Learning How to Make Granola at home is the best way to save money and enjoy healthy breakfasts every day. So easy, crispy, and versatile, this vanilla and cinnamon flavored granola is sure to become a new pantry staple!
The ultimate homemade granola recipe
Do you stroll through the granola aisle at your grocery store only to get sticker shock? I sure do. Storebought granola is always so expensive, especially when it’s filled with the best treats, like nuts, chocolate, and seeds!
Thankfully, learning How to Make Granola at home is super easy. It comes together in no time on the stove and only takes 8 minutes to bake. You won’t be able to get enough of the comforting smells of honey, vanilla, and cinnamon, not to mention a staple breakfast option that’s now good to eat for weeks at a time!
You can top the comforting homemade granola over a Chocolate Banana Smoothie or a bowl of yogurt with fruit, or enjoy it as a quick breakfast while you sip on some mint tea. There’s never a bad time for granola!
How to make healthy granola at home
I love how easy it is to make healthy homemade granola from scratch. The process is so easy, in fact, that you shouldn’t have a problem making it over and over again! Here’s how it’s done:
Add the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon to a saucepan. Heat it over medium high heat until the butter melts.
Stir in the oats and let the mixture cook for a few minutes.
Transfer the oat mixture to a prepared baking sheet and spread it out with a spatula. Place it in the oven to bake until the granola looks golden brown, the edges are crispy, and it smells amazing.
Let it cool completely, then break it up and store in a jar or sealed bag.
Tips and substitutions
- Don’t stir! If you love large chunks in your granola, don’t stir the mixture while it bakes or after it comes out of the oven. This will ensure those big golden chunks stick together as you break it up.
- Gluten free – Use certified gluten free rolled oats to ensure the homemade granola is gluten free.
- Vegan – Use maple syrup instead of honey and coconut oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter to make vegan granola.
- Let it cool completely – The granola should be left to cool completely before you break it up. If 30 minutes doesn’t cut it, leave the pan with the finished granola out overnight.
- To serve – Enjoy the granola with yogurt, fresh fruit and berries, in a bowl with strawberry milk, or on top of a berry banana smoothie for a healthy breakfast.
Customize it!
It’s so easy to customize granola when you make it at home! Get creative and add any of these tasty add-ins to your granola:
- Dried fruit – Add in raisins, mango, banana chips, apple chips, apricots, coconut shreds, dried cranberries, or any other dried fruit you like after it’s done baking.
- Seeds and nuts – Pecans, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, and pistachios would all be delicious and make the granola more filling.
- Chocolate – Stir chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, white chocolate chips, or your favorite chocolate candy into the finished cooled granola.
- Peanut butter – Stir in about 1/4 cup of natural peanut butter or almond butter to the honey mixture before adding in the oats.
- Warming spices – Cinnamon and vanilla are a comforting pairing but your other favorite warming spices would pair just as well. For fall themed granola, try adding ground nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and/or allspice.
How long does homemade granola last?
This easy granola recipe keeps so well in an airtight container at room temperature. Keep it for weeks and weeks in your cupboard or on your kitchen counter. You can forget all about adding expensive granola to your shopping list when you have this recipe in your back pocket!
More recipes using homemade granola
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Chocolate Strawberry Granola
- Rainbow Crunch Granola Bars
- Cake Batter Granola Bars
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How to Make Granola
PrintIngredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
- Add butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon to a saucepan over medium high heat until butter is melted.
- Add oats and cook for 5 minutes, stirring to fully coat all the oats.
- Pour the oat mixture onto the baking sheet and spread it out with a spatula. Place it in the oven to bake until the granola looks golden brown, the edges are crispy, and it smells amazing, about 8-9 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes. Once cool, break it up into granola size pieces. Store in a mason jar or plastic bag.
Mary says
I love homemade granola! It’s delicious and healthy, I’ve never tired a version with butter but it looks delicious!
