Homemade Granola Recipe – Love and Lemons

There’s a lot to love about this homemade granola recipe. It’s easy to make, it’s healthy, it’s delicious, and it will make your kitchen smell amazing!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent hours in the granola aisle at the grocery store, trying to find just the right kind. You know the one—it has lots of fun mix-ins like nuts and dried fruit; it’s sweet, but not too sweet; it’s spiced with cinnamon; and it’s filled with big clusters of oats and nuts. …And if you’re anything like me, you’ve come to realize that it’s nearly impossible to find the perfect granola at the store.

Enter: my homemade granola recipe! Instead of using white or brown sugar, I sweeten it naturally with maple syrup (honey works too). I spice it generously with cinnamon, and I add a scoop of almond butter to form lots of nutty clusters. It’s also customizable, a yummy template for whatever dried fruits and nuts I (or you) might be craving.

But best of all, it’s easy to make! Just stir together the dry ingredients, drizzle in the wet ingredients, and mix it all together. Bake for 30 minutes, and it’s ready to go. Healthy, simple, and totally delicious, this recipe is guaranteed to make you a homemade granola convert!

Granola Recipe Ingredients (+Variations!)

My healthy granola recipe starts with four basic ingredients: whole rolled oats, maple syrup, cinnamon, and coconut oil. Then, I add these mix-ins for extra flavor and texture:

• Almond butter – The key ingredient for creating delicious nutty clusters! Plus, it packs this granola recipe with protein. Peanut butter would be great here too.
• Chopped walnuts – They add crunch, protein, and healthy fats! Walnuts are my go-to, but I often swap them for another nut or seed or use a mix. Chopped or slivered almonds, pecans, pistachios, cashews, and sunflower seeds are some of my favorites. Pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) are lovely too.
• Unsweetened coconut flakes – I love their toasty, buttery flavor and crispy texture in this recipe. If you’re not a coconut person, feel free to leave them out.
• Dried cranberries – For a pop of sweetness and yummy chewy texture! Goji berries, raisins, chopped dried apricots, dried cherries, and blueberries are also delicious options. And if you prefer your granola without dried fruit, go ahead and skip it!

Let me know what variations you try!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Homemade Granola Tips

• More nutty clusters = better granola. Big clusters of oats and nuts are hands down the best part of granola. To encourage these clumps to form, press the oats mixture into a 1-inch-thick oval for the first 15 minutes of baking. Then, remove the pan from the oven and use a fork to gently break the oval apart. Bake for 15 minutes more, and you’ll end up with lots of delicious clusters!
• Let it cool before diving in. Your homemade granola will continue to crisp up as it cools. It’s tempting to start eating it as soon as it comes out of the oven, but if you let it rest for 15 minutes on the sheet pan, it’ll be extra crisp and toasty—totally worth the wait!
• Add the dried fruit at the end. You don’t want to run the risk of burning your dried fruit in the oven, so stir it into the granola after it cools. That way, the fruit will be soft and chewy, not crisp. (P.S. It doesn’t hurt to add a handful of chocolate chips to the cooled granola, either!)

Store your granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Enjoy it on its own as a snack, add it to a yogurt parfait, or eat it like cereal with a splash of milk! I love granola with my homemade oat milk.

More Favorite Breakfast Recipes

If you love this homemade granola recipe, check out these 60 Healthy Breakfast Ideas or these 51 Best Brunch Recipes for more morning meal inspiration. Or try making one of these oat-y breakfasts next:

Homemade Granola

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

Serves 4 to 6

Love granola? Learn how to make your own! Feel free to customize this recipe with your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Vegan and gluten-free.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

• Preheat the oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

• In a large bowl, combine the oats, walnuts, coconut flakes, if using, cinnamon, and salt. Drizzle in the coconut oil and maple syrup and add the almond butter. Stir until combined. Scoop the granola onto the baking sheet and press the mixture into a 1-inch-thick oval. This will encourage clumping.

• Bake for 15 minutes, rotate the pan halfway, and use a fork to gently break the granola apart just a bit. Bake for 15 minutes more, or until golden brown. Sprinkle with dried cranberries, if desired. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.