Healthy Granola Recipe (With an Easy Customizable Formula)
This healthy granola recipe is more of a customizable formula than a rigid recipe. Mix oats, your choice of nuts and seeds, any liquid fat, and your preferred sweetener for crunchy, clustered granola you can make your own.
Servings: 8
Calories: 216kcal
Equipment
- Large baking sheet I like this one as it has a rim
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups rolled oats 120 grams
- 1.5 cups nuts and seeds of choice any combination such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds or coconut flakes
- 2 tablespoon liquid fat of choice e.g., olive oil, avocado oil, melted coconut oil or melted butter **See notes for tips on choosing
- 2 tablespoon liquid sweetener of choice e.g., honey, maple syrup or apple sauce **See notes for tips on choosing
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of fine sea salt or table salt
Optional
- 20 grams dark chocolate about 2squares of 70% dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoon dried fruit e.g., raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, Only add after baking. If you add dried fruit before baking, it will burn. Once your granola is completely cool, stir in or whatever you like.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, your chosen nuts and seeds, and salt. Mix well. Optional, add a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg.1.5 cups rolled oats, 1.5 cups nuts and seeds of choice, Pinch of fine sea salt or table salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or ground nutmeg
- In a small bowl, whisk together your liquid fat (melt first if using butter or coconut oil), liquid sweetener, and vanilla extract.2 tablespoon liquid fat of choice, 2 tablespoon liquid sweetener of choice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly until everything is well coated.
- Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Press down firmly with the back of a spatula to encourage cluster formation.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 8 to 10 minutes for even browning. The granola is done when it's golden brown all over.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet without stirring. This is crucial for forming clusters.
- Once fully cooled, stir in the chopped dark chocolate or dried fruit if using. Break into desired cluster sizes and store in an airtight container.20 grams dark chocolate
Notes
Choosing Your Liquid Fat (2 tablespoons needed):
- Olive oil or avocado oil: Best for heart health and antioxidant benefits. Neutral to subtle flavor.
- Melted coconut oil: Creates extra crispy clusters with a slight tropical sweetness.
- Melted butter: Rich, toasted flavor if you're not dairy-free.
- Honey: Floral sweetness, excellent for clusters. Not vegan.
- Maple syrup: Vegan-friendly with maple flavor. Works just as well as honey.
- Applesauce: Lowest in added sugar. Creates a less sweet, more wholesome flavor. Won't cluster quite as much but still works well.
Nutrition
Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5.3g | Fat: 14.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.5g | Sodium: 1.2mg | Fiber: 3.3g | Sugar: 3.9g
