Naturally sweet, super crunchy, and a touch of salt – each bite of my Seedy Homemade Granola is packed with slow roasted, wholesome deliciousness that will make you drop the store-bought stuff like a bad habit
How to make granola
Once I started crafting my unique blend, I found the perfect ratio of oats to nuts, seeds, and fruit. I naturally sweeten my Homemade Granola with honey, maple syrup, add cinnamon and vanilla, then slowly bake it at 325 degrees F – FYI, just when you think it’s done, leave it in for another few minutes, because deeply golden brown granola is king.
Want more breakfast recipes? Check out Bran Orange Raisin Muffins, Hawaij Spice Rolls w/Coffee Glaze, Easy Lemon Cream Cheese Danish, Coffee Cake Banana Muffins
What is Granola made of?
Granola, and its cousin muesli, are loved by many, all around the world. The base for The Best Homemade Granola is old fashioned rolled oats. Make sure to use the old-fashioned variety here, because they are less processed, and give a more hearty crunch and chew to your granola.
After that, you can be very creative. As a rule, I like to add a huge variety of nuts and seeds for added texture, flavor, and nutrients. When the nuts and seeds roast slowly in the oven, they become really aromatic and 100x more flavorful. I also add large unsweetened coconut flakes. The natural sweetness of the coconut is perfect, and the crispy texture is addicting, they’re like chips! I add ground cinnamon here, but you can add any of your favorite sweet spices like cardamom, allspice, or ground ginger.
The “binders” that are holding the granola together are coconut oil, honey, and maple syrup. They add sweetness and enough fat to really caramelize the oats, nuts, and seeds.
Another REALLY important ingredient is SALT. Adding salt doesn’t make your granola “salty,” instead it brings out and enhances the natural flavor of the oats, nuts, and seeds.
After the granola has baked, I add the vanilla extract, and stir in the dried fruit. Make sure you don’t bake the dried fruit, because it will become really crunchy, and not at all delicious.
So, what are my criteria for epic granola?
- Crunchy: oats +nuts
- Chewy: dried cherries + apricots, TONS of seeds
- Sweet: honey + maple syrup
- Salt: of the kosher variety
This granola is SO good, I love to snack on it, straight up. But of course, it is perfect with milk, atop greek yogurt, chia pudding, a Green Smoothie bowl, even ice cream 🙂 I like to switch up the dried fruit a lot! Try dried blueberries, golden raisins, dried cranberries, goji berries…it’s alllll good.
How to Store Granola
Once the granola has cooled completely, I like to store it in an airtight container in the fridge so that the nuts and seeds stay fresh. Homemade Granola makes an incredible gift to share with friends and family year-round. Package up about 3-4 cups in jars or gift bags, tie them up with your favorite ribbon or raffia, and write a cute tag. Always check for nut or seed allergies!
Make sure to tag me @lions.bread on Instagram and comment below if you make this Seedy Homemade Granola. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!
Did you make this granola? I’d love for you to leave a comment and rate the recipe 🙂
The Best Homemade Granola
Ingredients
- 6 cups old fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup raw almonds roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup pecans roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup roasted or raw sunflower seeds unsalted
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup pepitas pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/4 cup millet
- 1/4 cup ground flax
- 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots after baked
- 1/2 cup dried cherries cranberries, or blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325*F.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, salt, almonds, pecans, sesame seeds, chia seeds, pepitas, millet, and ground flax, coconut oil, honey, and maple syrup. Mix to thoroughly combine. Spray a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray (I use coconut oil spray) or line with parchment paper. Bake at 325*F for 50-60 minutes 9Add the coconut flakes halfway through the bake) or until very golden brown, stirring occasionally. .
- Remove from oven and transfer to large bowl.
- Add 1 Tbs pure vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Then, add dried cherries and apricots. Allow the granola to COOL COMPLETELY to get nice and crunchy. Enjoy w/nut milk, over yogurt, chia pudding, even ice cream
Recipe Notes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month
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