How to Make Granola


Learning how to make granola is surprisingly easy and a great kitchen skill for kids and adults alike. Once you mix the ingredients together, it's simply a matter of baking the granola at a low temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour, stirring often to ensure even browning.

The best part about homemade granola is how customizable it is. You can switch up the ingredients to suit your taste by using different nuts, seeds, or dried fruits or leave some out altogether. Whether you enjoy it with milk, yogurt, or as a snack on its own, homemade granola lets you control the sweetness, texture, and flavor, and once you try it, you may never go back to store-bought again!

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Breakfast or Snack?

Granola is one of those versatile foods that works just about any time of day. Enjoy it for breakfast with milk, yogurt, or fresh fruit, or pack it as a snack in lunchboxes, backpacks, or after-school snack containers. On this page you'll find classic granola recipes along with granola bars, granola balls, and other easy oat-based snacks that kids can help make. Whether you're looking for a quick breakfast or a healthy homemade snack, there's a granola recipe here to try.

Jump to these Granola Recipes:

How to Make Granola Recipes

Homemade Granola (Large Batch)

By

A classic baked granola recipe made with oats, nuts, honey, and coconut. This large-batch recipe stores well in the freezer and is perfect for breakfasts, snacks, and yogurt parfaits.
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Oven: 250°F
  • Yield: Large batch
making granola- BGS
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Ingredients

  • 8 cups rolled oats
  • 1 1/2 cups slivered almonds
  • 1 1/2 cups cashews
  • 3/4 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 cups dried fruit

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F.
  2. Mix oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar in a large bowl.
  3. Stir in honey, oil, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla.
  4. Spread onto 2- 3 cookie sheets.
  5. Bake 1-1 1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and stir in dried fruit.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • Kids can measure and stir ingredients
  • Teach oven safety while stirring every 15 minutes
  • Let kids choose the dried fruit mix

Storage

Store in airtight containers or freeze for long-term storage.

Crunchy Cereal-Style Granola

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A thicker granola with a cereal-like texture made with whole grains and honey. Great with milk, yogurt, or fresh berries.
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Oven: 250°F
granola for breakfast-PXB
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 6 cups oats
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 1/2 cup wheat germ
  • 1/2cup Grape-Nuts cereal
  • 1/2cup water
  • 1/2cup oil
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1 cup honey
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Spread onto two cookie sheets.
  3. Bake at 250°F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Serving Ideas

  • Serve with milk like cereal
  • Top yogurt or smoothie bowls

Easy Wok Granola

By (Hainan, China)

A quick stovetop granola made in a wok. Perfect for classrooms, travel kitchens, or when you don't want to use an oven.
  • Category: Snack
  • No Bake
bowl of granola- CHGT
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup oil
  • 1 cup honey
  • 8 cups instant oats
  • Optional add-ins: raisins, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, mini M&Ms

Instructions

  1. Heat oil and honey in a wok.
  2. Add oats and stir constantly until lightly toasted.
  3. Remove from heat and cool.
  4. Stir in optional add-ins.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • Adults handle heat; kids add toppings
  • Great lesson in stove top safety

Sweet Crunchy Granola

By

A sweet, crunchy homemade granola baked with butter, honey, oats, seeds, and nuts. This hearty recipe creates a cereal-style granola that's perfect for breakfast or snacking.
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Oven: 350°F
  • Skill Level: Beginner
crunchy granola-CHGT
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Prep: 10 minutes | Bake: 40-45 minutes | Yield: About 8 cups granola

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 4 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (any combination)
  • 1 cup raisins

Instructions

  1. Place butter, brown sugar, honey, and water in a 9-13-inch baking pan. Turn oven to 350°F and place pan inside to melt ingredients.
  2. Remove pan once melted and stir until smooth.
  3. Add oatmeal, flour, sunflower seeds, and nuts. Stir until well coated.
  4. Return pan to oven and bake for 40- 45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
  5. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
  6. Stir in raisins and allow granola to cool completely.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • Kids can help measure and stir dry ingredients
  • Stirring during baking teaches oven safety
  • Let kids choose their favorite nut combination

Serving Ideas

  • Serve with milk like cereal
  • Sprinkle over yogurt or fruit
  • Enjoy by the handful as a snack

Storage

Store granola in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Granola will stay fresh for several weeks.


How to Make Granola Bars

Chewy Granola Bars

By

Soft and chewy homemade granola bars with oats, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips-perfect for lunchboxes.
  • Category: Snack
  • Oven: 350°F
granola bars- CHGT
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups quick oats
  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Mix wet ingredients together.
  2. Stir in dry ingredients.
  3. Press into lined pan.
  4. Bake 15- 20 minutes.
  5. Cool and slice.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • Pressing bars is a great hand-strength activity
  • Let kids choose mix-ins
Granola bars with chopped dates Date Granola Bars

A naturally sweet granola bar variation with chopped dates.

Granola bars with shredded carrots Carrot Granola Bars

A fun healthy snack recipe with oats and shredded carrots.

Homemade energy bars with oats and dried fruit Homemade Energy Bars

An easy no-bake oat snack for lunchboxes, hikes, and after-school snacks.

Crispy Granola Bars

By

Thin, crunchy granola bars that taste like store-bought favorites without preservatives or artificial ingredients. Pressing the mixture firmly into the pan is the secret to extra-crispy bars.
  • Category: Snack
  • Oven: 350°F
  • Skill Level: Beginner
crispy granola bar recipe- CHGT
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Prep: 15 minutes | Bake: 15-20 minutes | Yield: 12-16 bars

Ingredients

  • 3 cups oats
  • 1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
  • 1/4 cup chopped nuts
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

For the Topping

  • Chocolate chips
  • Peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Line a 13x9-inch pan with parchment paper or foil. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix oats, cereal, and chopped nuts.
  3. In a separate bowl, stir together honey, peanut butter, oil, vanilla, and brown sugar until smooth.
  4. Pour honey mixture into the cereal mixture and stir until evenly coated.
  5. Press mixture firmly into the prepared pan to create a thin, compact layer.
  6. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top.
  7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden.
  8. Remove from oven and spread melted chocolate over the bars. Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter on top and gently spread as it softens.
  9. Let cool completely. Lift out using parchment paper and cut into bars.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • Kids can help mix ingredients and press bars into the pan
  • Pressing firmly helps make the bars extra crispy
  • Adults should handle oven and melting chocolate

Storage & Lunchbox Tips

  • Store in an airtight container
  • Freeze bars in sandwich bags for school lunches
  • Great grab-and-go snack

Notes

For the crispiest bars, press the mixture very firmly and keep the layer thin. Let bars cool completely before cutting to prevent crumbling.

5-Minute Granola Balls

By

Quick no-bake snack balls made with oats, peanut butter, and dried fruit. Perfect for kids, lunchboxes, and after-school snacks.
  • Category: Snack
  • No Bake
granola balls- CHGT
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 4 tablespoons flax seed
  • 2-3 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 Cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup raisins or craisins
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk, if needed
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut

Instructions

  1. Blend oats and raisins in a food processor.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and pulse.
  3. Add milk if needed.
  4. Roll into balls and coat in coconut.

Kid-Friendly Tips

  • No heat required
  • Great for fine-motor skills

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