Do you like your Granola loose or clumpy? Either way, you’ll love this – the ultimate healthy Homemade Granola guide! Mix and match, build your own granola by using the ingredients you like and have on hand.
Easy Homemade Granola
I’m going to be honest with you – I didn’t start making making granola because it’s healthier than store bought. I started because it’s cheaper and and I can control how sweet it is (store bought is so sweet!!!). Then it evolved into a bit of a game, trying to come up with cute flavour combinations. Berry Burst, Apple Pie, Apricot Sunrise, Blueberry Pie, Apple Crumble, Peach ‘n Cream, Maple Crunch, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.
You get the picture. Basically, desserts in breakfast form!
I make Homemade Granola – or Muesli as some Aussies know it – using a formula. I could talk you through it, but it’s much easier just to show you. ↓↓↓
This is actually a recipe that I posted yonks and yonks ago, but it’s been tweaked and improved, and plus it seems that back in those days I wasn’t much of a talker because the post had zero chatter in it.
The two main changes made to the recipe are to stir the dried fruit in at the end for the loose granola (because some bits can border on burning) and adding a way to make CLUMPY granola without adding loads and loads of honey / sugar / butter simply by stirring through egg whites. Egg is the ultimate food glue, for everything from cakes to cookies, omelettes to meatballs. And it holds true for granola. 🙂
So the same base “formula” applies to both types of granola, except the steps and cooking method are a little different.
Loose granola is as simple as it gets: Combine Dry ingredients, combine Wet ingredients, combine Wet & Dry, spread on tray, bake, add fruit at end.
Simple, yes?
As for clumpy granola, the order of the steps is a little different. The fruit has to be added in at the beginning because you can’t stir it in at the end. Egg white is added to bind the granola together to form clusters, it’s baked at a lower temperature (which helps to ensure the fruit doesn’t burn) then left to cool in the turned off oven which allows it to finish crisping and for the clusters to set..
Ahh, and the one little strange thing I do because you can’t stir the granola as it bakes (because otherwise you’ll break up the clusters!!) is to spread the granola on the tray with a hole in the middle because even when I’m using a fan forced/convection oven, I can never get the middle to go golden and crispy without the edges burning. 🙂
Looks weird I know. But trust me, it makes all the difference!!
And see? Look how it clusters up!
And have you ever thought about gifting granola?? Thoughtful, GREAT VALUE and totally customisable gift!!
OK, so I have to confess I have never ever gifted Granola before. It’s now officially on my list for Christmas gifts this year….
Homemade Granola has gotten all trendy in the past few years, and you’d have to search hard to find a bistro without granola on the weekend brunch menu. And they charge a small fortune for it too.
And that, my friends, is the beauty of this Homemade Granola “formula” – it’s so cheap to make using leftover bits and bobs. Dig into that pantry of yours and scratch together whatever nuts, seeds and dried fruit you can find. Get creative with the spices, go wild with flavourings!
And share your Granola flavouring ideas in the comments below to inspire other readers! I have some suggestions in the notes of the recipe – but I bet you can come up with better ones! – Nagi x
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Healthy Homemade Granola recipe video!
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Build Your Own Homemade Granola (Muesli)
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 4 cups / 360 g rolled oats (not steel cut or quick cooking)
- 1 cup coconut flakes (or more nuts or oats)
- 1 cup raw nuts (eg. sliced almonds, chopped pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
- 1/2 cup dried fruit (eg. chopped apricots, apple, pineapple, raisins)
- 1 tsp your favourite spice (eg. cinnamon, pumpkin spice, gingerbread mix)
- 1 pinch salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup sweetener (eg. honey, maple syrup, agave, see note 2 for Brown Sugar)
- 1/3 cup fat (eg. melted butter, canola oil or coconut oil)
- 1 1/2 tsp flavouring (eg. vanilla, almond essence, orange blossom)
CLUMPY Granola:
- 2 egg whites
Instructions
LOOSE Granola:
- Preheat oven to 150C/300F.
- Combine Dry ingredients, excluding dried fruit.
- Combine Wet ingredients.
- Combine Wet and Dry ingredients. Do a taste test. Adjust to taste – more sweet, more fat etc.
- Spread on baking tray and bake until golden, approximately 35 – 40 minutes, tossing twice.
- Stir through dried fruit. Cool. Store in an airtight container.
CLUMPY Granola:
- Preheat oven to 140C/280F. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Combine Wet excluding egg whites.
- Combine Dry including dried fruit.
- Whisk egg whites with fork until foamy.
- Mix Wet and Dry in a large bowl, then mix through egg whites.
- Spread granola on the tray, making a hole in the centre, like a doughnut (see photo in post).
