Skip buying boxed cereal and make my easy homemade granola recipe at home with just a few simple pantry ingredients. This simple oat mixture can be layered with dried fruit and baked on a sheet pan for your week.
Being home more means we are spending more money on groceries and I’ve had a hard time keeping up with the inventory required to feed four people.
One of those items, we always run out of, is boxed cereal. In our house a bowl of cereal can be eaten for breakfast, snacks, lunch, or dinner.
Can you relate?
Even buying our cereal at a wholesale club isn’t enough to keep up with this family.
This difficult season that we are in right now has reminded me a lot of our leaner years and the tasks that I used to regularly do for our family.
For me, time felt more abundant then and pinching pennies was a requirement to pay our bills.
Lately, I have been dusting off some of my older recipes and am reminded just how many things I had no problem making before.
Granola, for example, requires a minimal amount of effort and is a dish that just keeps on giving throughout the week.
Today I wanted to share with you my favorite easy basic granola recipe that we make at our house. It’s been a relied upon recipe because it is made from standard pantry ingredients that we usually keep on hand.
Before I share that, here are a few questions you might have about making your own granola.
What Are Some Ways I Can Save Even More Money On Making Granola at Home?
The best way to keep this recipe super frugal is to buy your ingredients in bulk.
I rely on my wholesale club membership for the best prices on these ingredients.
Rolled oats, vanilla, honey, oil, spices, nuts, and dried fruit can all be purchased at our local wholesale club.
I do shop at ALDI (you can read my best ALDI shopping tips in this article) for slivered almonds.
You can find these almonds over in the baking supplies aisle of the store.
Keep in mind, nuts do freeze well so if you find a great sale on them, you can stock up and store them in your freezer.
Here are some tips for freezing nuts and recommended lengths for freezing times.
What Fruit & Nut Granola Combinations Can I Try If I Don’t Like Your Suggestions?
This basic recipe is one that I have found anyone will love, but you can make it your own with a different fruit and nut combination.
Remember, this recipe is only limited by your own imagination.
While raisins are super affordable, you can pick any dried fruit for this recipe. Dried cherries, dried blueberries, and craisins all make incredible substitutes.
Not a fan of dried fruits?
Try mini chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or fold in flaky coconut or unsweetened coconut (finely shredded).
For nuts, I do rely on slivered almonds, but you can pick your favorite seed or chopped nuts.
Try salted pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, pepitas, pecans, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, or pine nuts for a different granola recipe mix-in.
Just make sure the nuts are bite-sized or coarsely chopped.
The possibilities are endless and I can’t wait to see what combination you create!
How Can I Make This a Healthy Granola Recipe?
Feel free to substitute the vegetable oil with your favorite oil, like melted coconut oil or olive oil, instead.
Honey can also be substituted with real maple syrup as your sweetener.
Is Granola Gluten-Free?
Homemade granola can easily be made gluten-free by selecting certified gluten-free rolled oats instead.
Easy Homemade Granola Recipe With Lots of Crunch
(read instructions here or scroll down to the recipe)
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl mix together your oats, nuts, cinnamon, and salt.
Then in a saucepan, add your oil, honey, and brown sugar. Warm this and whisk until your sugar is completely dissolved.
Remove it from the heat and add in the vanilla.
Pour the mixture into your oats and nuts and stir well with a wooden spoon.
Then you will bake your sheet pan granola for thirty minutes.
Keep an eye on it and stir it occasionally as it is baking.
If you forget to stir it, no big deal!
Personally, I prefer the granola to clump together into clusters so I usually don’t disturb it too much.
Allow it to cool to room temperature and then fold in your dried fruit.
I find that a large glass jar is a great storage option for our countertop.
This is the exact jar that we have and it fills the jar with a little in a container for the chef!
Of course, this never lasts long so you will find me in the kitchen baking granola again today.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of this recipe!
The Best Easy Granola Recipe
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: MomAdvice.com
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 14 cups
An easy granola recipe that can be personalized with your favorite fruit and nut combination. Make this gluten-free by purchasing certified gluten-free oats. This money-saving recipe is our family’s tried-and-true.
- Parchment Paper
- 8 cups old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups slivered almonds
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups raisins
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine oil, honey, and sugar in a pot. Whisk and heat on low heat until sugar dissolves.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla.
- Pour the hot liquid over the oat mixture and stir well.
- Spread granola on the two prepared baking sheets.
- Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely.
- Add any dried fruit and transfer to an airtight container. I layer my dried fruit as I add it to the jar.
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Love this recipe? Check out these other money-saving ideas!
Happy baking!
