Every year in December, my book club has a special get-together with a festive meal and a Yankee Swap with books. No matter whose house it’s at, Linda, one of our exceptionally talented members, brings a little gift for everyone that she made herself. One year it was a tree ornament, another year it was ginger syrup, and this year it was granola. I am not always a fan of granola, but Linda’s granola was so delicious that I tried to make it last as long as possible.
Finally, I emailed her to ask for the recipe. After picking up a few of the ingredients that I didn’t have on hand, I decided to make it today. It is so yummy, and it’s a cinch to make! Now I just have to restrain myself from eating too much. Granola may be “healthy food” but it is far from calorie-free.
Here’s the recipe in case you’d like to give it a try. I decided to cut the recipe in half today, but this is the full recipe. The half recipe filled a standard sheet pan, and it gave me two good size containers’ worth that will last me a couple of weeks if I don’t eat too much.
Oops, my avocado oil isn’t in the photo, but it’s definitely in the recipe!
Ingredients
- 5-6 cups of rolled oats
- 2 cups slivered almonds or walnuts
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3/4 cup of avocado oil or any other oil without a strong flavor (avocado oil doesn’t degrade at high temperatures)
- 1/2 cup of honey, or more if you like your granola really sweet
- cinnamon to taste
Add-ins after the granola has been baked
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 3/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
- 3/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds
- minced crystallized ginger
- anything else that you like in your granola, e.g. raisins, coconut etc.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Toss together rolled oats, slivered almonds and salt.
- Emulsify oil and honey. I used a whisk, but it wasn’t a cinch. If I hadn’t been so lazy, I would have put it in my KitchenAid mixer. But whisking by hand was good enough.
- Pour the oil/honey mixture over the oats and almond mixture and mix well so that everything is nicely coated.
- Spread the mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet with sides.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes till the granola is golden brown, being careful not to overbake it. Mine was done in 30 minutes. Stir the mixture half way through, at least, so it all gets toasted.
- Remove from oven and let it cool completely. Then add in all the remaining ingredients and toss to distribute, breaking up any chunks unless you’re a fan of chunky granola.
- Store in an airtight container.
Have you made granola? Do you have a granola recipe you love? If not, do you think you’d try this?
I have never made granola but this does look super easy.
Super easy it is, Sandy! I just had some of it this morning for breakfast. As I mentioned, I halved the recipe since I was making it primarily for myself and I didn’t know how long it would take me to eat it. I think I’ve been eating too much of it because one of the small containers is almost empty already. If you do make it, LMK what you think!
Yummy, indeed! I need to make this. I love to add granola and fresh fruit to plain Greek yogurt– this would be absolutely perfect! Thank you for the recipe, Allison.
Hope you get a chance to make the granola sometime. It’s so easy and so yummy!
I’ve never made it myself, but I do like granola! This recipe looks delish!
It’s a cinch to make, and soooooo good!
That looks yummy and healthy!
Thanks! It is, and so easy to make!
I’ve never made granola, but this sounds amazing! I love when it has cinnamon…the more the better! 🙂
Granola is a cinch to make, Kristi! You can alter it in any way to suit your taste. Hope you try making it some day!
OK. I actually have all of the ingredients in my pantry already, and I’m probably going to try that recipe because I love using granola as a yogurt topper.
Oh wow, that’s great, Anastasia! LMK how it comes out! I need to use mine as a yogurt topper, but I always forget. Tomorrow I will!
I need to give this a try!
It may sound crazy, but I’ve never been a huge fan of granola. I need something soft to eat in the morning, lol!
No worries, Kerry, we all have different tastes and preferences. Truth be told, I wasn’t a fan of granola either. I thought it tasted like sawdust till my friend Linda gave me this. I put it on top of Greek yogurt, eat a little plain as a healthier snack or with some almond milk. But it’s not for everyone!
This is such an easy recipe! Definitely will make this soon
Hope you do, it’s worth it!
This looks like a nice snack!
Not sure why I haven’t made my own granola before. Love your ideas. Sounds so good!!
Granola is such a good treat this time of year!
I love granola and oddly have never tried making it. Thanks for the recipe!
I hope you do make the granola someday, it’s so easy and so yummy!