- Bake for 45 minutes – DO NOT STIR – until golden. Check at 35 minutes.
- Then turn the oven off, leave the granola in the oven, and open the oven door open a bit. Leave the granola to cool. The colour will deepen and it will firm up.
- Once cool, break into clusters. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes:
* Apple Pie: As above but use only almonds and dried apples.
* Oatmeal Raisin Cookie: Butter, honey, raisins, vanilla and cinnamon, pinch of All Spice.
* Blueberry Pie: Apple Pie recipe but use dried blueberries instead and skip the cinnamon powder and add a dash of lemon essence.
* Super Berries: Try using dried goji berries!
* Orange Almond: Almonds and orange blossom
* Maple Pecan Pie! Use Pecans, vanilla, butter, maple 2. Brown Sugar: Add this into the Dry Ingredients. 3. Originally published in May 2014, updated with video and improved recipe. Changes include: adding a method to make clumpy granola without adding more sweetener or fat, for the loose granola, adding the dried fruit at the end which ensures none of it burns (sometimes, some fruit on the surface can get a little too brown). All photos were replaced and words were rewritten. 4. Nutrition per serving, assuming 10 servings (about 2/3 cup per serving).
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
He fully understands that he is only permitted on the sheet covered part of the couch.
How long can you store the clumpy granola as it has egg whites in it? Also how is the best way to store it?
Hi Ellis! Because it’s been cooked, it lasts for ages – weeks! In an airtight container in the pantry 🙂
Am going to try this very soon.
Thanks for nutrition facts, haven ‘t seen that on other sites.
Hi Nagi, I love template style recipes that let you change things up easily! Thanks for this one. 🙂
Is there another way to get the clumps, that doesn’t use egg? One of our family members is allergic.
Hi Sharon! I hate to say it…but more honey! You need to double it, even better triple it. Maple syrup and other sweeteners don’t work as well. 🙂 N x
Nagi! What a wonderful recipe, I want to make it right away! The only problem is I don’t have an oven… will it worked gently toasted on a good pan?
Hi Jo! Gosh, yes what a great idea! Over low heat, do it in batches and stir frequently. The aim is just to dry the oats out so it becomes a bit golden, they will still be a bit soft when warm but once they cool down they will crisp right up! N x
A great way to start the day. So scrumptious and you know exactly what you are eating. We are on to our second batch now which we made immediately the first batch ran out.
I’m so pleased to hear you both enjoyed this Lyn and David! Thanks for letting me know! N x ❤️
I made this 2 weeks ago and turned out fantastic! I made the “clumpy” granola and used brown sugar, dried cranberries and vanilla and also added sunflower seeds. Was delish and 3 of my grandkids tried it warm and loved it also. They said it would be good to use it on ice cream or yogurt. “Kid approved”
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this Rose!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. N x ❤️
For loose granola the coconut chips won’t burn if I add in the beginning?
Also do you think I can add cocoa nibs would that be iat the end stirred in with the dried fruit?
Many thanks!
Hi Krista! Because it’s tossed so frequently, it’s fine 🙂
Wonderful! I’ll try my best to make my own granola when I’m back home.
Thank you for all the recipes =)
Greetings from Peru
I’ve never made granola myself, so this is going to be a fun journey. Thank you for sharing!!
Can Dozer hear me laughing all the way from Atlanta? I’ll make your granola method tomorrow and report back. Meanwhile, we are having your one-pot bolognese orzo AGAIN tonight. I make it every week. My husband now calls it Hurricane Pasta because we had it last week while we hunkered down during Hurricane Irene. We were lucky not to lose power like so many others did.
I love this recipe, it’s so easy and tasty! Thank-you for sharing it.
I’m not a huge fan of dried fruit in my granola I’d prefer to add lots of fresh fruit with some yogurt after. That’s the amazing thing about granola recipes though you can add and take away what you enjoy.
Love the hole in the center idea – so stealing! If that’s okay 🙂
I love this recipe, it’s so easy and tasty! Thank-you for sharing it.
Of course! Steal away! I know it looks funny but it really works. 🙂 Plus makes the chunks thicker cause the same amount of granola is bunched into less space 🙂 N x
Definitely going to try his one. Shop bought is so expensive!
Yes, Dozer is very good at doing what he’s told – bet his cuteness gets him out of a lot of trouble though 😊
We have two cats and I folded a blanket into a tiny square on the couch. So funny to watch them tuck themselves up on it 😂
Yes it is!! My favourite store bought costs $14.99!!!! I rarely buy it – plus it’s a bit too sweet for brekki for me! PS Makes me laugh thinking of you using a tiny square and me having to cover 1/3 of the couch….
