This recipe for granola is a keeper. It’s crunchy, packed with classic flavors, and surprisingly easy to make with only 7 ingredients. You won’t believe how much better this is than store-bought granola!
Table of Contents
To make this granola, you’ll need oats, nuts, and a few other simple ingredients. It’s great for breakfast or even as a snack. And the best part? You can customize it with your favorite ingredients like dried fruits or chocolate chips.
If you love this granola recipe, you should definitely try making your own granola bars or a homemade trail mix. They’re all easy to make and perfect for a quick and healthy snack on the go.
A friend of mine recently gave me this recipe for granola from a neat lady named Ruth Chapman at Wycliffe Bible college during the 1970’s. This recipe only has 7 basic ingredients and it is the BEST recipe that I have found.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Classic Flavors: This recipe sticks to the classic combination of oats, brown sugar, and vanilla, resulting in a granola that’s hard to beat in terms of flavor.
- Family Favorite: This granola recipe has been a hit with my family for years. It’s the perfect combination of crunchy, sweet, and satisfying.
- Budget-Friendly: By using simple, pantry-staple ingredients like oats, flour, and dry milk, this recipe is a great way to make a delicious snack without breaking the bank.
- Customizable: While this recipe is delicious on its own, it also serves as a great base for your favorite nuts, seeds, or dried fruits.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Key Ingredients
- Rolled Oats: These will form the base of our granola, giving it a deliciously hearty and chewy texture.
- All-Purpose Flour: It helps to bind the ingredients together, giving the granola a satisfying crunch.
- Instant Dry Milk: This ingredient adds a subtle creaminess to the granola and also helps with browning.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances all the flavors in the granola, making it more delicious.
- Coconut Oil: It not only adds a hint of tropical flavor but also helps to crisp up the granola as it bakes.
- Warm Water: This will help to dissolve the sugar and bring all the ingredients together.
- Dark Brown Sugar: It adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the granola, making it irresistible.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: This will give the granola a warm, aromatic flavor that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl – This is where you’ll combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, dry milk, and salt. It’s also where you’ll pour the oil mixture and stir everything together.
- 12×17 Pan – This ungreased pan is where you’ll spread the granola mixture and bake it in the oven.
How to Make Recipe for Granola
Preparation
To start, preheat your oven to 350˚ F. This is important because you want your oven to be at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake your granola.
Step 1 – Combine Dry Ingredients
In a bowl, mix together your oats, flour, dry milk, and salt. This forms the base of your granola and gives it a hearty, satisfying texture.
Step 2 – Combine Wet Ingredients and Sugar
In a separate measuring cup, whisk together your melted coconut oil, warm water, dark brown sugar, and vanilla extract. This will be the sweet, flavorful glue that holds your granola together.
Step 3 – Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients
Slowly pour your oil mixture into your bowl of dry ingredients, stirring as you go. You want to make sure that all the dry ingredients are evenly moistened.
Step 4 – Bake
Spread your granola mixture onto an ungreased 12×17 pan. Pop it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Make sure to flip the granola over at least three times during the baking time with a spatula. Your granola is done when the oats clump together and turn a beautiful golden brown.
Step 5 – Add Extra Crunch
Once your granola is cooled, you can add in any extra ingredients you like for more flavor and texture. This could be nuts, seeds, coconut, chocolate, or dried fruits. Get creative and make it your own!
Expert Tip
To ensure your granola turns out crunchy and evenly golden, remember to flip it over at least three times during the baking time. This simple step will guarantee that the oats clump together and achieve a beautiful, toasty color on all sides.
Recipe Variations
- Fruity: After the granola has finished baking and has cooled, mix in a cup of your favorite dried fruits, such as raisins, cranberries, or apricots. This will add a sweet and chewy element to your granola.
- More Sweetness: If you have a sweet tooth, feel free to add more brown sugar to the mixture. This will give your granola a sweeter, more caramelized flavor.
- Extra Crunch: For a crunchier granola, add a cup of your favorite nuts, such as almonds or pecans, to the mixture before baking. The nuts will toast in the oven, adding a delicious crunch to your granola.
What to Serve With
- For a quick and healthy breakfast, serve this granola with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a generous drizzle of honey. The creamy yogurt and the crunchy granola make for a perfect combination.
- You can also enjoy it the traditional way with a splash of cold milk. The granola adds a delicious crunch to your morning cereal.
- If you’re a fan of smoothie bowls, sprinkle some granola on top of your favorite smoothie bowl for an extra dose of texture and flavor.
Recipe FAQs
The all-purpose flour in this recipe helps to give the granola a nice, crispy texture. It also acts as a binder, helping the other ingredients to stick to the oats.
Yes, if you’re not a fan of coconut oil, you can easily substitute it with another type of oil, such as canola or vegetable oil. Just make sure the oil is in its liquid form when you add it to the other ingredients.
The recipe calls for instant dry milk, as it helps to give the granola a more pronounced, nutty flavor. If you don’t have instant dry milk on hand, you can substitute it with an equal amount of regular milk powder.
The granola is done when the oats are clumped together and have turned a golden brown color. This usually takes about 30 minutes, but be sure to keep an eye on it and flip it over a few times during baking to ensure that it cooks evenly.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: Leftover granola can be stored in an airtight container. It’s best to keep it at room temperature, where it will stay fresh for up to three weeks.
- Freezing: You can also freeze it for up to three months. Just make sure it’s in a freezer-safe container.
- Thaw: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen granola, simply let it thaw at room temperature. This should take about an hour.
More Breakfast Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This granola recipe yields about 8 cups of delicious homemade granola.
- How to Scale: If you want to make more than 8 cups of granola, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure to use a larger mixing bowl to combine all the ingredients and a larger baking sheet to spread the granola out for baking. Follow the rest of the instructions as directed, but keep an eye on the baking time as it may be slightly longer with a larger quantity.
Recipe for Granola
Ingredients
Granola Base Ingredients
- 5 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup instant dry milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Optional Additions
- nuts
- seeds
- dried coconut
- chocolate chips
- dried fruit
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350˚ F.
- Combine the oats, flour, dry milk, and salt in a bowl.
- In a measuring cup, whisk together the melted coconut oil, warm water, dark brown sugar, and pure vanilla extract.
- Slowly pour the oil mixture into your bowl of dry ingredients and stir until it is evenly moistened.
- Spread it all onto an ungreased 12×17 pan and bake for 30 minutes, flipping it over at least three times throughout the baking time with a spatula. The granola is done when you see the oats clump and turn golden brown.
- When fully cooled, add in nuts, seeds, coconut, chocolate or dried fruits.
The best for,