This delicious healthy granola recipe is naturally sweetened with maple syrup (or honey). It's made with oats, coconut oil and your favorite nuts and fruit. Make it your own! Recipe yields about 8 cups granola, enough for about 16 half-cup servings.
1 ½ cup raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 1 cup pecans and ½ cup pepitas)
1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt (if you’re using standard table salt, scale back to ¾ teaspoon)
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
½ cup maple syrup or honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅔ cup dried fruit, chopped if large (I used dried cranberries)
Totally optional additional mix-ins: ½ cup chocolate chips or coconut flakes*
Categories
Breakfast
Cuisine
American
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.
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 313 calories
Carbohydrates: 39.8 g
Protein: 7.6 g
Fat: 14.3 g
Saturated Fat: 6.6 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 143.2 mg
Sugar: 10.7 g
Reviews
Caroline on 2026-04-26 (5 stars): Made this exactly as written. It was perfect. We now have this for breakfast every morning with some homemade Greek yogurt. Thank you for the recipe.
Phxlady on 2026-04-27 (5 stars): I'm so glad I found this recipe!
I have made it several times and love it. My husband likes it better when I add chocolate chips
I made some for my sister and she makes it as well.
It a healthier snack, (I use olive oil and honey) that's perfect in a lunch or traveling on a trip.
Thanks for posting this recipe.
Heidi Wick spoerl on 2026-04-30 (5 stars): Best recipe ever!
Whitney Martin on 2026-05-09 (5 stars): I think I’ve been making this recipe for over ten years now on at least a monthly basis. I don’t need to even look at the recipe anymore but I share it so frequently that it’s still bookmarked. People always want the recipe!
Thanks for making me famous amongst my friends for making the best granola! I always give you the credit. :)
It won’t let me rate it but five stars, excellent all around. The only thing I change is that I triple the cinnamon.
Mussorsky Spring on 2026-04-29 (5 stars): I love recipes like this where you can mix and match ingredients based on what you have. Makes it feel less boring over time. What’s your favorite combo of nuts and dried fruit?
Elsie Turner on 2026-04-30 (5 stars): 1,000 stars by far. This is the best granola recipe I have ever come across. This is genius! I can’t believe how delicious it is with so little sweetener. Thank you making this available.
Cynthia on 2026-05-24 (5 stars): Love, Love, Love this recipe. It’s so good, can’t stop eating it! Thanks so much!
Kristina on 2026-05-03 (5 stars): Kathryne Taylor, thank you for the work that you do. Your recipes are so good tasty accurate and simple.
Jill on 2026-05-04 (5 stars): Love this recipe!!
I added pb protein powder, flaxseed, hershey cocoa and a handleful mini semisweet chips. Comes out tasting like a no bake cookie but healthier I hope!
Caroline on 2026-05-05 (5 stars): I made this recipe exactly as suggested. It was fantastic. I have tried other recipes and this one is most definitely the best. It is now my every morning breakfast. I never get tired of it. Thank you for a great recipe!
Diane Shaw on 2026-05-08 (5 stars): I made this and I love it!
Geneva Homechef on 2026-05-19 (5 stars): I halved the oil & added the same quantity of egg whites instead.
I also baked for 17 mins only.
Crisped up & clumped perfectly.
Thanks, Kate !
Ellenor Drew on 2026-05-09 (5 stars): If you are reading this comment… make this granola asap!!
It’s amazing with some yogurt and banana. I used mixed nuts, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and sultanas (which i added in when cooking… oops, but still turned out amazing). Thank you for this recipe!!!
Robbin Engels on 2026-05-11 (5 stars): This granola is incredible, even when you go off track and add in something outside the receipe. I sometimes use : dried cranberries or cherries or apricots. It seems to always work. My husband said, "It is the best granola/cereal that I've ever tasted." And I couldn't agree more. Love it!
Christy Hall on 2026-05-11 (5 stars): This recipe is awesome! Everyone in my family enjoys it, I have shared with friends also! Thank you! I have tried several others (and failed). This was quick and easy and so flavorful!
Sally on 2026-05-11 (5 stars): I love this recipe and so does my family. I can’t even keep it on the counter for 1 week doubling the recipe, it’s gone almost as quick as I make it!
Leann K. on 2026-05-11 (5 stars): I've made this recipe many times over the years and honestly it's just absolutely the best flavour and crunch.
Emily on 2026-05-13 (5 stars): This recipe is one of those that gets classified as "stupid good". It's so good. Easy to make and it smells DELICIOUS while preparing and baking. We cooked ours a wee bit longer than prescribed. For our nut/seed blend, we used approximately 3/4 cups almonds and then split the second 3/4 cup between shelled pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Spilled a little bit of the cinnamon and measured vanilla with my heart (I always like extra of those anyway). We didn't even add the dried frut. This recipe is super adaptable for variety. Ten out of five; highly recommend; will be making again. Thank you!
