Whether you prefer your granola savoury or sweet, in clusters or flaky, a great granola always starts with some simple rules. These 4 tips to make perfect granola are easy to follow and will ensure you make the most delicious granola every time. Granola is an easy to make, healthy breakfast option or anytime snack for the family. It’s a blank canvas that lends to a variety of flavour combinations and is made from a simple base of oats, sweetener, oil or butter, and dried fruits and/or nuts.
Why make your own granola? For starters, it’s usually cheaper (and healthier!) than store-bought options, it requires limited kitchen tools to make, besides the fact that you will most likely have many of the ingredients already in your pantry. Plus, contrary to popular belief, it’s actually very easy to make!
1. Temperature Makes a Difference
Slow and low is the general term used when preparing granola. Preferably, the maximum temperature at which granola should be baked is between 300-325 degrees. Higher temperatures can cause ingredients such as nuts and seeds to burn before the granola has a chance to properly dry out and crisp up. If you are short on time and do raise the temperature, be sure to stir the granola every 3-4 minutes to avoid burnt bits.
2. How to Make Substitutions
Granola is so forgiving when it comes to making ingredient substitutions. As a general rule, keep your ratio of dry-to-wet ingredients roughly the same as the original recipe. If substituting only dry ingredients or only wet ingredients, you can mix any variation as long as you keep the same ratios. Keep in mind that some sweeteners are sweeter than others so you may need to add less at first (of agave, for example) then taste as you go and increase the amount, if needed.
3. When to Mix in Additional Ingredients
In general, nuts and seeds can be mixed directly into the granola before you bake it so that they can toast and develop more flavour. Dried fruits tend to dry out too much and are best added once the granola is already cooked. This ensures that they don’t burn and will maintain their fresh flavour and chewy texture.
4. Don’t Go Overboard With Spices
Spices can make such a difference in the overall flavour profile of granola. Start with about 1/2 a teaspoon of a spice and add more during the cooking process, if needed. This ensures that the spice won’t overpower the overall flavour of the granola. Also, don’t forget to add some sea salt (about 1/2 tsp.) as it balances out the sweetness of the granola.
Ever wonder how to make homemade granola? Here’s a helpful infographic to get you started:
Try these delicious granola recipes:
Fall Harvest Granola
I definitely have to try this during summer. I love granola…it’s usually my first choice for a snack. I always have a few bars at school to munch on during the day.
I love granola! Looks so good Lisa! We munch on it all the time and I pack it in my kid’s lunches. Never made my own though…maybe I can brave that this summer.
Thanks Heather! Come to think of it…I haven’t made it in quite a while! Maybe this weekend?!
This is such a fantastic, comprehensive tutorial that leaves choice and options entirely up to us! I love it when I find a recipe that is up for some interpretation and still gives me creative freedom w ith an awesome base to work from. I’ve pinned this- love it! 🙂
Thank you so much! I too love recipes that leave room for interpretation!
We make granolas at home all the time. We love it with milk at breakfast and topped on yogurts.
I have always been intimidated by the thought of making my own granola but you make it look so easy!! I will definitely have to try this soon!! Thanks for the recipe!!
It does involve a little bit of trail and error but once you get the hang out of it, it’s so quick and easy!
I love making my own granola! This way I can control how much of my favorite ingredients I put into it – plus it really is cheaper! The last time I made granola, I kept catching my husband stealing some from the container everytime he was in the kitchen! lol guess it was good! 😀
I don’t think people realize how much cheaper it is! It is kind of tempting…especially when you have it sitting out in the open 😉
I’ve never made my own granola but this looks like something even I could handle! Maybe I’ll attempt it this weekend!
Great! You should definitely give it a try!
I make my own granola and granola bars. So much more healthier and delicious. Yum!
I have never made granola before! It looks simple and easy enough to do and love it is healthy for me!
I love granola. I didn’t realize that it could easily be made at home until my kiddos came home from one of their cooking classes with some they made. Great recipe! Thank you.
If the kids can make it, then it HAS to be easy! 😉
I’ll have to save this, as granola is my favorite. I can’t eat yogurt without it. 🙂
I love granola in just about everything, from my cereal to my ice cream, to my banana smoothies! I never knew that making my own could be so easy, definitely doing this from now on.
This recipe would be great for you then….you’d save a ton of money!
I have never tried to make my own granola before. I will have to try this recipe. It looks easy to make and i bet it will be delicious.
I hope you do Ann!
Awesome post, Lisa! This would be great to take to work or for playground time. I love your infographic idea. Very easy for readers to follow. Just wonder do you have a tip how to remove granola easily and cut them easily so they dont stick? Thanks!!!
Thank you, it’s not as professional-looking as I would like it to be, lol! I’m not sure what you mean about cutting the granola? Do you mean, bars?! I spread the mixture over parchment paper, then remove the parchment paper and cut directly on it. Or, I flip over the pan and peel off the parchment paper from the bottom of the granola bars then cut them!
Thank you so much! I have always wanted to make my own granola but never took the time to look it up.
No problem! I’m glad this post has inspired you!
