Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (2024)

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This simple granola recipe is one of the easiest and tastiest you will find on the Internet. I’ve been making this exact recipe before Thriving Home even started. It’s got 5 main ingredients but you can easily add more if you want to jazz it up. Such a simple, healthy snack!

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (1)


Table of Contents

Granola: Good for the Body!

The more I learn about oats, the more I want to find ways to squeeze them into the food I make for my family. (Re: Oatmeal Pancakes and Overnight Oats!) They are crazy good for you!

Similar to Homemade Chex Mix, this granola recipe makes a fabulous Healthy On-the-Go Snack. You can easily bag it up and take it out the door on a busy morning. It’s also a great Packed Lunch Idea for Kids.

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (2)

What’s in the Recipe?

What makes our recipe stand apart from so many others is how simple it is! With 5 main ingredients (that you likely have in your pantry), you can whip up a batch in no time. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Oats – Old fashioned rolled oats are best.
  • Maple Syrup – Make sure it’s REAL maple syrup. Not table syrup.
  • Whole Wheat Flour – You can use all-purpose if you need to.
  • Vanilla – Use 100% real vanilla (or make homemade vanilla extract!)
  • Coconut Oil – Any flavorless oil will work but I use coconut because it’s healthy and adds a touch more flavor to the granola.
  • A pinch of salt
Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (3)

Let’s Make Some Granola!

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients Together

In a mixing bowl, stir together the oats, flour, and salt.

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (4)

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients Together

In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the maple syrup, vanilla, and oil. If you use coconut oil, make sure it is melted!

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (5)

Step 3: Mix Everything Together

Slowly pour the wet ingredients over the oat mix. Stir it until it’s well-combined and you no longer see dry flour.

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (6)

Step 4: Spread the Mix Out on a Baking Sheet and Bake

This will make your house smell SO good. Bake for 25 minutes, stir and flip with a spatula, and then bake for another 25 minutes.

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (7)

Congrats!

You did it! You just made a batch of healthy, simple homemade granola. Easy peasy, right?!

How Long Does Homemade Granola Last?

There are two good ways to store granola long-term:

  1. Store in the Pantry – Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months! Possibly a little less in a hot-humid environment. If you notice it becoming stale, move it to the freezer to extend its life a bit more.
  2. Store in the Freezer – Remove as much air as possible and it will last well past 6 months. To be honest, I’ve never stored it longer than that because we ate it. But from all of our freezer-cooking experience, we know that food will be safe to eat indefinitely if properly frozen.

Granola is also a great meal to take to others. I regularly take it to new moms. It makes a great hospital snack. Kids like it too so it’s a great one to take a family who might need a meal.

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (8)

Chunky Granola Tips & Tricks

I like having big clumps in my granola. If you do too, here are some tips on how to get it nice and chunky:

  • Let it chill. Give the granola plenty of time to coolbefore breaking it up.
  • Crowd the oats in the pan so they can stick together. I use a basichalf sheet pan for this granola recipe. It’s the perfect size and the rimmed edges make sure no granola falls off.
  • Be sure to line the pan withparchment paper or a silicone baking sheet to prevent sticking.
  • Gently press down on the granola with the back of a spatula after stirring the mixture at the half-way baking point. Then put the pan back into the oven to finish baking.
  • Store in a solid container (instead of a plastic bag).

Want More Healthy Snack Ideas?

Swing by our 30+ Healthy On-the-Go Snack Ideas! We include tricks on how to get your family to actually eat them, too!

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (9)

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (10)

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 13 reviews

Simple Homemade Granola

This homemade granola is SO simple and SO tasty. Double the recipe because it will go fast!

Yield: 8 cups 1x

Prep: 10 minutesCook: 50 minutesTotal: 1 hour

Print RecipeRate Pin for Later

Units:

Scale:

Ingredients

  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (sub: all-purpose flour)
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup PURE maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup melted coconut oil (sub: avocado oil or another neutral oil)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F degrees.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together oats, flour and salt.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, combine syrup, oil and vanilla.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture, and stir until well coated.
  5. Spread oats out on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 25 minutes. Then, stir and flip the granola with a spatula. (You can add raisins or other ingredients, like nuts, shredded coconut, or other dried fruit, at this point.)
  7. Bake another 25 minutes.
  8. Let cool. Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 6 months or even longer in the freezer.

Notes/Tips

I almost ALWAYS double this recipe when I make it.

