This homemade granola recipe hits the jackpot because it’s easy, crazy crunchy, and the kind of thing you keep “checking” while it bakes because the cinnamon smell is doing the most. Toasty oats, buttery walnuts, warm cinnamon and nutmeg, and sweet-tart craisins – it works for breakfast, snacking, and that little handful you grab every time you walk past the jar. If you like snacky, oat-based stuff you can grab by the handful, Aussie bites are a must-try too.
Coconut oil keeps it rich, agave adds cozy sweetness, and the lemon juice plus vanilla keeps the flavor bright instead of flat. Chia and flax help it clump up into those big clusters everyone fights over. Sprinkle it on yogurt, pour on milk, toss it in a bag for on-the-go, or eat it straight off the sheet pan once it’s cooled – your call.
It’s perfect for breakfast with yogurt or milk, a grab-and-go snack straight from the jar, or tossed into a bag as trail mix for errands, school pickup, or whatever chaos you’ve got going on. Bonus – you can switch up the nuts and dried fruit anytime, but this base is a solid, dependable “why didn’t I make this sooner” kind of recipe.
Check out my Peanut Butter Granola recipe too!
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below, but you can jump right to the recipe card if you wish!
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Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy to make with simple pantry staples.
- Crunchy, toasty texture with big clumpy clusters.
- Warm cinnamon and nutmeg flavor that feels cozy.
- Easy to customize with different nuts, seeds, or dried fruit.
- Naturally sweetened and not overly sugary.
- Great for yogurt parfaits, breakfast bowls, snacking, or trail mix.
Cozy up your breakfast spread – homemade granola tastes amazing alongside a steamy London Fog on a slow morning.
Mix ins that work well
As long as you keep the basic ratio of oil and sweetener to dry ingredients, you can switch up the add-ins endlessly.
- Coconut
- Wheat germ
- Dried sour cherries
- Dried apricots
- Dried pineapple
- Dried apples
- Sunflower seeds
- Pepitas
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Extra spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, etc.)
I have included step-by-step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the full recipe card located at the bottom of the post.
Key Recipe Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Coconut oil. Helps everything get crisp and toasty. You can swap in melted butter or olive oil if you want.
- Agave nectar. This is the sweetener I use (blue agave). Maple syrup works great too. Honey also works, and you can even use brown sugar – it’ll give you a deeper, more caramel-y vibe. Molasses is an option if you want a stronger flavor.
- Lemon juice. A little splash keeps the sweetness from tasting heavy. Lime juice works if that’s what you’ve got, and fresh or bottled is fine.
- Old fashioned oats. Don’t use quick oats – they don’t clump the same and the texture ends up kind of sad. Old fashioned oats are what give you those crunchy clusters.
- Craisins. These are sweetened dried cranberries. Dried apricots or raisins also work.
- Walnuts. I usually buy whole walnuts and crush them up a bit. Chopped walnuts are totally fine too. You can swap in pecans, almonds, or pine nuts.
- Chia seeds. Adds texture and helps with clumping, plus it’s a fiber boost without trying too hard.
- Ground flax seeds. Use ground, not whole.
- Vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This is where the cozy flavor comes from. Feel free to play around – apple pie spice or pumpkin spice are both fun swaps when you want a seasonal twist.
- Craisins. Sweetened dried cranberries add that little tart pop. Raisins work, and so do chopped dried apricots. Add dried fruit after baking so it doesn’t get weird and tough.
How to make Granola
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This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Get prepped
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
Make the granola
In a small bowl, stir together the coconut oil, agave nectar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract, then in a large bowl combine the rolled oats, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, cinnamon, and nutmeg; pour in the wet mixture and mix well until everything is evenly coated, then spread the mixture on the prepared sheet pan, keeping it fairly compact (not too spread out) so it clumps and is less likely to burn.
Bake and cool
Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring just once, until golden brown, then remove from the oven and immediately press the granola down firmly to help it clump; let it sit for 10 minutes, sprinkle with craisins, and cool completely before breaking it up and serving.
Kylee’s Notes & FAQs
Use a smaller pan. A thicker layer = better clumps and less burning.
Coat everything well. Mix until every oat looks glossy and covered.
Stir once. More stirring = fewer clusters.
Press right out of the oven. This is the clump-maker step.
Cool before breaking. Touch it too soon and it turns into crumbs.
How to store granola
Seal in an airtight container and keep at room temperature for up to one month. They can be frozen and stored in the freezer for up to 1 year. Keep a jar on your counter ready for snacking!
Troubleshooting Guide – Common Problems and Solutions
More easy breakfast recipes:
- Bacon Sausage Breakfast Sliders – a batch of these breakfast sliders is JUST the thing for the weekend. Breakfast YOUR way with bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese in a soft bun, brushed with garlic-butter… yes, please!
- Easy Blueberry Waffles from Scratch – These waffles are light and fluffy and golden brown – and take just a few minutes to whip up. You can have 4 Belgian sized waffles in about 15 minutes! DIG IN!!
- Vanilla Maple Baked French Toast – Delightfully flavored french toast, topped with a sweet/nutty/crunchy topping, be warned – you will get addicted!!
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Homemade Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup coconut oil (melted)
- ¼ cup agave syrup (or molasses, honey or maple syrup)
- ½ tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup walnuts (roughly chopped)
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoons nutmeg
- ¾ cup craisins
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine ⅓ cup coconut oil, ¼ cup agave syrup,½ tablespoons lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Stir until combined.
- Add in 2 ½ cups old fashioned oats, 1 cup walnuts, 2 tablespoons chia seeds,1 tablespoon ground flax seeds, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoons nutmeg. Stir thoroughly until everything is well coated.
- Spread the granola evenly on the sheet pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven.
- Let sit for 10 minutes before topping with ¾ cup craisins.
- Let cool completely before breaking it up and serving.
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Notes
Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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