Do you like your Granola loose or clumpy? Either way, you’ll love this – the ultimate healthy Homemade Granola guide! Mix and match, build your own granola by using the ingredients you like and have on hand.
Easy Homemade Granola
I’m going to be honest with you – I didn’t start making making granola because it’s healthier than store bought. I started because it’s cheaper and and I can control how sweet it is (store bought is so sweet!!!). Then it evolved into a bit of a game, trying to come up with cute flavour combinations. Berry Burst, Apple Pie, Apricot Sunrise, Blueberry Pie, Apple Crumble, Peach ‘n Cream, Maple Crunch, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.
You get the picture. Basically, desserts in breakfast form!
I make Homemade Granola – or Muesli as some Aussies know it – using a formula. I could talk you through it, but it’s much easier just to show you. ↓↓↓
This is actually a recipe that I posted yonks and yonks ago, but it’s been tweaked and improved, and plus it seems that back in those days I wasn’t much of a talker because the post had zero chatter in it.
The two main changes made to the recipe are to stir the dried fruit in at the end for the loose granola (because some bits can border on burning) and adding a way to make CLUMPY granola without adding loads and loads of honey / sugar / butter simply by stirring through egg whites. Egg is the ultimate food glue, for everything from cakes to cookies, omelettes to meatballs. And it holds true for granola. 🙂
So the same base “formula” applies to both types of granola, except the steps and cooking method are a little different.
Loose granola is as simple as it gets: Combine Dry ingredients, combine Wet ingredients, combine Wet & Dry, spread on tray, bake, add fruit at end.
Simple, yes?
As for clumpy granola, the order of the steps is a little different. The fruit has to be added in at the beginning because you can’t stir it in at the end. Egg white is added to bind the granola together to form clusters, it’s baked at a lower temperature (which helps to ensure the fruit doesn’t burn) then left to cool in the turned off oven which allows it to finish crisping and for the clusters to set..
Ahh, and the one little strange thing I do because you can’t stir the granola as it bakes (because otherwise you’ll break up the clusters!!) is to spread the granola on the tray with a hole in the middle because even when I’m using a fan forced/convection oven, I can never get the middle to go golden and crispy without the edges burning. 🙂
Looks weird I know. But trust me, it makes all the difference!!
And see? Look how it clusters up!
And have you ever thought about gifting granola?? Thoughtful, GREAT VALUE and totally customisable gift!!
OK, so I have to confess I have never ever gifted Granola before. It’s now officially on my list for Christmas gifts this year….
Homemade Granola has gotten all trendy in the past few years, and you’d have to search hard to find a bistro without granola on the weekend brunch menu. And they charge a small fortune for it too.
And that, my friends, is the beauty of this Homemade Granola “formula” – it’s so cheap to make using leftover bits and bobs. Dig into that pantry of yours and scratch together whatever nuts, seeds and dried fruit you can find. Get creative with the spices, go wild with flavourings!
And share your Granola flavouring ideas in the comments below to inspire other readers! I have some suggestions in the notes of the recipe – but I bet you can come up with better ones! – Nagi x
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Healthy Homemade Granola recipe video!
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Build Your Own Homemade Granola (Muesli)
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 4 cups / 360 g rolled oats (not steel cut or quick cooking)
- 1 cup coconut flakes (or more nuts or oats)
- 1 cup raw nuts (eg. sliced almonds, chopped pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (eg. chopped apricots, apple, pineapple, raisins)
- 1 tsp your favourite spice (eg. cinnamon, pumpkin spice, gingerbread mix)
- 1 pinch salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup sweetener (eg. honey, maple syrup, agave, see note 2 for Brown Sugar)
- 1/3 cup fat (eg. melted butter, canola oil or coconut oil)
- 1 1/2 tsp flavouring (eg. vanilla, almond essence, orange blossom)
CLUMPY Granola:
- 2 egg whites
Instructions
LOOSE Granola:
- Preheat oven to 150C/300F.
- Combine Dry ingredients, excluding dried fruit.
- Combine Wet ingredients.
