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Homemade Baked Granola: Easy, Crunchy & Delicious

Homemade Baked Granola

This easy baked granola combines oats, nuts, optional coconut and seeds, maple syrup or honey, oil, vanilla, and cinnamon for crisp clusters. Dried fruit is stirred in after baking so it stays pleasantly chewy instead of becoming hard or scorched.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Granola Base
  • 4 cups Old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup Roughly chopped nuts, such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts
Optional Add-Ins
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/2 cup Seeds, such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds
Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Fine salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Pure maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 cup Neutral oil or melted coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
After Baking
  • 1/2-1 cup Dried fruit, such as raisins, cranberries, or chopped apricots

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Combine the oats, chopped nuts, optional coconut, optional seeds, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
  3. Whisk the maple syrup or honey, oil, and vanilla together. Pour the mixture over the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
  4. Spread the mixture in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Press it down firmly for larger clusters.
  5. Bake for 25–35 minutes, rotating the pan once. Stir once during baking for looser, evenly toasted granola, or leave it mostly undisturbed for larger clusters.
  6. Remove the pan when the granola is golden brown, keeping the dried fruit out of the oven.
  7. Cool the granola completely on the baking sheet for 30–45 minutes. Break it into pieces and mix in the dried fruit.

Notes

For sweeter granola, increase the maple syrup or honey to 2/3 cup. For a less oily version, use 1/3 cup oil, though the finished granola may be slightly less crisp. Add chocolate chips, toasted coconut, or freeze-dried fruit only after the granola has cooled. Store airtight at room temperature for about 1–2 weeks.