I have been making this for a long time and have changed a few things along the way. I use coconut oil and rice malt syrup. I add the nuts after the granola has cooked a bit so they don’t burn. Then when the oven is turned off, I add my fruit. It’s a good way of using up leftover dried fruit and nuts . I have also used chopped dates, craisins, raisins, walnuts, pecans and I like ginger and mixed spice for a Christmas gingerbread feel. Also I’m a bit lazy so after I line my baking tray, I mix it altogether in the tray and bake so I’m not using a bowl. I love my homemade granola. I think it tastes much better than store bought and even hubby likes it too. We use it for toppings over fresh fruit and yoghurt.
Overall, Nagi, I love your blog and have made tons and tons of recipes. I love to cook and bake and I always put my own spin on things. When I serve up a meal, hubby will ask “is this a Nagi recipe”. They taste so good. Like who knew rice comes out so good cooked in the oven!!. I also recently made the chicken stuffed with cheese and ham then made the honey mustard sauce (in the microwave) to go with it. Hubby eats the leftover sauce. So good. Now I am planning our footy final weekend and and going to try the spring rolls – love that they can be baked in the oven and I loathe deep frying. Keep baking Nagi and love Dozer to bits. 😀
I love that you adapted this to your taste Jenny! Thanks so much for sharing that!!! Also love hearing that hubby approves of OUR recipes… 😘 N xx
I love me some homemade granola and yours looks beautiful, Nagi! I love how chunky it is!
Thanks Melissa!! Chunky ROCKS! ❤️
I love making my own granola as, like you, I find store bought way too sweet. Last batch I made a Christmas gingerbread flavour – treacle, cloves, cinnamon and ginger with some choc chips thrown in. I also add Bran flakes to lighten it a little and sometimes even Rice Crispies (?) It’s a great recipe to experiment with.
Thanks for yet another great recipe (I have barbecue pork in my slow cooker at the moment) 🙂
Ooooh! I LOVE THAT FLAVOUR COMBO!!! Do you mind if I add it to the notes of the recipe??
Love the idea of the hole in the middle of the pan, Nagi, to cook more evenly! This is similar to my version. 😋 One of my favorites is candied ginger, orange zest, dried cranberries, and almonds. When I gift granola, I may package the toppings separately if I don’t know the recipient’s tastes. I often buy a chopped dried fruit mix that works well, too.
Oooh, I love your combo! YUM!!!
Good one Nagi, just the way I like it! Agree perfect Xmas gift. Have gifted all kinds of home made stuff.90’s home loan was 17.5% interest there was NO XMAS SHOPPING. LOTS AND LOTS OF BAKING, FLOWERS FROM GARDEN, VEGES, BUNCH OF HERBS, POT PLANTS EVEN COOKING FOR THOSE THAT HAVE WORKED. Love doses photo! Have good w/end!
I remember that time Vera! It was hard in our family too!!
I’ll second the notion that granola sounds much more appealing. It looks wonderful as it is, but my husband needs to skip nuts, seeds, and fruit at the moment. I’d like to make this for him with just the oats, loose or as clusters, but never having made granola, suspect that an even trade-off of 6.5 cups of oats might be a bit too much to work as well?
He’s not accustomed to noticeably sweetened cereals, either, but at present has been less than thrilled with the plain Cheerios he’s been having lately, so a very generous sprinkling of sweetened and toasted spiced oats mixed in with the plain Cheerios might add just the touch of flavor he’s been missing and craving. The granola recipe had provided some very timely inspiration, in any case. Thanks!
Hi Wynn! I’d reduce it down to about 5.5 cups, you’re right, just oats is much more absorbent than using a mix with everything else. 🙂 Just make sure you do a taste test before popping it in the oven. In fact, give your HUBBY a taste test!!
Perfect timing! My bulk food store has a sale on this weekend with EVERYTHING you could possibly put in any kind of granola…guess what I’m doing this weekend?! 😀
Ya hafta forgive Dozer … he’s sleeping and has NO idea how his front half got onto your side of the couch. Really. 😉
GO WILD Leah!!! I have so much granola at the moment….. and I’ve given so much away already! Hmm, it’s afternoon tea time here…going to stick my hand in that granola jar! As for Dozer not understanding boundaries…. hmph. it’s not even about him being on MY side of the couch, it’s all that FUR sticking to the FABRIC!!! 😭
Hi Nagi! Yes, this would be great for gifting! I’m leaning towards apple pie and the maple pecan pie 🙂 I think dates could be worked into some versions of this (I don’t like raisins so I always use dates instead). Granola sounds SO much more appetizing than muesli. PS another brown recipe..hehe!
I know I know Dorothy!! I tried to add pops of colours with the raspberries but the whole post is still so darn BROWN! 😂