and was looking where I could substitute whole wheat things for coconut flour, etc.. Which I think would work well. While I understand eating this way isn't intended for weight loss, but is it feasible that one could eat this way and have great results in losing weight?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Cindy. Some people do lose weight without even trying when they make the switch to real foods. The key is making good food choices and practicing portion control.. These posts might help: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/23/portion-size-matters/.
Dawn says
Hi there! I just tried this recipe for the first time. I had a blast making it with my 3 year old, and it smelled incredible going in the oven and while baking, however, it was burnt to a crisp when it came out. I followed your instructions completely (rolled oats version). The only difference was that I used a silicone baking mat instead of parchment paper...do you think that's where I messed up? I would love to try again, but I don't want to ruin another batch!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Dawn. It may just be that you need to adjust the temperature/cooking time down a bit. All ovens are a little different.
Dawn says
Thanks so much. I tried again, and this time I baked it for 60 min at 200 degrees and it turned out perfectly!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Yay! :)
Lindsay Babcock says
My 3 year-old chose this cereal over her beloved Lucky Charms this morning. I'm so proud! I never get tired of this cereal, and my favorite way to eat it is with whole milk and a bunch of fresh blueberries on top. Can't beat it. Also, I like to throw the nuts and seeds in the food processor and pulse them a few times because I prefer smaller pieces. Thanks for all the great recipes and information!
deepthy says
You should never heat honey. Honey becomes poison when heated.
Mercy says
I made this recipe and immediately fell in love with it. It is delicious. Bet I will continue to make it my number one cereal. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Karen says
How much is a serving size? My husband is going berserk on this delicious cereal! :)
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Karen. We really do not break things down into serving sizes but 1/2c to 3/4c is pretty common among readers. ;)
Tanya Walker says
Muy Bueno! Crunch crunch crunch!
vanessa says
I've noticed it happens with rolled oatmeal, I wonder why...it tastes goog before going into the oven...I even beked for less time the second time..
I would like to make your granola but I don't want to waste the ingredients for the third time.
vanessa says
Hello, I've tried to make granola cereals a few times, very good at the beginning but with a bad bitter taste after I ate it.
Any idea why?
vanessa
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Vanessa - I'm not sure as we've made this recipe every week for years and never experienced that. Perhaps you had some rancid ingredients...I'd give it another shot. - Jason
Robin E says
I tried this recipe two weeks ago. Not only did it make the house smell absolutely incredible while it was baking, it made a decent sized amount and it tastes delicious. I swapped in roughly chopped hazelnuts for the almonds because I love hazelnuts, they were on sale, and I'm a little sick of almonds at the moment.
This is a fantastic recipe. It's especially delicious with berries and Greek Yogurt. Thank you for sharing!
Mindy says
My daughter has a tree nut allergy. Do you have any suggestions for replacing the nuts?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. You can replace nut with seeds. :)
Cindy says
Do you have the nutritional information? Thanks.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Cindy. We do not provide nutrition information on recipes. This post will help you understand why: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/. Many of our readers use My Fitness Pal to figure out those details.
Cindy says
Thank You!
Jennifer says
This is great. I like crunchy in my oatmeal. I was looking for store brand granola but couldn't find a good one. I am new to all of this eating better. Would the nuts in this give plenty of protein or is there something extra to add protein?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Jennifer. The nuts do add significant protein. :)
Lisa says
I finally got around to making this last night. It is so good & easy! I did tweak it a bit. My son doesn't like his granola with any sort of seeds in it so I omitted them completely. When I took it out of the oven, it was still a bit moist (but didn't want it to burn). I was relieved that it did get crunchy after it cooled off.
Gloria Wilson says
Hi Lisa Leake and assistants,
I was very disappointed in this granola recipe, my first recipe I attempted. I checked the book out of the library and was very excited with the healthy ideas and recipes. When I followed the granola recipe, I had to take it out of the oven after barely 30 minutes because it was starting to burn. Now, I'm a little hesitant to try the other recipes or to buy the book as I was seriously planning to do.
Have the recipes been carefully kitchen tested?
Thanks, Gloria
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Gloria. Absolutely, all the recipes have been kitchen tested. Some ovens just burn hotter than others. I have made this at my Mom's and have burnt it, but it works out when I make it in my own oven.
Cindy says
What about freezing the granola? I freeze about everything, but I'm afraid the granola may be soggy if frozen... Has it been tried?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Cindy. Yes, you can absolutely freeze it!
Emily says
I'm making granola and it's not getting chunky, it is still just a pile of random oats and nuts sitting on a tray and kind of damp with butter and honey. Does that happen when it cools off? or do I need to add more honey/butter mixture? I didn't use exact measurements, i just used the nuts and seeds around my house (1/2 of each). It should come up to about 8 cups total though, which should be about the same size batch.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Emily. Does it look dramatically different from Lisa's picture above. This recipe, as is, makes more of a cereal than a really chunky granola.