- Combine Wet and Dry ingredients. Do a taste test. Adjust to taste - more sweet, more fat etc.
- Spread on baking tray and bake until golden, approximately 35 - 40 minutes, tossing twice.
- Stir through dried fruit. Cool. Store in an airtight container.
CLUMPY Granola:
- Preheat oven to 140C/280F. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Combine Wet excluding egg whites.
- Combine Dry including dried fruit.
- Whisk egg whites with fork until foamy.
- Mix Wet and Dry in a large bowl, then mix through egg whites.
- Spread granola on the tray, making a hole in the centre, like a doughnut (see photo in post).
- Bake for 45 minutes - DO NOT STIR - until golden. Check at 35 minutes.
- Then turn the oven off, leave the granola in the oven, and open the oven door open a bit. Leave the granola to cool. The colour will deepen and it will firm up.
- Once cool, break into clusters. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes:
* Apple Pie: As above but use only almonds and dried apples.
* Oatmeal Raisin Cookie: Butter, honey, raisins, vanilla and cinnamon, pinch of All Spice.
* Blueberry Pie: Apple Pie recipe but use dried blueberries instead and skip the cinnamon powder and add a dash of lemon essence.
* Super Berries: Try using dried goji berries!
* Orange Almond: Almonds and orange blossom
* Maple Pecan Pie! Use Pecans, vanilla, butter, maple 2. Brown Sugar: Add this into the Dry Ingredients. 3. Originally published in May 2014, updated with video and improved recipe. Changes include: adding a method to make clumpy granola without adding more sweetener or fat, for the loose granola, adding the dried fruit at the end which ensures none of it burns (sometimes, some fruit on the surface can get a little too brown). All photos were replaced and words were rewritten. 4. Nutrition per serving, assuming 10 servings (about 2/3 cup per serving).
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
He fully understands that he is only permitted on the sheet covered part of the couch.
Jessica Li says
I love this recipe! It’s my go-to reference for making granola in my household. We add toasted walnuts and blueberry raisins in ours typically.
Any suggestions on how to adapt this with peanut butter? I imagine you’d use less fat, but I don’t think it’d spread/mix as well without some kind of liquid.
Sarah Grau says
Hello! Just thought I’d jump in to say that I have done this successfully and you were on the right track!
Nut butters are predominately fats and oils and so, you can fairly safely sub in almond or peanut butter in some of that fat content.
When I made this last time, I measured out 1 part coconut oil, 1 part vegan butter (this is what we use in our house but regular butter would work), 1 part almond butter.
While last time I made this, I used the original recipe of 1/3 cup each sweeteners and fats, tonight I will be going for half a cup as I found that some of my additions (chia seeds) soaked up more of the wet ingredients and made it slightly drier than I’d like.
The beauty of this recipe is that it’s intended to be played with ☺️🙌
Michelle Baker says
Substitute egg yolks for flaxseed meal, 2 tbspns to 2 tbspns water for a vegan friendly option
Andrea says
If making this recipe clumpy using the egg whites where would I store it? Fridge? And how long would it last?
Sandy Perlman says
I store mine in a glass jar. It should keep for a while, if it lasts that long. I have also frozen my granola. Super delicious
Victoria Andritchi says
The best recipe ever!!!! Now I can enjoy my healthy and crunchy granola.
Thank you !!!
bernice says
Hi, may I know please if it’s possible to double the batch? I tried to do so but it wouldn’t crisp up. should i bake it at a lower temperature for a longer time? thank you!
Nagi says
Hi Bernice, you’ll need to spread over more trays as the thicker it is on the oven tray, the less likely it is to crisp up 🙂 N x
bernice says
Oh is it possible that it is because I am using a fan-forced oven? Thank you Nagi, love this recipe and would want it to crisp so bad!
Bernice says
Thank you for replying! I did do that, but it still wouldn’t crisp. Do you think that lowering the temperature would help?
Laura says
Just made – awesome recipe. Definitely will be making again!
