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.
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 ½ cups instead of 3). Then pour both bowls of oats out onto the same baking sheet, side by side, and press down as usual.
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Basic Large Chunk Granola Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 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.)
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Almond Granola with Dried Fruit from America’s Test Kitchen.
can you use shredded coconut that is sweetened?
Taste great, I added three different types of nuts, almond butter and chia seeds. Thanks for the recipe!
I’ve been looking for a chunky recipe, so I made a half batch since it’s just for me. Possibly because it was not as thick in the baking sheet, although I used a half sheet pan, it didn’t stay chunky.
I Followed the recipe exactly, so can’t think of any other reason it ended up breaking all apart into small pieces.
Flavors were good, not too sweet.
Thank you for the recipe.
Amanda, this is my hubby’s favorite granola! We both love the big chunks! Yummy! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us 👍🏻
Have made this several times with different ad in fruits and have loved them all!
Outstanding and easy.
Thanks so much for the recipe…
I have finally found the holy grail of chunky granola recipes! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!
This is the first granola recipe of many I’ve tried that truly does hold together in big clusters. The variations are endless. I used pandan extract in a batch. It was a huge hit.
I have made this several times over the years. Always so good!
This is really delicious. I’ve bought very expensive keto coconut clusters, and the mixture that holds them together tastes very similar to this mixture. So besides being a delicious granola recipe, i am also trying to save money and duplicate the coconut pecan cluster recipe with a variation of this. My kids love the taste, texture and clumps of this granola. I love that it’s easy to make.
Do you have this video on youtube?
hi,
can i use butter instead of oil and if it it works, how much butter?
thanks from germany
Absolutely best granola I have EVER made!! One of my favorite things to add is Rice Crispy’s (of all things! lol) to this granola. They add such a delightful crunch, not to mention flavor to this delicious recipe! I usually do one cup of the Rice Crispy’s in place of one of the cups of oats, and it turns out perfectly. 🤩I highly recommend this recipe!
Such an easy but delicious recipe! My neighbors – the “taste testers” loved each one: dried cherries, coconut & almonds were in the first batch; dried cranberries, coconut & almonds in the second. Just tried chocolate chips, almonds & coconut – what a treat instead of a cookie or two with coffee. THANK YOU AMANDA!
So delicious and crunchy! We do it without the sugar and it’s still sweet and delicious! topped with some ground cinnamon too
Thank you for this recipe!
Perfect Granola! Can be different every time! I make a gluten free version for friends and family and it is gone in a day! I make two batches now😃. It also freezes very well for later! Love, love, love this recipe!
The dried cranberries turn to rocks, add them after baking.
Turned out great! Walnuts, cranberries, sliced almonds, flax seed, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate chips! Edges were thinner and got really crispy….love that! Definitely make it again!
I saw a comment here that said the cranberries came out rock hard after baking for 30 minutes. Thry suggested adding them after baking. Did you find the cranberries came out hard? Did you add them in and then bake them like the recipe says?
Comes out perfect every time!! My daughter is allergic to nuts so we use 1/2 c. unsweetened coconut, 1 1/2 c. Pumpkin seed/sunflower seed/craisin salad mix from Costco and/or sometimes dried blueberries. Then press 1 c. chocolate chips onto the top as soon as it comes out of the oven…yum!
This is awesome stuff, Any mix-ins would do… I halved the recipe and still turned out fantastic! Thanks!
How long does this last? and how would you suggest storing it?
The best granola ever! Very adjustable and not much fat or sugar at all. I skip the brown sugar and still get same awesome result. Its the only one i make now and I have made a lot of different types.
Love this recipe! It comes out slightly different every time because you can use such a variety of add-ons. My son snacks on it regularly rather than eating junk food. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Five stars versatile and forgiving. Sometimes my experimenting, well most times makes the result inedible. I’ve made this other ways to use what we have on hand after my initial success. It always disappears and if I take some to share, everyone wants the recipe.
Perfection
REally delicious chunky granola. May want to add that you add the mixed wet ingredients with the oats and goodies before you press it in the cookie sheet to the recipe. Am I the only one to add two slices, diced, fully cooked BACON to this mix???? Must be a farmer thing.
Sorry… “firmly pack” the granola? Do you mean folding the sheet? Or just pressing super flat. This direction seems ambiguous to me.
Thank you for this recipe! I love it with coconut, almonds, and dried cranberries. I have experimented with other granola recipes and I keep coming back to this one. It gets the top vote! I love it.
OMG this is the BESTEST chunky granola EVER! I melted coconut oil for the fat, added a touch of cinnamon, tossed raisins and dried cranberries on top after the batch baked, and just let it sit for an hour. When i started breaking it up, i got perfect hunks and chunks! Super crunchy! Super delish! Super happy to have stumbled upon your page!
is this granola gluten free?
I just made this today and it was so good. I just did the basic and did not add anything. The next time I make it I will be adding flaxseed, almonds and raisins! I can’t wait. I have been looking for a granola recipe that would be chunky and this did it for me. I was able to break it up and still have big chucks. Thanks so much!
YAY! Thank you, finally a receipe I can adjust to what I want to add AND best of all it turned out just like I wanted it too AND it is wonderful. I love when my husband says the word delicious and he is a picky eater…doesn’t like this or that for ingredients and you hit it spot on! I am so excited to be in control of my ingredients and always the wonderful basic receipe is still there. I added more ingredients and added cinnamon. Deeee-Lichious!
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!
Great recipe. We love the chunks.
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!
Do you mix the wet and dry ingredients before or after baking? Thanks!
Before baking. It’s stated in the instructions portion.
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
Thank you for posting this recipe. I have made it at least 10 times and we have really enjoyed it.
You add the choclate chunks before you bake or after?
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.
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 🙂
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 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.
Would this recipe still work fine if I omit the sugar entirely?
LOVE the large chunk type 🙂 we went with the same mindset this month in our granola recipes 🙂
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Can’t wait to try this!
Ok this is MY kind of granola – love the idea of the large chunks. Pinning this baby….
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!
Absolutely lovely! I have tried granola recipes before but never really hit the spot…this is lovely. I didn’t have the right size pan so mine is not as crunchy as it could have been but I think it’s perfect…I quite like a chewy topping for my yogurt and fruit. I’m have 1/4 of a cup on top of yogurt so it will last even longer!!
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!