Homemade Granola

Perfectly crunchy Homemade Granola – made with a delicious combination of sliced almonds, rolled oats, dried fruit, toasted coconut, a touch of cinnamon, and just the right amount of sweetness. It’s the perfect topping for yogurt… and equally delicious all on its own!

Recently my daughter has been getting into granola. And let me just say I’m completely on board. As in I’ve been getting into granola too! We’ve been trying different brands and flavors and saving different combinations… and it got me thinking… this isn’t my first go around with granola!

Back when my kids were little I used to make a lot of homemade granola, and I made a few different kinds of it. Like Banana Bread Granola, Blueberry Granola, or this delicious granola I’m sharing with you today. It’s based on a recipe I found and tweaked over 10 years ago, made with sliced almonds, dried cranberries, golden raisins, toasted coconut, brown sugar, honey, and a hint of cinnamon.

The end result is crispy, crunchy perfection, with tons of flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. So naturally, I made it for my daughter. And I’m happy (but not surprised) to say it’s her new favorite. And I’m pretty sure it’s the perfect base for endless variations, which you better believe I’ll be working on.

This Homemade Granola is delicious with your favorite yogurt, milk, or by the handful. My favorite way to eat it? With Greek yogurt, sliced bananas, and a drizzle of honey.

what you’ll need for this recipe

Oats – Oats are the main ingredient and base of this recipe. I used 3 cups old fashioned oats, which result in a light, flaky texture. For a denser, nuttier texture, substitute steel cut oats.

Almonds – Sliced almonds add crunchy, nutty flavor, texture and protein to this recipe. Substitute chopped or slivered almonds… or any of your favorite nuts.

Coconut – Sweetened shredded coconut adds additional flavor, texture, and sweetness to the granola. Use unsweetened for less sweetness, flaked coconut for bigger pieces, or omit it altogether if you’re not a coconut fan.

Dried fruits – A combination of dried cranberries and golden raisins adds beautiful color and delicious flavor. Substitute or add any of your favorite dried fruits.

Butter – Salted butter adds richness, flavor, crunch, and that beautiful golden brown color to granola. I used 1 stick (1/2 cup.)

Brown sugar & honey – Brown sugar and honey add flavor and sweetness to this recipe. I used 1/3 cup of each (feel free to adjust according to your tastes.)

Cinnamon – 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon adds delicious flavor and warmth to the granola. Add nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, or any of your favorites.

how to make homemade granola

Combine the oats and almonds. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats and almonds. Mix well.

Combine the butter, brown sugar, honey & cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, honey & cinnamon. Mix well; pour over oats and almonds and stir to coat.

Spread on a baking sheet and bake. Spread mixture in a single layer on large rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 250°F for 35-40 minutes.

Stir in coconut. Stir in the coconut, then bake for an additional 45-50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Add dried cranberries & golden raisins. Remove from oven. Stir in dried cranberries and golden raisins. Let stand at room temperature to cool, then store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.