Nana Phyllis says
Best granola ever! I keep it in frig for a month.
donna c says
MAY I ASK what a good substitution is for the coconut please? Looks really good! thank you!
Megan says
I made the granola a few times and played around with different variations and my daughter and I loved it so I thought I would give the bars with steel cut oats a shot. They stayed together fine by the oats are very hard and tase like they aren't cooked all the way. It's almost like eating mini raw popcorn kernels. The flavor is very good but eating them hurts my teeth. Did I screw something up or is that how they are suppose to come out? I know you said they are supposed to be chewy but these taste like hard uncooked steel cut oats. I thought maybe they needed to be cooked longer. Is there anything I can do to fix them?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Megan. I like a crunchy texture but have added a bit of moisture and cooking time. You might prefer the texture of soaked steel cut oats. Here is a recipe that might help guide you: http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2014/03/soaked-oats-granola-bars/.
Kim says
Amy - I read in a few of your responses to comments that you have added dark chocolate to your granola. Genius!! Do you mix it in before baking or after? :-)
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Kim. Oh, I've played around with doing both. I like to make bars and have sometimes added the chocolate toward the end of the baking to melt it as a top layer. :)
Nicole says
My family doesn't like coconut. What can I substitute for that?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. We've not tried this recipe with anything other than butter and coconut oil.
Rebecca says
We are in the same boat and just do another cup of oats.
Elsa says
Can you sub coconut oil for the butter?
Joyce says
Would also like to know if the butter can be subbed for coconut oil
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Elsa and Joyce- Yes, other readers have made that substitution.
Amanda Fry says
I just thought I'd leave a comment to share that this is the best granola recipe ever! This is the recipe I have kept coming back to over and over again over the past several years! It is so good, and my whole family loves it too! I have to double the batch when I make it!
Courtney says
Can you use quick oats instead of rolled oats?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Courtney. Quick oats are rolled thinner and may burn more easily.
Kerry Huizenga says
Hi. I'm really interested in the 5 wk mealplan. However, my son is severely allergic to all nuts. Any thoughts on what I could add instead to make this granola? Thanks!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Kerry. You could use seeds instead like pumpkin, sesame, flax, and chia.
Karen says
Love this recipe and have been keeping a regular supply in the house since the first batch. We even traveled with it last week; tip: don't break it up much as it will break up along the route ... a lot. But it was great to have as a go-to snack vs. something store bought.
Does this recipe need the oatmeal to bind? Would like to cut down on the oatmeal ratio or try something else in it's place to reduce the carb count in this recipe. It's been a great night time snack but am trying to reduce carb (cravings) in the evenings. I've been using steel cut oats and though it is fragile it has been binding well.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Karen. We've never made this without oats. If you experiment, let us know.
Allison says
Any estimate of how many calories and grams of fat and protein are in a 3/4 cup serving of the granola??
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. You might try using My Fitness Pal or a similar online tool to help you figure that out those details.
Marcie says
If I made this with coconut oil, instead of butter do you think it would keep longer? Have you ever tried to freeze this? I love this recipe with the butter, but I'm wondering if I can make it in bulk and store it for months? Thank you!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Marcy. I'm not sure about shelf extension life but it can definitely be frozen. ;)
Jill says
Jessica--I'm having the same problem with it being too crumbly for bays, but I didn't try with steel cut oats. Did you? Interested to hear how others experiment with bars.
Jodi says
I make it with steel cut oats. I cut them into bars, though they do remain slightly crumbly.
Jessica says
I have made this several times, and each time it is very crumbly. It is great as cereal, but bever works as granola bars. Is there something I could add more of to make it stickier? Have you heard of others having this problem?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Jessica. I typically use steel cut for bars and really press them together. I also often have mixed in some dark chocolate which really works well. :)
Jen says
I have been wanting to make this for months and just got around to it last week. My husband has yogurt/granola almost every morning and I was hoping to replace the granola we usually purchase with a homemade version. He was out of town all last week and there was barely any of it left by the time he got back. My daughter and I kept snacking on it and she was also happy to have it for a snack at school (yes, we are allowed to send nuts to school). I'm hoping to make a second batch tomorrow. Now, if I could just convince my ultra-picky six year old to give it a try.
Sarah says
I looked back a few pages, but with so many comments, I apologize if this has already been asked. Has anyone tried putting some peanut butter in these? We LOVE these granola bars (THANK YOU for sharing this recipe!!) and have been thinking about ways to add different flavors.
Thanks!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi Sarah. Other readers have. Let us know how it goes if you give it a try.