Save money when you make my Homemade Granola recipe. It’s full of wholesome ingredients like whole grains, nuts, and dried fruits, and it’s very budget-friendly!
Have you bought any granola lately? Or any breakfast cereal, for that matter? The price of cereal is through the roof, and granola is way at the top of the range. And, honestly, I don’t know why.
Our typical weekday breakfast around here usually includes a bowl of cereal of some kind, which really puts a dent in my weekly food shopping budget. Also, most commercial granola has a pretty high fat content, and it’s usually a hydrogenated fat – the kind we’d like to avoid if possible.
So, I’m really excited to share this great recipe for my own Homemade Granola. This recipe is simple to make, and you can use whatever nuts and fruits your family likes. I chose pecans and a berry-raisin mix.
Walnuts or almonds would be good, too. So would dried cranberries and apples. The combinations are up to you!
The apple juice concentrate that I used allows the granola to crisp up without using so much oil. The entire recipe contains only two tablespoons of oil divided between about ten servings.
Recipe Snapshot: Homemade Granola
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 10
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Oven
Primary Ingredients: Rolled oats, wheat germ, pecans, brown sugar, mixed dried fruit
Skill Level: Easy
Ingredient Notes
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- Old-fashioned rolled oats — They’re the backbone of the recipe! Be sure you pick up “old-fashioned rolled” oats, not quick-cooking or instant. My usual brand is Quaker Oats, but others work just as well.
- Toasted wheat germ — You’ve probably seen this on your grocery store shelf your whole life and never picked it up, right? Wheat germ is just part of the wheat kernel that gets stripped away during the refining process. It adds a nice nutty flavor to your granola. Kretschmer is probably the most available brand.
- Pecans — Pecans give the granola a satisfying crunchiness. Feel free to substitute with walnuts or almonds.
- Dried mixed fruit — I like Sunmaid’s dried berry mix in this recipe. It contains cranberries, cherries, and blueberries. However, you can use any dried fruit, such as raisins, apricots, and apples.
- Apple juice concentrate — I find that a little frozen apple juice concentrate will help the granola crisp up without adding extra fat.
- Brown sugar — A touch of brown sugar really complements the tartness of the dried fruit.
- Vegetable oil — Just a dab binds all the ingredients together.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Nut-Free: Use seeds like pumpkin or sunflower instead of nuts.
- Extra Protein: Stir in a scoop of your favorite protein powder or flaxseed meal.
- Lower Sugar: Reduce the brown sugar and increase the apple juice concentrate slightly for a less sweet version.
- Chocolate Chip: After the granola has completely cooled, add semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
- Tropical: Mix in dried tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and coconut flakes.
- Spiced: Stir in warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom before baking.
- Pumpkin Pie: Add pumpkin pie spice mix to the wet ingredients.
- Apple Pie: Include dried apple pieces and a dash of cinnamon.
How to Make Homemade Granola
STEP 1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Coat a baking pan or glass baking dish with cooking spray.
STEP 2. Add the oats, wheat germ, and pecans to the baking pan, stirring to mix well. Spread the mixture evenly on the pan.
STEP 3. Place in the preheated oven and cook until the mixture is lightly browned, about 25 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Remove the pan from the oven.
STEP 4. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
STEP 5. In a small bowl, stir together the apple juice concentrate, brown sugar, and oil.
STEP 6. Pour the mixture over the oat and nut mixture, stirring to combine.
STEP 7. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan and return the pan to the oven.
STEP 8. Bake until the oats are crisp, about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.
STEP 9. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the mixture to cool in the pan.
STEP 10. When completely cool, add your choice of dried fruits.
STEP 10 (cont’d.) Stir the fruit into the granola until thoroughly mixed. Store in an airtight container.
- If the granola isn’t crisping up as expected, extend the baking time in five-minute increments, but watch it closely to avoid burning.
- If you want larger clumps of granola, press the mixture down firmly before the final bake, and then let it cool completely before breaking it up.
- If the granola is too dry or hard, reduce the baking time or lower the oven temperature slightly.
- If it’s too sticky after cooling, it may have too much sweetener or insufficient baking time. Bake for a few more minutes, and make sure it’s spread out thinly and evenly on the pan to dry out properly.
- Make sure to allow the granola to cool completely before storing it to prevent steam from softening the batch. Store in airtight containers.
Serving and Use Suggestions
Granola is so versatile! It can be used in loads of ways other than as a breakfast cereal. Try one or two of these:
- Layer granola with yogurt and fresh fruits to make delicious parfaits.
- Sprinkle on top of smoothie bowls for added crunch and flavor.
- Use it as a crunchy topping for muffins, breads, or fruit crisps. It adds great texture and flavor to baked goods.
- Sprinkle over fruit salads. It’s especially good on salads featuring apples or pears.
- Use as a topping for ice cream or frozen yogurt.
- Combine with nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, and dried fruits to create a custom trail mix.
- Toss with popcorn and a little melted butter and spices for a movie night snack.
- Core fresh apples or pears, fill them with a mixture of granola, cinnamon, and a little brown sugar, then bake until tender.
Storage Information
You can store homemade granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one month. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Questions and Answers: Homemade Granola
- Can I use fresh fruits in making granola?
You should avoid fresh fruits when making granola. They’ll add moisture, which will make the granola soggy. However, you can always add fresh fruit to your baked granola when you’re ready to serve. - Is homemade granola gluten-free?
It can be gluten-free if you use oats that are certified gluten-free. Be mindful of cross-contamination if you have a gluten sensitivity.
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If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
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Recipe
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Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Coat a baking pan with cooking spray.
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Add the oats, wheat germ, and pecans to the baking pan, stirring to mix well. Spread the mixture evenly on the pan.
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, ¾ cup toasted wheat germ, ¾ cup pecans
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Place in the preheated oven and cook until the mixture is lightly browned, about 25 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time. Remove the pan from the oven.
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Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
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In a small bowl, stir together the apple juice concentrate, brown sugar, and oil.
½ cup frozen apple juice concentrate, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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Pour the mixture over the oat and nut mixture, stirring to combine.
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Spread the mixture evenly in the pan and return the pan to the oven.
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Bake until the oats are crisp, about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.
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Remove the pan from the oven and allow the mixture to cool in the pan.
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When completely cool, toss with your choice of dried fruits. Store in an airtight container.
6 ounces dried mixed fruit
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one month, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- If the granola isn’t crisping up, extend the bake time in five-minute increments and watch closely to avoid burning.
- For larger clusters, press the mixture down firmly before the final bake and let it cool completely before breaking it up.
- Cool the granola completely before storing to keep it crisp.
- Use certified gluten-free oats if you need this granola gluten-free.
Serving 1Calories 244kcalCarbohydrates 40gProtein 6gFat 8gSaturated Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 3gMonounsaturated Fat 4gSodium 6mgPotassium 331mgFiber 6gSugar 15gVitamin A 6IUVitamin C 0.4mgCalcium 54mgIron 2mg
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
