How to Make Healthy Crunchy Homemade Granola
By _Irene_
Ditch those store-bought granola bars that are full of refined sugar and preservatives. Using ingredients from a bulk foods or health food store, you can make homemade, delicious granola. It's good for breakfast, lunch, or as a quick snack. It's also versatile: you can have it plain or mix it up with other ingredients. My own favourite ways of having granola are with plain yogurt and with sliced fresh banana. And kids will like the natural sweetness of honey combined with the crunch of the granola.
Note: This recipe is not nut-free, but you can omit or substitute them.
This recipe yields about 7-8 cups of granola.
Ingredients
- 3 cups large flake rolled oats
- 3 cups chopped dried fruit (see the Footnotes)
- 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 cup raw sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup natural liquid honey
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds
- (optional) 1/2 cup wheat germ
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 250 F.
- Combine all the dry ingredients, except for the dried fruit, in a large bowl.
- Combine the honey, oil, and vanilla.
- Drizzle the honey mixture over the granola mixture and keep mixing to coat everything evenly.
- Grease two 9x13 pans and cover both pans evenly with the granola mixture.
- Cook for 30-40 minutes or until the granola turns golden brown, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
- Break up any large chunks while the granola is still warm on the pans.
- Cool the granola completely on the pans.
- Mix in the dried fruits.
Footnotes
For 3 cups of dried fruit, I make two different fruit mixes: the first mix has 1/2 cup each of raisins, dehydrated apple, and dried papaya; and the second mix has 1/2 cup each of raisins, dried apricot, and dried cranberries. Of course, if you don't like these fruits, you can come up with your own combinations.
All dried fruits should be natural, with no added sugars and preservatives.
Store the granola in airtight containers at room temperature for 2 weeks, or for longer in the refrigerator.
Comments
I am excited about this recipe, because I've never made granola, but I've enjoyed the recipes of those who do. Recently, I've been looking for a granola recipe, but the ones I've seen are very heavy on the oil and honey. Yours seems to have a lesser amount of each and a better proportion ( 1 to 1 instead of 3 honey to 2 oil).
I'm looking forward to making your version.
Welcome to HubPages!
Kat07, thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Sally's Trove, thanks for the welcome. I hope this recipe works out for you. I find that just a mild honey flavour is enough for me too. :)
I collect granola recipes. This one sounds really easy. Thanks.
Thanks Angela, and I hope you enjoy it.
Hope you try it! Thanks for dropping by, Decrescendo.
I think my husband bought oat bran instead of wheat germ, what do you think? Will it work? Should we try?
We just found your recipe. Your recipe sounds yummy.
Thanks for sharing it, chris
I love this recipe! I can't believe I have been buying granola for so long when it's very easy and cheap to do it myself. Thank you!
Thanks for dropping by, everyone.
How dry does the homemade granola get. Does it get as dry as store bought? Mine tastes great but it seems moist and I hate to have it go bad. What should I do to dry it out completely. We live in high humidity and I hate to have it spoil.
Hi Terry, it is dry. I just let it cool completely before putting it in a sealed container to prevent condensation and moisture getting into it. It also makes a lot so I stick it in the fridge or at least some other cool dry place.
Great- I have been looking for a granola to make for a add-on birthday present for my boyfriend. It would make him happy to have home made granola in his pantry for breakfasts for a week or two. Sounds good!
Im trying to watch my caloric and fat intake do you by any chance have the nutritional info for this recipe?
Thanks :)
I agree with you about dumping those sugary granola bars. Will try your recipe. This looks so much healthy.
how do you know if its dry completely? cause mines comes out crisp on the outside but a little soft in the inside, i want it to be like tht ones in the store, how can i do that?
Hi Rich. I'd try cooking the granola a little longer--maybe an additional 5 minutes at first, while keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get too brown.
I would like to substitute the Canola oil since all canola oil has genetically modified organisms. Is there anything else you would suggest?
I used raw coconut oil and it turned out amazing! I put it in a bowl, warmed it, then added the honey and vanilla. I think it even added to the yummy flavor!
Kat07 4 years ago
Sounds great! I've not made homemade granola in eons, will try this recipe!