I love granola but I certainly didn’t know that it is so easy to make. Thank you for the recipe. I’ll try to make some one of these days.
I wouldn’t have known to use sea salt without reading here first. I have never made granola, but I do not doubt for a second that it’s tasty.
It really makes a difference in baked goods because it cuts through the sweetness!
Now that I am back, I am motivated to make some today lol. Thanks a lot!
I’ve never tried this granola but I’ve always heard about this. I’d love to try this thank you for sharing wonderful and yummy recipe.
I’ve always wanted to know how to make granola. Seems pretty simple to me, I’m going to have to try it.
It is but I like to follow the ‘rules’ so as to avoid wasting healthy ingredients!
This is awesome! I didn’t know much of anything about granola. I would love to make some for a snack or breakfast though! This infographic is awesomeL
Thank you! You’ll love it…you can eat it on its own, over yogurt, mixed with fruit, over pancakes and waffles…the list goes on!
Thank you for this wonderful infographic! I will definitely use it as a reference when I try my hand at making my own granola 🙂 I bought a dehydrator and will even attempt to making my own dried fruit! 🙂
Ooh, a dehydrator! Nice! I would love one of those 😉
This is such a great post! I never knew granola had these rules like with the temperature. I’m for sure going to make granola soon since I’ve never made it before! Thanks!
I’m sure you don’t have the follow the ‘rules’ exactly…they’re more like a recommendation. To each his own too so it’s highly likely that the quantities and ratio might change, depending on your personal preference.
I have made granola before just sort of threw things together! I never knew there were proper proportions. Love that!
Lucky you! Whenever I’ve done that I haven’t had much success!
This is interesting. I have never made granola at home and always wondered how
My Hubs makes me make him granola often. I make sure I never run out of it. That is what he loves for breakfast.
I’ve not made my own granola, ever … because I have this idea that it’s complicated. But thank goodness it’s not. After reading this, I will try making one for my Mom and brother super soon. Thank you for the infographic, it will be very helpful.
Thank you! Good to know the infographic is straight-forward enough to inspire you!
I love this tutorial! We love making granola in this house, but lately I have succumbed to buying it. Need to get back into baking!
Thank you Jordan! To be honest, I haven’t made it in a while either, lol! I haven’t bought any either! 😉
I’ve never made my own granola. Now that I see how easy it is, I will try it. I like the fact that I can use my favorite ingredients.
I love Greek yogurt topped with granola. I like the idea of making my own and being able to make it a more healthier option. I’m going to try this soon!
I often mix it into parfaits with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit! Yum!
I love granola for a snack, but I’ve never thought to make it for myself. This is a really great idea. Thanks!
I love granola, but I have never made my own before. What a great idea. I will have to try it.
You should give a try…it’s really easy to make!
I have only really had granola in granola bars! I had no idea this was this easy to make!
Really? You’re missing out, lol! You can add granola to so many different recipes!
I love granola a lot, it would be awesome to make my own; thanks for this amazing recipe!
I love making granola!!! Love how it’s not only delicious but loaded with nutritional value as well.
Definitely, especially if you add certains nuts and seeds, flax and chia seeds!
We love making granola here at home as well. What I love about making it is that you can put whatever you please.
Exactly! You just need to master the basic recipe and then you can switch up it so many different ways!
Looks yummy! now I know what granola is, thank you for sharing this yummy recipe. I’d love to make granola.
I’ve never tried to make granola before but I can’t think why as I love it. Thanks so much for sharing, I’m going to have to gather up the ingredients and try to make some for us.
Yum! I’ve never made my own granola before. I need to step it up. I need to make this instead of buying, bet it much healthier!
It is so much healthier! You should read the nutritional facts the next time you buy it!
I love making my own granola. It is so simple and that way I am not getting a ton of extra sugar and sodium from processed versions.
Exactly! Granola has a bad rep for being unhealthy…but I think that definitely applies only to store-bought granola!
Simply amazing. I love granola but never thought to try and make it myself. Looks like a ton of fun, cant wait to try this out. Thanks so much!
Thanks! It’s really is so easy to make…you might have to play with the recipe a little bit the first time or two until you get the exact consistency and texture that you like!
It’s funny, everyone seems to like their granola a little different. I’m partial to more cranchy, whereas I have friends who like chewier.
I’m more partial to crunchy as well!!
I didn’t know that! Thank you so much for the great recipe 😀
That looks so delicious. thanks so much for sharing this! I’m a huge granola fan, so I can’t wait to try making it for myself!
So am I! I often use gluten-free oats (so I can enjoy them too) and make very large batches so that I can store some in the freezer!
Hi Lisa, I have been looking for a yummy healthy granola recipe, and nothing appealed to me, that is until I found this one 🙂
Good to know 😉
Hi LIsa, I tried making granola and it came out to crispy – so your slow and low makes sense – and what a great infographic (saving that) – plus each part of your directions are clear and things I might not have thought of – thank you 🙂 http://www.askcoachdonna.com
It does! I’ve made the mistake too many times where I didn’t have the patience and tried to increase the temperature…and almost always ended up with burnt granola!