Kat says
Hi Nagi,
Can you make this into a chocolate granola? Maybe use cocoa for the spice component? 🙂 Thank you in advance xx
Bea says
Bea
AUGUST 14, 2021 AT 4:31 PM
Hi Nagi
Would love to make the clumpy granola with no honey/maple as it’s too sweet. What can I sub this liquid for?
Nagi says
Hi Bea, unfortunately you need some sort of binding agent that’s going to cook and stick it together to make clumping granola. N x
Paige says
This looks interesting. I’m trying to make a grain free version of this. Can i replace the oats with coarsely ground almond meal? I have lots of it. Thanks!
Paige says
So I just went ahead and made this replacing the oatmeal with coarsely ground almonds and it is soooo good! I sprinkled in some chia seeds and some cocoa nibs too.
I can’t stop eating it even just on it’s own. I restrained myself and left some for breakfast tomorrow. And since the honey and eggwhite really packed the ground almonds and the other ingredients together, I essentially ended up with protein bars and I love it. Thanks, Nagi! 💕
Nagi says
Woah that’s great to know Paige – thanks so much for taking the time to let me know!! N x
Rachel says
Made this today as I have so many nuts in the cupboard and don’t much feel like eating them at the moment but this granola is delicious, I’ll eat this whole batch within a few days!
Nagi says
Perfect Rachel!!! N x
Monica says
I’m not Nagi😁but I believe it’s because it mixes easier and more evenly if it’s whisked first.
Monica says
This, with some nonfat Greek yogurt and fruit has quickly become my new favorite breakfast! It’s time to make a new batch and I was wondering if you had ever made any with chia seed and flax seed and how successful the recipe had turned out.
Bea says
Hi Nagi
Would love to make the clumpy granola with no honey/maple as it’s too sweet. What can I sub this liquid for?
Nagi says
I haven’t Monica but I’m sure you could add it in! N x
Penny says
I am almost 50 and until I started making this granola, I had never found any breakfast food I could eat for more than a week or two without getting bored. I have been eating this now for probably a couple of years and still love it. I always make a double batch, usually with light-tasting olive oil, honey, almonds, a LOT of cinnamon, vanilla and dried cherries. It is the best. Thank you for solving my life-long breakfast problem. 🙂
Klaudia says
Absolutely delicious. Made the clumpy granola. It is so good, that I can’t stop eating it. I have added 3 whites instead of 2, to make it more clumpy. Forwarded the recipe to all my friends and family😁. Thank you Nagi, I love your straightforward recipes.
San says
Why do you need to whisk the egg whites?
Monica says
What exactly is a serving size considered to be? Is it a half cup, quarter? Grams really don’t mean much to me because I don’t weigh food out but I do count calories so I’d like to be as precise as possible. Thank you!!
Nagi says
Hi Monica, It’s all there in note 4 with the nutrition 🙂 N x
Monica says
Thank you so much! I missed that the first time!
This is definitely a keeper recipe! I’ll add more cinnamon next time though. Nothing artificial about it at all. I love it!
Penny says
I love this recipe and have made it often, and a lot of it. It is very, very easy. I leave out dried fruit and add in more seeds. Keeps well and is perfect with Greek yoghurt. Absolutely recommend it.
Melissa Middleton says
Made this granola and gave as gifts to family & friends for Christmas, they all lived it. About to try the clumpy granola for myself. Thank you for yet again another fantastic recipe with all the extra tips & tricks, I recommend your recipes to everyone, haven’t made one of your recipes I haven’t loved.
Shanali Seneviratne says
I’ve made this multiple times now, and I love it!
I have a few ideas I would like to try, like tropical fruit (dried, of course) pineapple, mango, papaya with coconut treacle or jaggery and coconut oil.
Almonds and almond essence.
Apricots with orange essence.
Pecan, maple, butter.
Oh, and I always add dates!
Thanks, Nagy! And I’ve started gifting them as well! Xx
Yana says
Wonderful recipe. I have put some dates too and reduced honey. Instead of an egg, I added egg replaced( starch basically) as I don’t consume eggs. Came out perfectly golden, crunchy, and overall tasty! thanks, will be using it again )