Healthy Granola
This delicious healthy granola recipe is the best! It's naturally sweetened with maple syrup (or honey). Just add oats, coconut oil, nuts and dried fruit.
- Total time
- 26 min
- Active time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 8, 8 cups
- Difficulty
- Medium
Ingredients and Constraints
Ingredients
- Optional
Ingredient watchpoints7 watchpoints
Short requirements and tradeoffs to check while gathering ingredients; detailed source notes stay expandable.
Raw Nuts
1 1/2 cup raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 1 cup pecans and 1/2 cup pepitas)
The source ingredient row lists alternatives.
Details and source
Acceptable alternatives: Seeds
Source: The Very Best Granola
Coconut Oil
1/2 cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
The source ingredient row lists alternatives.
Details and source
Acceptable alternatives: Olive Oil
Source: The Very Best Granola
Coconut Oil
1/2 cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: The Very Best Granola
Maple Syrup
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
The source ingredient row lists alternatives.
Details and source
Acceptable alternatives: Honey
Source: The Very Best Granola
Dried Fruit
⅔ cup dried fruit, chopped if large (I used dried cranberries)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: The Very Best Granola
Chocolate Chips
Totally optional additional mix-ins: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or coconut flakes*
The source ingredient row lists alternatives.
Details and source
Acceptable alternatives: Coconut Flakes
Source: The Very Best Granola
Chocolate Chips
Totally optional additional mix-ins: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or coconut flakes*
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: The Very Best Granola
Additional ingredient notes
Notes
Required setup
Techniques
Method Overview
Structured method notes that are separate from the step timeline.
Salt and Spice
Chunky Granola Tips
Method Timeline
Prep
ActivePrep
5 min
Prep time from the source recipe card.
Cook
ActiveCook
21 min
Cook time from the source recipe card.
Total
PassiveTotal
26 min
Total time from the source recipe card.
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon. Stir to blend.
Step 3
Pour in the oil, maple syrup and/or honey and vanilla. Mix well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer.
Step 4
Bake until lightly golden, about 21 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway (for extra-clumpy granola, press the stirred granola down with your spatula to create a more even layer). The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
21 min-24 minStep 5
Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes). Top with the dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips, if using). Break the granola into pieces with your hands if you want to retain big chunks, or stir it around with a spoon if you don't want extra-clumpy granola.
Step 6
Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Learn More
Extra cooking notes, tests, and source details kept out of the step-by-step method.
Why this works
Quick kitchen reasons behind the main choices.
Healthy Granola Ingredients
Oats
Nuts and/or Seeds
Natural Sweetener
Optional Mix-Ins
Granola Variations
Article photos
Photos used with the article notes.
Source: The Very Best Granola
Testing notes
Useful tests and side-by-side notes after the method is clear.
Unrefined Oil
Dried Fruit
Recipe structure
Components and intermediate outputs created by the method.
Main recipe
Recipe card ingredients and steps.
8, 8 cups
Syrup
Source step 3 creates or uses syrup.
Extra useful notes
Short source-backed recommendations and facts that do not need a step.
Recipe adapted Meg Gordan’s granola, which I’ve tweaked over the years.
Recipe adapted Meg Gordan’s granola, which I’ve tweaked over the years.
MAKE IT GLUTEN FREE: Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
MAKE IT GLUTEN FREE: Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
MAKE IT NUT FREE: Use seeds, like pepitas or sunflower seeds, instead of nuts.
MAKE IT NUT FREE: Use seeds, like pepitas or sunflower seeds, instead of nuts.
*IF YOU WANT TOASTED COCONUT IN YOUR GRANOLA: Stir the coconut flakes into the granola halfway through baking.
*IF YOU WANT TOASTED COCONUT IN YOUR GRANOLA: Stir the coconut flakes into the granola halfway through baking. They’ll get nice and toasty that way.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: This granola is awesome on its own, with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit, and you can even throw a couple handfuls into a salad for granola “croutons.”
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: This granola is awesome on its own, with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit, and you can even throw a couple handfuls into a salad for granola “croutons.”
Recipe Utilities
Account actions, source details, export, and reporting stay available without interrupting the cooking flow.
Source and Origin
Origin declaration
Adapted from source
Imported from the cookie-and-kate page for dev review.
Copy risk: Unchecked
The Very Best Granola
Article
View source
My Kitchen Actions
Login is required.
My Kitchen keeps saved recipes, private notes, adaptations, cooking logs, imports, and exports tied to your account.
Export
Public recipe exports include only approved public content. Personal backup exports require login.
Export history
No exports yet.