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
Amy says
So I am new to this site and fairly new to the whole foods concept but so far I love it and I feel great! The kids are adjusting....slowly! The husband he's a different story. Anyways I was in a bit of a rush making up the gronola, baking my sons bday cake and baking some bread! I accidentally poured 1 cup of (unsweetened) cocoa in instead of coconut! I put the coconut in after I mixed in the cocoa. It turned out really good and I am excited to try it without the cocoa. I decided to use it as a snack instead of breakfast though! Thanks love your site!
Susan says
Our oldest came home when this was in the oven, he kept asking if he could try it when it came out because it smelled so good. He tried it, LOVED it and asked if he can bring it in his lunch every day as a granola bar. This is delicious!! And so easy to make!
The Mrs @ Kitchen Doesn't Travel says
Couple things: 1) I don't know how I've lived in the Charlotte area and been reading food blogs as long as I have and have not found this blog before now!
2) This granola is fantastic! I made it and have been eating it for breakfast this week. This plus a little turkey sausage and some fruit - keeps me satiated for ~6 hrs. I have blood sugar issues and am usually a little hungry every 3 hrs. I've been eating this for breakfast around 6a this week and have not felt the first twinge of hunger until 12-12:30p each day. I'm sold!
Gonna be starting a 10-day challenge on Monday!
Selma says
i love this recipe! I am looking for a breakfast bar recipe that I used a couple of months ago. I can't find it on the site anymore. it had chia seeds and flax seeds in it. Do you still have it? thanks
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Selma. I think you might have mixed us up with another blog/recipe site. We've not posted a granola recipe with flax and chia. Sorry. ~Amy
Kate says
I add about 1 T chia seed and 1 T flax to this mix and it turns out fine. (I omit the nuts because of my son's allergy but add some to my bowl when I eat it) tasty and adaptable recipe!
Karris says
I've had a lot of meh results with unprocessed food recipes, but this is absolutely fantastic. So yummy and easy. I ran out, so I just put a double batch in the oven. I omitted a lot of the nuts and seeds that I don't like and added cinnamon and nutmeg.
Mary says
Delicious granola recipe! Perfect amount of spices for the pecans, almonds, and dried cherries that I used! This will be my go to snack for traveling.
Jennifer says
I cannot get enough of this granola! Thank you for sharing.
Debbie Poore says
Have my first batch in the oven now.....tasted great before baking it, I can hardly wait to eat it for breakfast tomorrow! I'm happy to say I was able to find all the ingredients (even unsweetened organic coconut) at my local Kroger :)
Becky says
We cannot have nuts in the house due to my son's severe allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and legumes. Do you have a nut-free recipe for granola?
Tisha says
Leave out the nuts. Add in whatever kind of dried fruit you like as a substitute.
Brandi says
I made this granola cereal last night. My husband said "whatever you are making can't be healthy, it smells way too good." We ate it this morning and even my two year old said Yum! I thought the granola was going to be hard to break up and make into cereal after it cooled at it wasn't at all. We are trying to get off of processed foods and so much sugar. This cereal is delicious!!!
danielle says
Hi,
I just tried to make this recipe and it burned....is really 75 minutes ?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Danielle. Yep, but at only 250*. All ovens are different so your could burn a bit hot. ~Amy
chelsie s says
Mine did a bit the first time too on one side. This time I rotated the tray after about 40 mins. I turned it to 225 degrees and made sure to have it on the highest rack in the oven. Turned out great!
Jocelyn says
This granola is the best!! I have been doing a different recipe. Decided to try this one.....
and it's a winner...my family loved it. Thanks so much for sharing :)
danielle says
could you put some picture of this recipe as a bar?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Danielle. If we have one, I'll track it down. : ) ~Amy
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hey Danielle - Sorry we don't have any pics of this (to my knowledge)...we normally just make it as cereal with rolled oats. But we did of course tests it out as bars with steel cut oats. They come out somewhat irregular in shape. Just give it a try :)
Anne says
Excited to try this as cereal in the morning and on my yogurt! At first taste (after cooled), I am wishing it was a bit sweeter. I did not have any coconut; did that make it lose some sweetness? Also, don't sub wax paper for parchment. It was a mess. Oh, and I forgot to buy pumpkin seeds; so, I added more almonds. Thanks for your great site!
