This homemade healthy granola recipe is simple to make and produces large chunks (clusters). You can add any of your favorite granola flavors to this basic recipe.
I wasn’t able to participate in last months Recipe Redux theme. So, I was looking forward to getting back in the game this month. This month’s theme is kitchen basics that you used to buy, but now you make from scratch. It’s funny, sometimes when I read the new month’s theme I spend a few days thinking about what I want to make. Other times (like this month) as soon as I read the theme I know exactly what I’m making.
If you follow my blog at all, then you probably know I’m a huge fan of oats. I’ve got quite a few oat recipes on this site and I’m sure I’ll be adding many more. One of my favorite oat containing recipes is granola. At least 3 times a week I’ll have a bowl of yogurt topped with fresh berries, nuts, and granola. I love it for breakfast or a post work out snack. I used to just buy my granola. I’ve found that there can be a huge difference in the kind of granola you buy. Some granola contains large chunks that stick together even when you add them to milk or yogurt. Other kinds have very small granola chunks, if any at all. I don’t really care for that. Large chunks of granola for me, please!
When I came across an episode of America’s Test Kitchen a few months ago explaining how to make large chunk granola at home, I knew I had to try it. I tweaked the recipe to fit my taste. And, I’ve been hooked ever since.
So, what’s the benefit of making your own granola? Well, for one, it’s a HUGE cost savings. A teeny tiny bag of store bought granola is often around $5. This recipe produces about 10 cups of granola for around the same price. Also, you can customize it to make the exact flavors that you want. This is a basic large chunk granola recipe. It instructs you to add whatever flavors you want, like dried fruit, chopped nuts, chocolate chunks, shredded coconut, etc.
I actually made two different granola flavors today. I made one with dried cranberries and chopped pecans, and another with chocolate chunks and shredded coconut. If you would like to make two different granola flavors out of one recipe, split the sweetened oats into two bowls before adding the granola flavors. Add half the amount of flavorings called for in the recipe to each bowl (1 1/2 cups instead of 3). Then pour both bowls of oats out onto the same baking sheet, side by side, and press down as usual.
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil or your preferred cooking oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 5 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats
- 3 cups total of your favorite granola flavors (chopped nuts, dried fruit, shredded coconut, chocolate chunks, etc.)
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a (11x17 inch) baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt to a large bowl. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and oil is well incorporated.
- Add the oats and your chosen granola flavors. Stir well.
- Pour the oat mixture onto the baking sheet and spread it out into an even layer. Firmly pack the oat mixture into the baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, rotating the pan half way through cooking.
- Let the granola cool at room temperature for one hour.
- Use a small spoon to scoop up the granola off of the baking sheet. Use the spoon and your hands to break the granola into large chunks.
- Store at room temperature in a sealed container or zip top bag.
Nutrition information does not include your added granola flavors.
Recipe adapted from Almond Granola with Dried Fruit from America’s Test Kitchen.
Check out some of these other great Recipe Redux recipes.
So true! The cost of granola – for that teeny tiny bag is silly! Can’t wait to try the large chunk recipe you perfected. My kids will be happy it makes 10 cups!
We think alike! I did muesli. Granola was my first love, but we broke up. I can’t find it where I live, so I converted to muesli. I will have to try this. Your pics are beautiful!
Ok this is MY kind of granola – love the idea of the large chunks. Pinning this baby….
Can’t wait to try this!
LOVE the large chunk type 🙂 we went with the same mindset this month in our granola recipes 🙂
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Would this recipe still work fine if I omit the sugar entirely?
I do the large chunk granola as maple pecan with peanut oil, 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans, 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds, 1 Tb maple extract in addition to the 1 Tb vanilla, 1/3 cup honey topped up
to 1/2 cup with maple syrup ( I doubt the syrup adds much flavor, but suspect the resulting granola is less sticky than with all honey ). The three people I’ve given quart bags of this all rave about it.
The nutritional information doesn’t list the grams of sugar which, to me, is one of the most important factors with the sugar and honey. Is this available?
I just made this and it’s amazing. I added a million things in my 3 cups of flavor: pecans, sunflower seeds, coconut, mini chocolate chips, chia seeds and raisins. I used warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger & nutmeg, and a little blackstrap molasses to replace part of the honey. It is chunky, dark and handsome 🙂
I like this recipe, the granola comes out in one big piece that I broke up into cookie size, I used several kinds of nuts and also Craisins and candied ginger. I used the recommended amounts in the recipe but I will use more sugar in the future. And there’s always the option of using just about anything that you like as fill ins.
I’ll make it again.
You add the choclate chunks before you bake or after?
Thank you for posting this recipe. I have made it at least 10 times and we have really enjoyed it.
i love this recipe we are going to play wioth me and make many flovers see what we cann do might even make some and gifdt for thanksgiving and xmas chjeapest gift they will make lol
Do you mix the wet and dry ingredients before or after baking? Thanks!
I make this granola every sunday night for the kids and husband to take in their lunches, after school snack, add to yogurt, etc. It is the most versatile, always good, “you cant screw up if you follow the proportions” granola ever. Thank you!
Great recipe. We love the chunks.
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe, I made it today and it was perfect. It made the exact right amount to fill my sheet pan, it easily broke into bite size pieces, which held together and did not crumble apart. Furthermore, it’s pleasantly crunchy without being rock hard and it tastes fantastic, my kids love it! We have already thought of several versions to try, we love that it is so easy to customize, the possibilities are endless. Great recipe!