
This is the best homemade granola recipe out there. I am just sure of it! It is crunchy, sweet and flavorful just like you would want it to be. Plus it doesn't take more than a few minutes to put together. There is some oven time, but almost no work! It taste of maple syrup, cinnamon and toasted oatmeal. So good! Throw in a handful of pecans if you'd like and you'll really be in heaven!
Little Dude loves yogurt. He loves smoothies, cups of yogurt and especially fruit and yogurt parfaits.
He thinks it is fun to dump some granola on top and crunch on the little bits of sweet goodness. But granola can be expensive, and who knows what they put in it?

So I never keep it on hand. I do always have oatmeal though. I also always have some form of sugar and oil. So, I am always just a bit of time and hardly any effort away from granola. There are many variations you can make, but this is our favorite so far!
Little Dude has a new found affinity for cereal, and will eat it in a bowl with milk sometimes. He also likes to eat it dry with his hands.
But really, he enjoys it most on his yogurt. Throw in some strawberries or a banana and he is set!
In the picture above, we layered apple pie filling, vanilla yogurt and granola for my sister's bridal shower brunch. YUM!!

Update: This granola is MiMi's new favorite! She stumbled back on it recently, more than a year after I posted it and decided to give it a try.
Now she is hooked. She loves that it stays crunchy in spite of our humidity! What are your favorite granola add-ins?

Oatmeal is one of our favorite ingredients. We are always putting it in muffins, pancakes and we have quite the collection of baked oatmeal recipes you need to check out.
If you like your oatmeal warm, maybe you'd like apple pie steel cut oatmeal. Or if you want an excuse to have chocolate for breakfast, brownie baked oatmeal is a great option. What are your favorite oatmeal recipes?
How to make sure your granola is crunchy:
Finishing the granola in the oven is the part where it gets its crunch. Make sure to bake it low and slow so that the sugars don't burn before it gets good and crispy.
Stirring the granola half way through makes sure it heats evenly and that there is good air flow to all of the pieces. Don't skip that step.
Make sure your granola is completely cooled before you put it in an airtight container. If it is still warm, the steam will cause the granola to loose its crunch.

Keep it out of the humidity as much as you can. Store it in an airtight container and try to keep as much moisture out as you can.
Stored correctly, this granola will be good for several weeks at room temperature. However we tend to go through it quicker than that.
Because it is so easy to make, it's good to make it in small batches and make it more frequently. That way you don't have to worry about it losing its quality over time.

Ideas for mix-ins you could add to this recipe:
- Dried fruits such as raisins, craisins, banana chips, dried cherries and more! (Mix these in after the granola is baked and cooled)
- Nuts are a great add in too, chopped pecans, slivered almonds, even pepitas or sunflower seeds would be great. (You can add these in when you add the oatmeal and bake them right in!)
- Add some shredded coconut if you'd like. (I would stir this in half way through the baking process)
- If you want a vanilla twist, add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract to the liquid mixture before you toss in the oatmeal.
Yield: 8 Servings

Toasted Maple Cinnamon Granola
This is the best homemade granola recipe out there. I am just sure of it! It is crunchy, sweet and flavorful just like you would want it to be. Plus it doesn't take more than a few minutes to put together. There is some oven time, but almost no work! It taste of maple syrup, cinnamon and toasted oatmeal. So good! Throw in a handful of pecans if you'd like and you'll really be in heaven!
Prep time: 5 MCook time: 1 H & 15 MTotal time: 1 H & 20 M
Ingredients:
- 2 cups oats
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (granulated works fine too)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil or butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- dash of salt
- Optional: pecans or almonds
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Spread oats on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 10-15 minutes. They should start to emit a toasty aroma and take on a little color. (You can skip this step, but it adds a little extra depth of flavor to your granola.)
- Meanwhile, melt the coconut oil nad stir in the sugar, syrup, cinnamon and salt.
- Once the oats are toasted, remove from oven and turn the oven down to 250 F.
- Stir oats into syrup mixture and spread over the baking sheet again.
- Bake for one hour, stirring half way through.
- Remove from oven and spread over wax paper to cool. Break into bite sized pieces and store in an air tight container until ready to use!
Calories
156.04
156.04
Fat (grams)
4.70
4.70
Sat. Fat (grams)
3.03
3.03
Carbs (grams)
26.39
26.39
Fiber (grams)
2.23
2.23
Net carbs
24.16
24.16
Sugar (grams)
11.86
11.86
Protein (grams)
2.69
2.69
Sodium (milligrams)
23.44
23.44
Cholesterol (grams)
0.00
0.00
Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2020

Hi Carlee, Your recipe looks so good ,healthy, and yummy too! =)Thank you for sharing this. Granola is crazy expensive...I think it was $6 a pound at Whole Foods! I'm with you, homemade is so much better for you!
ReplyDeleteAnd it really is easy to make! We have been having fun messing around with different combinations of ingredients. This morning Jax had this granola with his peach yogurt and he was as happy as could be.
DeleteSounds delicious! Thanks for sharing at Tips & Tricks! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is! My toddler has been asking for his "nola" when he wakes up! At this rate I'm going to be making granola once a week. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI love homemade granola and this one looks amazing! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I need to make another batch. We have been flying through it!
DeleteMade this again today. Love this recipe!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm glad you like it so much!
DeleteI haven't made granola in ages, I should get a batch going again!
ReplyDeleteI love to add Craisins to granola.
I go through phases where I make it a ton and then I forget to. Now I really want a batch with craisins!!
DeleteI always make my own, too, and this sounds lovely. Cinnamon is so good for you. I do like to add dried berries or dried fruit, but that can be hard for little ones to manage.
ReplyDeleteMollie
I love fruit and nuts in mine as well, but the dried fruit can get a bit chewy for little dude. We have been loving how affordable fresh blueberries have been lately. I think we've eaten our weight in berries, yogurt and granola!
DeleteI was hoping you would share the recipe with this granola! I love a good yogurt parfait, my boys have always loved yogurt too, so happy that Jax loves it, he sure has the best mama chef in the house!
ReplyDeleteThis is our favorite granola recipe and it is easily tweaked a bit if you want. Thanks as always, Andrea!
DeleteThis sounds and looks so amazing, love anything with cinnamon! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too! Thank you!
Deleteyummy!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThanks so much for linking up with Full Plate Thursday! We will have an early Thanksgiving Edition on 11-22 -16, hope to see you there!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a bountiful Thanksgiving!
Miz Helen
I'll be there with bells on! Thanks, Miz Helen!
DeleteI like checking out different granola recipes. Btw, I've made your pumpkin cinnamon roll twice now!
ReplyDeleteI was enjoying trying different ones for a while too, but now I am stuck on this one. I am sure I'll branch out one of these days. And thank you for letting me know!! I haven't made a pumpkin cinnamon roll in a while, and now I want one!!
DeleteHi Carlee, I'm going to have to come and stay with you. I can be food taster! I've never made granola before, I always thought it was fiddly to make, but your recipe is soooo simple!
ReplyDeletexx
It really is so simple. Definitely come for a visit and taste your heart out!
DeleteCarlee, now you've got me wishing I had a cute jar filled with granola right now! Of course, I'd cut the real maple syrup to 3 tablespoons and skip the sugar altogether, but other than that, Yum! And what a lovely gift item! #tipgarden
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the best parts about granola, it is so easy to tweak and customize!
Delete