© Author: Polly Conner

Cuisine:AmericanMethod:Baked

Super Simple Granola Recipe {Only 5 Ingredients!} (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient makes granola stick together? ›

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

What is the binder in granola? ›

The binder is what helps the base ingredients clump together into clusters. Traditionally this is usually a sugar syrup, but it's possible to use any ingredient that has the power to bind. Egg - Egg whites are a great binder for granola if you are trying to avoid sugar.

What keeps granola together? ›

When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together. Another upside of adding honey to your recipe is that it is a natural sweetener, meaning you won't have to add any artificial sweeteners to your recipe.

What is plain granola made of? ›

Basic (but very good) granola requires just a handful of ingredients: rolled oats, a sweetener, some cooking oil, and maybe nuts or dried fruit. Once you master that basic formula, it's easy to customize a mix for your own preferences.

What is the best binder for granola? ›

Nut butter is a super flavorful fat that serves multiple purposes in granola. It acts as a binding agent—along with additional coconut oil and whatever natural sweetener I've chosen—helping to pull the dry ingredients together into a wet, sticky mass for baking.

How to get homemade granola to clump together? ›

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Chickpea Flour

This no-stir approach calls for spreading the granola in an even layer on the baking sheet so it will naturally clump together as it bakes.

How do you make granola not crunchy? ›

Not only can you transform that soggy, chewy granola back to being blissfully crunchy, but it's easier than you might think. All it takes is spreading the granola in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and heating it in a 400 degree oven for five minutes — essentially re-baking it.

What does granola do to your digestive system? ›

This fiber aids in digestion and can help you feel full longer, potentially aiding in weight management. Moreover, while granola does contain sugars, opting for versions with less added sugar and made with more natural sugar sources can maximize its health benefits.

What elements are in granola? ›

Granola is a food consisting of rolled oats, nuts, seeds, honey or other sweeteners such as brown sugar, and sometimes puffed rice, that is usually baked until crisp, toasted and golden brown. The mixture is stirred while baking to avoid burning and to maintain a loose breakfast cereal consistency.

What was the downside to granola as a food? ›

Granola may prompt weight gain if eaten in excess, as it can be high in calories from added fats and sugars. What's more, sugar is linked to chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Why did my granola not stick together? ›

If so, the reason that your granola isn't clumpy already is because it was deliberately stirred and broken apart while it was baking, and it might be possible to make it re-clump! Try putting a scoop in the microwave and heating it in 30 second bursts on high. If it starts to get sticky, you're golden.

Why do you put oil in granola? ›

Oil helps make this granola crisp and irresistible. I prefer unrefined coconut oil, which is delicious (you can barely taste the coconut, if at all) and produces the perfect texture. You can use extra-virgin olive oil instead, if you'd like your granola to be a little more on the savory side.

What is Quaker granola made of? ›

WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS, WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED WHEAT, BROWN SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, WHEY, INULIN, ALMONDS, NONFAT DRY MILK, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, HONEY, NATURAL FLAVOR (CONTAINS COCONUT INGREDIENTS), SUNFLOWER OIL, TOCOPHEROLS (ADDED TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS).

Why is homemade granola better? ›

Advantage homemade. Both granolas have whole oats as their main ingredient, but the Kellogg's is high in refined sugar and contains palm oil. The homemade version contains protein-rich pecans and uses only a small amount of honey, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. It took me an hour to make granola from scratch.

What is the main ingredient in chewy granola bars? ›

GRANOLA (WHOLE GRAIN OATS, BROWN SUGAR, BROWN RICE CRISP [WHOLE GRAIN BROWN RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT], WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT, SOYBEAN OIL, COCONUT, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, NONFAT DRY MILK), SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT), CORN SYRUP, ...

Why is my homemade granola sticky? ›

I aim to let it hit room temperature, whatever that may be; the real point is to give it ample time to shed excess heat and steam. This should take about 45 minutes; if left out indefinitely, the granola can turn sticky or soft, so do try to put it away as soon after cooling as you can.

What makes granola not GF? ›

It mainly depends on what kind of granola you buy. While oats are naturally free of gluten, they may be processed in an area that has been exposed to gluten which will then cause the oats to be contaminated with this protein. Some brands of granola also use wheat flour that contains gluten.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 6181

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Benton Quitzon

Birthday: 2001-08-13

Address: 96487 Kris Cliff, Teresiafurt, WI 95201

Phone: +9418513585781

Job: Senior Designer

Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.