This easy to make homemade vanilla almond granola is so good, you'll never buy granola again. It's healthier than store bought, you can add your favorite ingredients such as almonds and coconut and even adjust the sweetness to your family's tastes. Great for a yogurt topping for breakfast, grab handfuls for a snack or even top a dessert crisp. And it's simple to make it gluten-free too!
Why you should make your own granola
One of my favorite recipes to make, and one of the easiest, is homemade granola. And this Vanilla Almond Granola flavor has got to be at the top of my list. It only takes a few minutes to mix up and only 30 minutes to bake.
Why make your own granola? First off, it's a whole lot cheaper than buying something of the same quality at the store. Secondly, you know exactly what is going into the mix and you can actually pronounce all the ingredients! Thirdly, you can put as little sugar or a sweetener substitute in as you like to cut down on calories and up the health quotient. Lastly, you can make just about any flavor you can think of like my Banana Nut Granola , Chocolate Granola or Apple Crisp Granola.
What you get is a granola that is ultra flavorful and super crispy. And if you're gluten-free, no worries! Just make sure the oats you are using are gluten-free and you're golden. I use this simple vanilla almond granola recipe as a topping for cereal or yogurt in the morning, as a munchie snack in the middle of the day when a little pick-me-up is needed, and even as a component in a parfait or crisp dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions About Granola
Is granola healthy?
This homemade granola is much healthier than most store bought brands. The oats are high in fiber and iron while the nuts contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. I substitute almond oil for vegetable oil which is full of Vitamin E and omega 3's, as well as magnesium, phosphorous and copper. I also sub honey for some of the sugar which has linked benefits to heart healthy and blood oxidation.
How long will this vanilla granola last?
If kept in an airtight container, this will keep at room temperature for up to 6 months.
What can I add to make this homemade granola my own?
- Any kind of nuts can be substituted for the almonds. Try pecans or walnuts for a change of pace.
- Love chocolate? Add dark chocolate chips to the mix and keep the healthy going.
- Add more nutrition by adding chia seeds to the mix.
- Dried fruit is always delicious and adds more sweetness to the mix.
- Substitute some of the honey with maple syrup for a more fallish flavor.
Can I add milk to granola for breakfast?
Most definitely! It's delicious with milk and some fresh fruit for a quick, easy and filling breakfast.
Directions
- Combine oats, almonds, coconut, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. (photo 1)
- In a small sauce pan, combine brown sugar, almond oil and honey. Cook over medium heat until boiling the let boil for 30 seconds whisking constantly. (photo 2)
- Remove saucepan from heat and add vanilla extract. (photo 3)
- Pour honey-almond oil over oat mixture. (photo 4)
- Toss with spoon then, when slightly cooler, use your hands to make sure it covers the mixture well. (photo 5)
- Pour onto cookie sheets sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake. (photo 6)
Just look at that nicely baked, crispy granola! Let it cool, if you can, then pour into airtight container. Now go ahead and grab a handful and pop it into your mouth. Savor the rich vanilla flavor while enjoying the slight tropical taste of coconut and the crunchy goodness of the oats and nuts. It's a great snack for after school too. I used to roll pieces of banana in peanut butter then into the granola and the kids scarfed it down. Hope y'all enjoy it as much as we do.
More healthier snack recipes
Healthy Trail Mix Granola Bars from 2 Cookin Mamas
Lemon Chia Seed Protein Bars from 2 Cookin Mamas
Chili Lime Spiced Nuts from The Food Blog
Cranberry Orange Energy Balls from 2 Cookin Mamas
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Homemade Vanilla Almond Granola
Ingredients
- 4 cups rolled oats (look for steel cut for gluten-free option)
- 1 cup sliced almonds or pecans
- ½ cup flaked unsweetened coconut
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup almond oil
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup brown sugar or palm sugar which will be a little less sweet
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray 2 large cookie sheets with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, almonds, coconut, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, mix together oil, honey and brown sugar and cook over medium heat while whisking continuously until it begins to simmer. Cook 30 seconds then remove from heat. You can also opt to heat in microwave until boiling but you need to watch it carefully as it can easily bubble up and overflow.
- Add vanilla extract.
- Pour the oil-honey mixture over the dry ingredients and stir well with a spoon. When a little of the het has dissipated, use your hands to crunch the ingredients.
- Pour the granola onto the prepared cookie sheets, dividing evenly between the two, and making sure it is mostly on one layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring once halfway through the baking process. Hint: It is easier to take the cookie sheets out of the oven to stir the ingredients then return to oven to continue baking.
- Remove from oven and place cookie sheets on wire racks to cool completely. Stir to break up any large pieces then store in large airtight container. Mine keeps for at least two weeks and may keep longer but it never lasts that long.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions About Granola
Is granola healthy?
This homemade granola is much healthier than most store bought brands. The oats are high in fiber and iron while the nuts contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. I substitute almond oil for vegetable oil which is full of Vitamin E and omega 3's, as well as magnesium, phosphorous and copper. I also sub honey for some of the sugar which has linked benefits to heart healthy and blood oxidation.How long will this vanilla granola last?
If kept in an airtight container, this will keep at room temperature for up to 6 months.What can I add to make this homemade granola my own?
- Any kind of nuts can be substituted for the almonds. Try pecans or walnuts for a change of pace.
- Love chocolate? Add dark chocolate chips to the mix and keep the healthy going.
- Add more nutrition by adding chia seeds to the mix.
- Dried fruit is always delicious and adds more sweetness to the mix.
- Substitute some of the honey with maple syrup for a more fallish flavor.
Nutrition
This post has been updated with step-by-step directions and photos. It was originally published on July 1, 2013.
