Crunchy Granola

Start your day with this crunchy granola. It’s great for breakfast or a snack. Sprinkle it on fruit or yogurt for a mid-day energy boost.

This post was updated on May 22, 2020.

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Granola Info

Granola is such a comfort food for me. I used to make it myself all the time and then I went through a period when I purchased it in bags in the store. It never tasted right to me. It was either too bland or too chewy or too sweet. Now I’m back in the home-made granola game. When I see that I’m about to run out, I grab the mixing bowl and stir up this simple breakfast treat.

But here’s the thing – it’s not just for breakfast. You can snack on it any time or sprinkle it on fruit for a healthy dessert. Make this recipe and you’ll find you’ve started a new habit. A crunchy delicious habit.

Who invented granola?

You might think that granola started back in the hippie days, but it was a thing long before that. It all started a hundred years earlier at a health spa in upstate New York when Dr. Caleb Johnson wanted to offer a simple, healthy breakfast alternative. What he came up with doesn’t resemble what we eat today but he did start a breakfast revolution. The man credited with inventing what we call granola was Dr. John Kellogg. Maybe that name is familiar to you if you’ve ever eaten corn flakes. Over the years, granola has morphed in many directions. Go here for more info about the history of granola.

Ingredients

Some of these ingredients are optional, so if you don’t want fruit, nuts, or seeds in your granola leave them out. If you add something I haven’t listed, leave a comment and let me know how it turned out.

• Oatmeal – use the old-fashion type; not the quick-cooking kind.
• Honey – to sweeten the granola, you can use agave nectar or maple syrup as vegan options.
• Coconut sugar – has a lower glycemic index than granulated or brown sugar.
• Cinnamon – a perfect spice for granola.
• Sunflower oil – a light oil that doesn’t have a flavor. Safflower or canola oil are also good options.
• Vanilla extract – adds flavor and brings out other flavors.
• Seeds – add extra crunch, texture, and flavor.
• Nuts – toast up nicely and taste great. Walnuts or pecans are good choices.
• Dried fruit – such as craisins, dried blueberries, raisins, or any other dried fruit that you like.
• Coconut flakes – use flakes; not the shredded kind. Flakes (also called coconut chips) are a crunchy treat in this granola.

In this recipe, I used coconut sugar and honey. It’s still sweet but not over-the-top sweet. If you prefer, you can use regular sugar or brown sugar instead of coconut sugar. I bought some coconut sugar for another recipe and I like the flavor, so I’ve started using it in some recipes like this one. If it’s too sweet for you or not sweet enough, just dial the honey and coconut sugar up or down.

Making Granola

Step 1: Get ingredients and tools ready

Get out the ingredients, your measuring cups and spoons, a mixing bowl, and a cookie sheet.

Step 2: Mix the ingredients

• Put the oatmeal, nuts, and seeds in a mixing bowl.
• Add the sugar and cinnamon.
• Stir the dry ingredients.
• Put the oil, honey, and vanilla in a microwavable bowl or measuring cup.
• Warm those wet ingredients in the microwave for about 35 seconds.
• Mix the oil, honey, and vanilla into the dry ingredients.

Step 3: Put the granola on a cookie sheet and bake

• Spread the granola onto a cookie sheet and place it in a 340-degree oven.
• Bake it for 7 minutes and remove it to stir.
• Return the granola to the oven.
• Bake it for 7 more minutes and stir it again.
• After 7 more minutes, the granola should be toasted and ready to take out of the oven.

When the granola has finished baking it’s nice and brown.

Step 4: Remove the granola from the oven and add the fruit

• Scoop it into the mixing bowl while it’s still warm. If you wait too long it will be crunchy and hard to get off the cookie sheet.
• Stir in the dried fruit.
• Stir it every few minutes to keep it from clumping.

Things to do with Granola

Now that you’ve made it, what can you do with it?

The first thing that comes to mind is eating it in a bowl with your choice of milk. But don’t stop there. Here are some other ways to munch on this crunch.

Layer yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola to make yummy fruit parfaits. These are great for company or try taking one to work or school for a mid-morning boost.

Smear a little nut butter on a piece of toast and sprinkle granola on top. Add some fruit on the side and a cup of coffee or tea and you’re all set.

Pile your favorite fruit in a bowl and top it off with granola.

Put it little jars for a party favor or put it bigger jars to give away to friends and family.

If you have other ideas for eating this granola, please share them in a comment.