Sophia says
I made a batch of this last night, leaving out the seeds since I didn't have any on hand. I was concerned that it would not get crunchy, but once it cooled, it was perfectly crunchy. Thrilled we have an easy recipe and can finally ditch the store bought granola.
Shannon says
I made your granola last month and enjoyed it but I have read some articles about granola being too high in calories and fat. Am I being sucked back into the "hype" of the health food?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Shannon. While granola can be somewhat high in fat and calories, it also packs a nutritious punch. Thanks to healthy fiber and fat it is also satisfying and filling. A little goes a long way but I also never worry about indulging on it: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/. ~Amy
Connie Lund says
Have just discovered your blog ... My husband and I are in our 70's and continue to want to do this eating thing "right" ... Will make the granola receipe soon ... and so look forward to your other nuggets. I know so many people thank you ... Roger and I included !
Sunnie says
Fantastic recipe! I didn't have enough honey so I added some maple syrup and we LOVED it!! My kindergartner and I made it together and he said it tasted better than Lucky Charms :) (We're new to cutting out processed food.) Love your blog!
Joy says
Wow - made this recipe this weekend. Better than any store-purchased or homemade granola I have ever tried. I cannot wait for breakfast in the morning now! Used raisins instead of pumpkin seeds, but I agree that some tasted a little burnt. Amazing, delicious, healthy recipe - thank you for this blog and for changing the way my family eats!
Anni says
This is such a great recipe! Thank you so much for posting this, we have been living the "non-processed life" for almost a month now and thanks to your blog we have been doing terrific! We love this recipe, I did substitute coconut oil for the butter, it really turned out wonderfully.
Erika says
I made mine with steel cut oats and it still fell apart and now basically looks like cereal. However, the taste us awesome and my kids and hubby like it too! We like it as cereal with milk and in yogurt and just handfuls as a snack. I think I will try rolled oats next time just to see how it turns out. I added raisins and some of them taste a little burnt. Next time I may add them after baking because I like the flavor the raisins add.
Tamara says
When you say "salt" in your recipes are you referring to sea salt or just regular salt? Thanks! Is regular ole' salt considered "real food?"
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Tamara. If it called for a particular type of salt, we would specify. ~Amy
Shaina says
What about adding raisins? My kids love them. Would they be a good addition? Also, where do I find steel cut oats? Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Shaina. Raisins sound like a yummy addition. Let us know how they turn out. Steel cut oats can be found in just about any grocery store now. ~Amy
Michelle Fallon says
We stay away from dairy (butter is dairy!) and wheat. This mixture is perfect with gluten free oats AND coconut oil in place of the butter! Just wanted to mention in the event anyone else is interested!
Fiona Moore says
I love granola bars! I like to cook a variety of recipes and granola bars is tops on my favorite list. But when I am running short of time I purchase readymade bars. They are delicious and rich in essential nutrients that we require.
http://www.sheffafoods.com/blog/healthy-snacks-and-bars/the-drama-behind-granola-and-granola-bars/
Kristi says
Is there any substitute that could be used for the butter that may be healthier?
Thanks!!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Kristi. It depends on what you are using it for but we often substitute coconut oil for butter. Here is information on cooking with coconut oil: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/02/07/how-to-cook-with-coconut-oil/. Hope that is helpful. ~Amy
Mary says
For the granola bars, do you use cooked steel-cut oats?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Mary. Correction of my previous comment, I made the bars tonight with steele cut oats and it worked like a charm. Hope that helps. ~Amy
Corutney says
What can I use as a substitute for honey? I want to make some for my small child to eat, but she can't have honey until she is two. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Stacy says
You can use pure maple syrup, which is delicious, but I would start with half what is called for and then add from there. That said, unless there is a special circumstance, the recommendation for honey for infants is 12mos+.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Corutney. Like Stacy, I would say pure maple syrup and honey can be used interchangably. Always check with your child's pediatrician if you have any doubts. Hope that helps. -Amy
christy says
This may have already been asked, but I'm not going through all 400 comments. What would be a butter substitute to make this vegan? (and not vegan margarine). Thanks!
