Simple Homemade Granola
Snacks are expensive! I’ve learned that in the past couple years as I have started buying my own groceries and paying my own rent etc.. It baffles me how much my parents paid for snacks when my brothers and I were growing up. I understand now why my mother would always have a fit when we inhaled a whole package of Oreos, three bags of chips and a box or two of Pop Tarts in two days (without gaining a pound by the way…those were the days).
As a young adult just starting out in a full time job, I’m doing everything I can to save money here and there, and making my own snacks has been a great way to do that. I like to say I’m cutting out the middle man. Not to mention I know what’s going into my snacks when I make them myself, and they end up being a minimally processed treat. I love this recipe in particular because it is so adjustable. You can use any kind of nuts or fruit your family likes. It’s flexible and very hard to mess up. The kids can even help make it! To top it all off, the granola will stay good for weeks in an airtight container in your pantry. Take it to the office or send it in school lunches. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 3 tbsp dark brown sugar (Light brown sugar would work too)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup dried cranberries (or dried fruit of your choice)
- 1 cup sliced almonds (or other nut of your choice)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 300ºF
Combine honey, vegetable oil and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
In a separate large bowl combine oats, salt, cinnamon, dark brown sugar, dried fruit and nuts.
I added the dried fruit before baking because the dried cranberries that I use turn out really nice and chewy if I bake them with the oats. You may also add them after baking if you prefer the dried fruit to keep the same texture that it starts with.
Pour the liquid mixture over the dry mixture and stir with a sturdy spoon or spatula until evenly combined.
Evenly spread mixture on a cookie sheet with a rim.
Bake the mixture for 15 minutes then stir and continue baking until the oats are golden brown or about 10 to 15 minutes more.
Let the granola cool completely before stirring and sealing in an airtight container.
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 3 tbsp dark brown sugar (Light brown sugar would work too)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup dried cranberries (or dried fruit of your choice)
- 1 cup sliced almonds (or other nut of your choice)
- Preheat oven to 300F
- Combine honey, vegetable oil and vanilla extract in a small bowl.
- In a separate large bowl combine oats, salt, cinnamon, dark brown sugar and nuts.
- Pour the liquid mixture over the dry mixture and stir with a sturdy spoon or spatula until evenly combined.
- Evenly spread mixture on a cookie sheet with a rim.
- Bake the mixture for 15 minutes then stir and continue baking until the oats are golden brown or about 10 to 15 minutes more.
- Let the granola cool completely before stirring and sealing in an airtight container.
Helen says
Looks delicious. When do you add the dried fruit? I couldn’t find that detail.