Easy Homemade Granola
This easy homemade granola recipe comes from my mother-in-law and is a favorite in our house. It’s a salty-sweet mix with big, crunchy clusters and a satisfying oat-and-cereal base. One standout ingredient is Wheaties, which adds extra crunch, but you can easily swap cereals to suit your taste. Making granola at home is simple, far fresher than store-bought, and highly customizable — from nuts and seeds to dried fruit and sweeteners.
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned oats
- 4 cups Wheaties cereal (or another crunchy cereal)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or coconut oil/olive oil)
- 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
How to make this easy Homemade Granola
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
- On a sheet pan, combine the oats, Wheaties, sliced almonds and coconut flakes in an even layer.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar, salt and cinnamon over the dry mixture.
- In a small saucepan, warm the oil, honey and vanilla just until the honey loosens and can be stirred easily.
- Pour the warm oil and honey mixture over the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly so everything is well coated.
- Spread the mixture evenly across the sheet pan.
- Bake for 40 minutes. Every 10 minutes, pull the pan out and gently stir and redistribute the granola so it toasts evenly and stays coated.
- After 40 minutes, remove from the oven and allow the granola to cool completely on the pan.
- When it has cooled to room temperature, break it into clusters or smaller pieces as desired.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one month.
Tips for big chunky clusters:
- Use a slightly smaller pan so the mixture is more crowded—this helps pieces stick together.
- After each stir during baking, gently press the granola back into the pan to encourage clumping.
- Allow the granola to cool fully on the pan before breaking it up; cooling helps clusters hold together.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
Oats: Old-fashioned (rolled) oats give the best texture. Avoid quick oats, which can become too fine and lose structure.
Nuts and seeds: Customize with almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios or sunflower seeds. Toasted nuts add a deeper flavor.
Oil: Vegetable oil works well, but coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil are nice alternatives for different flavor profiles.
Sweeteners: This recipe uses both honey and brown sugar. You can leave out the brown sugar and rely on honey or swap honey for maple syrup for a different sweetness.
Spices and salt: A touch of cinnamon and salt balances the sweetness and enhances flavor. Feel free to experiment with a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom.
Optional mix-ins
- Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cherries)
- Dried mango or apricots
- Dried berries
- Chocolate chips (add after cooling)
How to serve granola
Enjoy granola with yogurt and fresh berries for a healthy breakfast or snack. It also pairs with milk like cereal, or as a topping for smoothie bowls and baked fruit. Chocolate chips and extra nuts make it a treat, while dried fruit adds chew and sweetness.
Granola breakfast bar
To feed a crowd, set up a granola breakfast bar: place the granola in a large bowl with a selection of yogurts, milk and toppings like fresh berries, sliced strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, extra nuts and chocolate chips. Guests can customize their bowls.
Storage and make-ahead
Once cooled, store granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one month. For longer storage, freeze in a sealed container for up to three months and thaw at room temperature before serving.
Questions and sharing
If you try this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment about how it turned out. If you take a photo, feel free to share it on social media with the tag @NoBiggie and the hashtag #NoBiggieRecipes — I love seeing variations and ideas from readers.
More recipes with oats
Explore more oat-based recipes and variations for breakfast and snacks, such as granola bars, oatmeal cookies and steel-cut oats.
Related recipes