Pamela says
Hope you like this granola Mary! 🙂
Cecile @ My Yellow Farmhouse says
I LOVE THIS!! And I love that I have all the ingredients in my cupboard!! Yum yum & yum… ; o )
rika@vm says
I love granola but only if it has something salty, savory and tangy! Oh that is a beauty, I love Le Creuset pots, we have a blue, red and brown one, but the orange flame color is gorgeous!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I could never say NO to granola. Especially homemade 🙂
Kelly says
I can never resist granola and can seriously snack on it all day! Love this cinnamon vanilla combo and your Le Creuset pan – looks gorgeous1
Jessica @ Sweet Menu says
Oh I love granola! This looks and sounds amazing! Cinnamon and vanilla? Yes please!
Choc Chip Uru says
It’s sad that Australia doesn’t really sell a wide range of granolas yet! Thank god we have your delicious recipes to keep us going 😀
I love cinnamon and vanilla together!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Emma @ Bake Then Eat says
I love it! I always make my own granola now, its far to expensive in the shops and like you said I can control what goes into it! I do love you pan as well they are very good aren’t they.
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Oh man that saucepan. Love! I also love this granola. I can’t get over how expensive (and sugar-laden) some store-bought varieties are, too. Homemade is always so satisfying!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
I have never tried making granola, but this sounds so good! Do you think I’ll have to make any adjustments if I use rolled oats instead of quick? That’s what I keep stocked.
Pamela says
Hey Andrea, you can substitute rolled oats instead of quick. Enjoy!
Debra says
I haven’t bought granola in years. Move the simplicity of this recipe, Pamela.
Christine says
Hi Pamela,
I saw your comment in a forum about the bad quality photos in the WordPress, and in this comment you said that the plugin that the guy was talking about didn’t work for you. But I can see that your pics are really good (at least 500% better than mines 🙁 ) I would like to ask you what did you do to improve your pics quality?? Please, let me know!!! I am desperate for an answer and I tried all the photos plugins that you can imagine but nothing works on my pics!!! Help me please!!! Thank you!!! 😉
Monica says
Love your saucepan! Le Creuset pots are like jewelry for the kitchen, plus they cook so beautifully. Homemade granola just tastes so much fresher than anything you buy. You can never have too much vanilla in my book, too!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this granola so much! Cinnamon and vanilla go so well together! I cannot wait to make this for breakfast!
Suzanne says
Love this, going to try. This is the second recipe I’ve seen recently using butter in granola, love this. Great idea.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
We LOVE granola, but only homemade…the store ones are way too sweet for me.
Ashley says
haha I think Matthew and I are very similar – I go through phases where I loveeee homemade granola. And then I just kinda forget about it. lol Vanilla cinnamon?? This sounds awesome!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I have the same saucepan! It’s so perrrrty!
And ahhh granola—how I love thee! Especially homemade-this variety is so classic and comforting. Love it!
Anna @ shenANNAgans says
I dont think I have ever had granola before?! But if everyone is crazy for it, I better get on trying it. Love how simple it is to make too. Too the shops I go. PS: Nice dedication on Matthews behalf. 🙂
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
Nothing beats homemade granola. I almost always have a batch in my kitchen!
Bam's Kitchen says
Seriously delicious crunchy granola. Really those prices are so overboard. Crazy! I am also swooning over the new love in your life, just beautiful. A Le Creuset Signature saucepan would make any cook a happier cook. Take Care
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I am addicted to granola! It’s easy to make and there are endless flavor combination. This cinnamon vanilla kind looks incredible! Pinned!
marcie says
That saucepan is a beauty, and I would sleep with it! 🙂 Granola is so expensive, so I love making my own. This looks delicious!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
I love this granola!!! and your new Le Creuset Signature saucepan!!! Pinned and totally going to try this! I buy too much granola right now not to try to make my own! 🙂
Renee@Two in the Kitchen says
I puffy heart LUV your Le Creuset gorgeous orange pan! It is dynamite. It’s funny because I also go through spurts of loving or hating granola. You know what I hate about it…..everytime I eat it, I get half of it on the floor, my face or my clothes. Maybe I’m just a pig!! 😉 I love this idea Pamela, I am definitely going to have to give it a shot! 🙂
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
Wow…I don’t leave my condo for much at midnight and definitely NOT to go to the grocery store. That is a serious love of granola! I bet yours tastes much better than any store-bought! Can’t wait to try it!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
I do love granola! My husband and I ate it all the time. Can’t wait to try making it at home!
Becky says
I love how quick this granola looks! I need to try this soon!