This homemade granola recipe is a healthy, delicious breakfast choice when topped with sun-ripened summer berries. It can also be made with dried fruits and semi-sweet chocolate for a grab-and-go trail snack or used as a crunchy topping for yogurt and ice cream.
Dry Ingredients for Homemade Granola
This homemade granola recipe comes together easily and bakes quickly. You’ll start by setting the oven at 300 degrees and lining a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Set this aside.
Rolled Oats
Place the dry ingredients in a small bowl. You’ll need 2 cups of rolled oats. I prefer Bob’s Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Whole Grain Rolled Oats.
Nuts
After the oats are measured into the bowl, rough chop 1/4 cup of shelled pistachios and 1/4 cup of almonds and add them to the mix. I have also used walnuts and cashews for this recipe. You can use whatever you have on hand or select a nut variety based on your preference.
Seasoning
Measure in 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. If you are using salted nuts, you may want eliminate the salt. I find that either way, a little bit of salt enhances the sweet ingredients added to this homemade granola recipe. You can also experiment with a little nutmeg or other baking spices you enjoy.
Mix dry ingredients together and set aside.
Wet Ingredients for Homemade Granola
Maple Syrup
In a medium bowl, measure 3 tablespoons of maple syrup. I was lucky enough to have a bottle from my neighbor’s sugarhouse. They tap our maple trees annually to add to their production, so this a special ingredient in my homemade granola!
Coconut Oil and Vanilla Extract
Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract. *Follow this link for directions to make your own DIY Vanilla Infusion/Extract.
In the summer, coconut oil tends to be soft and is easy to blend in. In colder weather, it will be more solidified. Use a spoon and blend it in the best you can. It does not need to be fully incorporated at this point.
Mixing Homemade Granola
Now it is time to add the oats and nuts you prepped earlier. Pour them over the top of the wet ingredients. Using dry, clean hands work the dry ingredients into the maple syrup and oil until the oats and nuts are evenly coated and any lumps of coconut oil have melted.
Baking Homemade Granola
Prepping the Mixture
Turn the raw homemade granola mixture onto the baking sheet you have lined with parchment paper.
Use your hands to spread it out in an even, thin layer on the parchment.
Oven Time
Place the sheet pan in a preheated 300-degree oven.
Bake for approximately 12 minutes. My oven tends to take a few minutes longer than most. Check yours at 10 minutes. If it is golden brown, it is ready to remove.
Place the sheet pan on a baking rack until cool.
Storing Homemade Granola
When cooled, you can lift the parchment paper in a sling and using a funnel, pour the finished granola into a container or mason jar. Store this airtight container in a cool place for up to two weeks.
Adding Summer Berries
This is my favorite part! Seasonal berries are at their sun-ripened best this time of year. Add blackberries, blueberries, strawberries or raspberries to your homemade granola and enjoy a healthy, delicious taste of summer.
Other Variations
When fresh summer berries are unavailable, you can add a couple of handfuls of rough chopped dried fruit to this homemade granola recipe before baking. I have used dates, dried cranberries and dried apricots with great success. You can also add pumpkin or sunflower seeds in place of, or in addition to, the nuts. Chocolate chips are a nice compliment if you are planning to utilize the recipe as a trail mix rather than a breakfast cereal.
Experiment and enjoy!
Homemade Granola with Summer Berries
Ingredients
- 2 cups Whole Grain Rolled Oats
- 1/4 cup Pistachios Shelled and rough chopped
- 1/4 cup Almonds Rough Chopped
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 2 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 3 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 3 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place dry ingredients (rolled oats, rough chopped pistachios, rough chopped almonds, salt and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl. Stir to blend evenly. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, pour in maple syrup, vanilla extract and coconut oil. The coconut oil may be solidified, depending on room temperature. Use a spoon or fork to incorporate it into the liquids as best as possible. It does not have to be fully blended.
- Pour dry ingredients on top of the maple syrup, vanilla and coconut oil. Use clean, dry hands to mix everything together until the oats and nuts are evenly coated and any remaining coconut oil lumps have melted.
- Turn contents of bowl onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Using your hands, spread the mixture in a thin, even layer.
- Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool on a rack. Once cooled, lift parchment paper from baking sheet and empty into a jar or container with a good seal.
- Serve as a granola cereal with milk and top with seasonal summer berries.