Tahani on 2026-05-14 (5 stars): Great recipe! I did have to use avocado oil and agave syrup. Still I'm going to print this off for later use.
Christine B on 2026-05-20 (5 stars): 4th time making this very happy , family cant get enough of it . I make 5 batches and freeze most of it till it’s needed .
Thanks for a very good recipe.
Tara J on 2026-05-20 (5 stars): Love this recipe! I used ground Saigon cinnamon for a little added zip. Going to try adding cacao powder next for a chocolate flare. I did cut back a little on the sweetening and if using the Saigon cinnamon, find that you don't need as much salt.
Michelle M on 2026-05-23 (2 stars): Absolutely flummoxed- followed all the directions and 100% did not turn out - at all. No idea how I could have gone so wrong - didn’t even substitute. Sigh. At least my chickens will appreciate.
Brynn Olenberg Sugarman on 2026-05-26 (5 stars): Love this recipe! And it worked perfectly in my previous oven, but I've now moved, and my new oven is much more powerful. After following the directions perfectly, and burning the whole batch, this is what I have learned, and want to share with others who may also have strong ovens like mine: 1. Do not use the convection setting if the granola is the only thing in the oven. 2. Be wary of timing: it may take only around 15 minutes, not 21 to 24. This is what I will do the next time, and will also put my oven on a lower, setting, perhaps 320, not 350.
Hoping for better luck next time, as I do not want to give up on a recipe which I previously enjoyed!
Shelley on 2026-05-26 (5 stars): Best granola recipe! My previous attempts at granola never ‘clumped’ but this was perfect. I love maple pecan flavor so I omitted the cinnamon and vanilla and used a tsp of maple extract. This will be my go to granola recipe from now on. Your recipes don’t disappoint. Thank you!
Kat on 2026-05-28 (5 stars): This has become my go-to favorite granola. I make as written, but a bit less sweet. I use whatever nuts or seeds are in the pantry and add flaked coconut halfway through the baking - when I remember! We sprinkle it on homemade yogurt, eat as cereal and as a snack. It's crunchy, delicious and no ano ingredients I can't pronounce. So much better than what you can buy off the grocery store shelf!
Thanks for a great recipe:-)
Patricia Thompson on 2026-05-28 (5 stars): Make this Gluten-free on a Weekly basis love it
It’s addictive ❤️
Jud on 2026-06-01 (5 stars): Yeeees this granola is too good! I did it exactly according to the recipe. Used coconut oil and honey cut with 1/3 of agave sirup. I just added twice the amount of cinnamon. Only oats with sliced almonds. After baking i added some chocolate but it wasn't necessary, they are even tastier without! (And I'm a fan of chocolate). After 22 minutes they were quite dark but so good, I will try to keep them a bit shorter or lower temperature a few degrees. The pressing advice after mixing was useful, I got big chunks! Thank you!!
Nouan on 2026-06-01 (5 stars): Hi Kate,
I tried this recipe for the first time and really enjoyed it! I used agave syrup instead of honey because I wanted a vegan version. I also added walnuts, almonds, and coconut chips.
I baked it for 15 minutes, then added the coconut chips and baked it for another 2–3 minutes until they turned golden. The total baking time was about 18 minutes because I noticed the edges were browning faster than the center, and I didn't want them to burn. After baking, I left the granola on the tray untouched for about 30 minutes to cool.
It's delicious! However, I noticed that some parts of the granola aren't as crunchy as others. I will be making another batch soon. How to make sure the entire batch turns out evenly crunchy?
Thanks!
Helen King on 2026-06-03 (5 stars): Me and my Grandson have been making this Granola on a regular basis it's the easiest and the best granola ever. He actually has been making it on his own from memory.
Thanks so much for the recipe!!
Helen (June 3 2026)
Natalie on 2026-06-03 (5 stars): We loveeee this recipe, my go to granola recipe
Valerie Harrison on 2026-06-03 (5 stars): Making this recipe today. Looks tasty and hopefully it's a keeper. At our local Farmer's Market bags run $10 per bag. I added the dried fruit at the beginning opps!
Tami Routhier on 2026-06-06 (5 stars): The Very Best Granola
This actually is THE VERY BEST GRANOLA!! I will never purchase store bought again!!!
Eleen on 2026-06-07 (5 stars): Thank you for this recipe. Tastes so much better than store bought for a fraction of the price.
