Granola is one of our favorite breakfast and snack items here. It’s (somewhat) healthy, and if I choose to top my ice cream with it, I don’t feel as bad about it. Kidding! While I love making granola, I don’t love the recipes that require 20 ingredients just to make it. When you’re on a budget, buying up all those ingredients just to make one thing is not feasible. Over the years, I’ve created an easy granola recipe that’s basic, inexpensive, and is good enough for add-ins, like nuts or dried fruit.
Tip: Make a large batch of granola and add it to your box of toasted oats cereal. It’s an inexpensive way to stretch your cereal, and provide more nutrients.
Tip: Measure your vegetable oil first, then use the same cup to measure your honey or agave syrup. The syrup will come out of the measuring cup quite easily!
Easy Granola Recipe
Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, light or dark
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch of ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup honey or agave syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Place oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl and stir together.
In a small bowl, add honey, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
Pour the syrup mixture over the oat mixture, and mix together.
Place the granola mixture on a large baking sheet lined with foil, and spread into a thin, even layer.
Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and toss mixture. Place back in the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the oats smell and look lightly toasted.
Place the granola in a cool place, and let it cool to room temperature for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally (I stir every 5 minutes or so).
Once the granola cools down, feel free to add in your favorite chopped nuts, dried fruit, and leftover toasted oats cereal. This will last at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
I see where you make up the powder mix, but not where you add it to the granola? Am I missing something?
Hi Charity,
What powder mixture are you referring to? Do you mean the oat mixture? The liquids get added to the oat mixture, then you toss, then you place on your cookie sheet and bake. I hope that answers your question. If not, please feel free to comment again and I’d be happy to help you.
I re-read it. I got it now.
Will the rcipe still work without vanilla extract with the liquid proportions? I am super broke and so happy I have everything except the vanilla already in my house to make this!
Hi Rachel! Yup, you’ll be just fine without the vanilla. I’m so happy you have all the other ingredients. Enjoy!
I made this recipe in Shiga prefecture, Japan, using locally available ingredients and it came out AMAZING! Cooked it at 150 C in my convection oven with no problems. It only cost about a dollar to make 1 batch, soooo much cheaper than trying to import granolla from the US or buy it at a specialty shop! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
Just tried this recipe and it was really good and had few ingredients. It made my kitchen smell wonderful. Only thing I will cut the sweetness down a bit for my taste but seriously wonderful recipe.