Megan says
Christy, I've used coconut oil instead of the butter and it came out yummy.
Maria says
I've used coconut oil and olive oil. If you have a very fragrant coconut oil, and add things like dried mangoes or dried apricots or dried peaches, you can pretend you're in the tropics on a cold winter's day... :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Christy. I would use coconut oil. Jill
Angie says
I am making this right now and my kichen smells heavenly! Can't wait to try it.
Nicole says
Love your site, but I am confused. The directions mention sesame seeds, but the ingredient list only mentions pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Clarification please.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Nicole. I thought the directions just said to add the seeds, depending on what type you are using. I don't recall sesame seeds. Jill
Trish says
In the paragraph before the actual recipe, it says "You can easily play around with the amounts of sesame seeds and flax seeds as well" I think that's where the confusion comes into play.
Erin says
Will this still taste decent without the nuts? My son has a nut allergy. Or do you have a nut free recipe?
Amy A says
Yes, it is still yummy! We have a nut allergy in our house and make this all the time. I just increase the sunflower and pumpkin seeds to 1 cup each and it works out great.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Erin. I have not tried it without nuts, but, you could certainly give it a shot. Or, maybe add in some seeds? Jill
Ian W says
Thanks so much for posting this recipe!!!(!!!) I've made 3 other recipes and not been happy with the outcome.
Your recipe is SO yummy and exactly what I have been looking for in taste and texture!
THANK YOU!!!
Jen says
Hey! Quick question.....are all the nuts/seeds that you put in this (or eat in general) suppose to be organic? I am having a little trouble finding a lot of organic nuts/seeds and I have seen in some of your photos that it appears the bags of nuts just say "raw" so I thought I would check. Thanks so much!!!!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Jen. I usually use organic peanuts, but, the rest of our nuts are not. Jill
Patricia says
I did today and it was a delight. I did not use grated coconut. I used macadamias instead of walnuts. To my taste is more even granola.
I do not consume as a cereal for breakfast for example, because I thought it is quite heavy, a delight, but it's more like a snack or to accompany fruit or yogurt.
Sherri says
I'm so glad that there is an alternative to cereal. We recently moved to NJ after living in Charlotte NC for more than 10 years. It;s making me a bit jealous to see all of the places I miss so much!! Thanks for the great ideas.
Emily says
Can the butter be left out of these or is there a non-dairy substitute that might work? These sound great!
Brooke says
We use Earth Balance Soy Free Dairy Free "butter" due to food allergies. It is non-GMO and uses non-hydrogenated oils. I substitute is for butter in pretty much everything and it works great! I will say that is has a saltier taste so you might want to omit the salt in this recipe.
Lisa says
I would substitute coconut oil for the butter...I don't think it would work if you left it out all together.
Dara says
I just discovered your website! Love it so much! Thank you for all if the wonderful recipes! Do you think this granola would work with no butter? I can't have dairy, but I really want to make this granola! Thanks!!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Dara. I would suggest substituting coconut oil if you are not able to have butter. Jill
Stefanie says
Absolutely delicious! I just made this and I am having a hard time not eating it all right now! What would an ideal serving size be? I want to eat this as cereal, and most cereals are 1 cup or 3/4 cup, but I think that might be too much for granola? Love your website and all the great information you share with us.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Stefanie. I usually do 1/2 cup of granola and top it with fresh fruit. Glad you are enjoying the blog. Jill
Ruth says
For granola with peanut butter, try using 2 and 2/3 tablespoons water, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/4 cup peanut butter leaving the other ingredients the same. This is the part that will be heated, so your peanut butter will be liquid, and will cover the granola easily.