The Best Homemade Granola Recipe Ever

THE BEST HOMEMADE GRANOLA EVER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275°F (135°C) and line two baking sheets with baking paper.
• Heat a saucepan over low heat and add in the maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine. Once coconut oil has melted, turn off the stove, and allow the mixture to cool off.
• In a bowl, combine the oats, nuts, seeds, and the liquid mixture. Toss well. Split the mixture between the two baking sheets, and spread it out evenly.
• Bake for 15 minutes. Quickly remove the sheets from the oven, flip/toss the granola, and bake for a further 8 minutes. Quickly remove again and sprinkle the coconut flakes on top, and bake for 7 more minutes.
• Remove from the oven, and allow the granola to cool completely. Mix with the dried fruit. Enjoy!

HEALTHY GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon. Stir to blend.
• Pour in the oil, maple syrup and/or honey and vanilla. Mix well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer.
• Bake until lightly golden, about 21 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway (for extra-clumpy granola, press the stirred granola down with your spatula to create a more even layer). The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
• Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes). Top with the dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips, if using). Break the granola into pieces with your hands if you want to retain big chunks, or stir it around with a spoon if you don't want extra-clumpy granola.
• Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

STOVETOP GRANOLA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oats then cook and stir until starting to brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and spread out on a cookie sheet to cool.
• Melt the butter in the same pan over medium heat. Stir in the honey and brown sugar; cook, stirring constantly, until bubbly. Return the oats to the pan. Cook and stir for another 5 minutes or so. Pour out onto the cookie sheet and spread to cool.
• Once cool, transfer to an airtight container and stir in the almonds and dried cranberries. Any additional nuts and fruit can be stirred in at this time also.

BEST EVER GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). In a food processor, coffee grinder or blender, grind half the oats to a fine powder. In a large bowl, combine the whole oats, ground oats, nuts, seeds and spices. In a microwave-safe bowl (or in a saucepan over medium heat), combine the brown sugar, butter and water and heat just until the butter has melted and the mixture is bubbly. Stir the mixture together until smooth, then stir in the salt and vanilla. Pour this mixture over the oats and nuts, stirring well to coat (it's easier to do this with your hands). It should be uniformly moist - stir in another tablespoon or two of water if it isn't. Let stand for about ten minutes.
• Spread the mixture out on a large baking sheet, separating it into irregular clumps with your fingers, and allowing space between the clumps for the hot air to circulate. Slide into the middle of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and stir, gently breaking up the mixture into small-to-medium sized clumps. Return to the oven and bake another 15 minutes or so before stirring again. Repeat the bake-and-stir until the mixture is a uniform golden brown and completely dry; this usually takes 1-1 1/2 hours. Cool completely, then stir in any dried fruit you want to use.
• Store in a covered container at room temperature. Serve with milk or plain yogurt and fresh fruit as desired.

THE BEST GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Lightly spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
• Combine the oats, almonds, coconut chips and salt in a large bowl and stir to combine.
• Combine the brown sugar, syrup and oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring often, until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
• Pour the sugar mixture over the oats and stir until well combined, then spread the granola mixture in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake, stirring occasionally (see Cook's Note) until toasted and golden brown, 60 to 70 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.