Where are all the granola girlies at? To be honest with you, I’ve always thought the store-bought granola was too sweet for my liking. The chocolate one is definitely not a favorite either even though I’m such a big fan of chocolate. And for the longest time I thought making granola at home was so intimidating that I never gave it a shot.
But, now that I finally have, I can’t wait to share this super simple and easy homemade granola recipe with you. It’s seriously fool-proof because I nailed it on the first try.
So the first thing you need to know about granola is that the more seeds and nuts you can add to it, the better it will taste. And since I could never really find any granola that had my favorite nuts and seeds in it, I decided to add them all in while making my own.
What Does This Homemade Granola Contain?
- Nuts: For the nuts I used cashews, walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts.
- Seeds: I added pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, and flax seeds.
- Fruits & Berries: I added cranberries, coconut flakes, raisins and my housemate has a massive jar of barberries that I also added in for some tartness.
- Wet Ingredients: To bring our granola together, I used coconut oil, honey, and peanut butter.
- Oats: Let’s not forget our star ingredient – oats. You can use rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) or instant oats.
- Flavorings: I used cinnamon powder but you can also use vanilla extract if you prefer.
I used raw nuts and seeds for this recipe. Since, we will be baking the granola, using roasted nuts or seeds might lead to a slightly overcooked or burnt flavor.
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How Sweet Is This Recipe?
I was aiming for a less sweet version of granola simply because it makes adding any personal favorite sweeteners of your choice that much easier. So this recipe is very lightly sweet. This means you can top off your granola bowl with your favorite fresh fruits, maple syrup, fruit syrup, honey, condensed milk (yes, I know this sounds odd but I’ve tried it and it tastes divine) or even your favorite butters: pistachio, peanut or almond butter.
Can I Switch Out Any Wet Ingredients?
Yes, absolutely. If you’re not a fan of:
- Coconut Oil: Try a neutral oil instead. This recipe works just as well with vegetable oil.
- Peanut Butter: Try almond butter instead. In any case, we only use a small amount and the taste is not overpowering.
- Honey: Try maple syrup or fruit syrup instead.
How Long Can I Store This Homemade Granola For?
You can store your granola in an airtight container for up-to 4 weeks. To make sure you don’t compromise on flavor at all, make sure that your granola has fully cooled down before transferring it to your jar or container. This saves from condensation and moisture from ruining your granola’s flavor profile and shelf-life.
You do not need to refrigerate it. Leaving it at room temperature in your kitchen cabinet is just fine.