Just the right amount of crunch to make this granola recipe the perfect snack, dessert or breakfast!
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About eight years ago, I tried a homemade granola recipe. My memories of homemade granola were at a bed and breakfast I went to with my parents back when I was in between high school and college. The proprietor offered homemade granola as part of breakfast.
I didn’t think about it too much after that, but then a few years ago, I tried a granola recipe a friend made and decided to make the plunge and try making it myself. I’m glad I did, because this recipe has been a favorite of my family’s for years.
When I made it again last week, I decided it was certainly time I share it on here. This easy oat and honey granola recipe is delicious. When I first made it, I crumpled it up thinking I’d use it in small pieces for cereal or something. After that I left it in chunks, because it’s so good on its own that we eat it for snacks, dessert and breakfast around here.
This oat and honey granola recipe has just the right amount of crunch and sweetness. It’s surprisingly easy to make with simple ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now. And it has the added bonus of making your house smell great while it’s baking!
Just look at this goodness!
Getting started
I’ll be honest and tell you that when I first started looking for a granola recipe to make, I didn’t even know what kind of oats recipes were talking about.
I learned that it’s the oats you buy in a canister to make oatmeal. You can use either quick-cooking oats for this recipe or old-fashioned. I’ve made it with both. We prefer quick-cooking oats because they are a bit smaller.
Once you have your ingredients and are ready to go, turn your oven to 350-degrees to preheat. Then put the oats, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, vegetable oil, water and salt into a bowl.
Next, stir everything together. It will seem like it is too dry, but it will be fine. Just keep stirring for a couple of minutes until everything is coated. This oat and honey granola isn’t a mix that gets really wet.
Bake it in the oven at 350-degrees for 10 minutes. Take it out, stir it around and press it back into the same layer as before Return it to the oven for 10 to 12 more minutes until the oat and honey granola is a lovely golden brown with crispy edges and your kitchen smells divine!
Even if you like things extra crunchy, don’t be tempted to over-bake this oat and honey granola recipe. I’ve tried leaving it in for a few extra minutes and ended up with a hard block that tasted slightly burnt.
Don’t worry if the oat and honey granola doesn’t seem super crunchy when it’s still warm. It crunches up as it cools.
If you want it in small chunks to eat like cereal or as a topping, then stir it around again as soon as it comes out of the oven.
If you want to leave the oat and honey granola in chunks to snack on like I do, then let it cool completely, lift it off the pan and break it into chunks. I store mine in a quart-sized ziptop bag to keep it fresh.
The oat and honey granola will last about a week before it starts getting on the chewy side.
Easy oat and honey granola
This oat and honey granola recipe is easy and delicious! Just the right amount of crunch and sweetness make it a great breakfast, snack or dessert!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutesmins
Cook Time 20 minutesmins
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Soup
Cuisine American
Ingredients
2cupsoatsquick-cooking or old-fashioned; I prefer quick-cooking because they're smaller
1/3cuphoney
1/3cupvegetable oil
pinchof salt
1teaspoonvanilla extract
2tablespoonsbrown sugar
1teaspoonwater
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix them together. The mixture will be sort of clumpy and wet without being soaking.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick aluminum foil.
Spread the granola mixture out in a thin layer all over the pan.
Bake it in the oven for 10 minutes, then stir it around and press it back into the same thin layer as before.
Bake for 10 to 12 more minutes until it’s a lovely golden brown with crispy edges and your kitchen smells divine.
Keyword granola, oat and honey, oat and honey granola
The Bottom Line. Granola is healthy in small amounts, especially because oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit in granola provide some fiber that's good for heart and gut health. However, granola can also be a rich source of calories, saturated fat and sugar, depending on the brand you buy.
Many types of granola contain healthy ingredients that may offer numerous benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and gut health.
Most granola recipes add the nuts in the beginning and the nuts just cook too long and become bitter. Also cooking at a low temperature means there is no constant stirring like most recipes. You only stir when you add the nuts and coconut.
Which One Is Better for Breakfast? Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.
Yes, granola can be eaten daily. As part of a balanced diet and if the portions are checked. Go for healthier options with less added sugars and saturated fats to get the most out of it.
You should use either maple syrup (the most delicious sweetener in the world, period) or honey. Both of these natural liquid sweeteners provide sweetness and so much more; unlike one-dimensional granulated sugar, honey and maple syrup supply the caramel, vanilla, and floral notes that make granola interesting to eat.
Here are downsides and potential risks of consuming granola:
High consumption of sugar raises the risk for health issues like weight gain, obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. High in calories, with about 200 to 240 calories per half-cup serving (which isn't very big!).
One form of these powerful inflammation fighters is found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, tuna, striped bass and anchovies. You can get the benefit from eating the fish or by taking fish oil supplements. Vegetarians and vegans have options, too.
Are peanuts inflammatory? The short answer is no, and in fact, peanuts and some peanut products like peanut butter have been shown to be anti-inflammatory. Inflammation in the body is a mechanism thought to be at the center of the majority of chronic diseases.
If you want a less clumpy granola, stir and then add the nuts, flaxmeal, and coconut on top of the half-baked granola. If you want a more clumpy granola, don't stir before adding the additional ingredients. Return the sheet to the oven and bake 10 minutes more until everything is lightly toasted.
If your homemade granola isn't crunchy then it's most likely because it needed to bake longer. Also, be sure to store the granola in an airtight container. Leaving it out, particularly if the climate is humid, can cause granola to lose some of it's wonderfully crunchy texture.
Evidence suggests honey might help relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis. Honey might also be effective as part of oral rehydration therapy. Neurological disease. Studies suggest that honey might offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits.
Quinoa is a great oatmeal alternative as it has rich protein and fiber contents, which help keep you satiated and slow the rise of your blood sugar post-meal. One cup of cooked quinoa packs about 40 grams of carbs, 8 grams of protein, 5 grams of dietary fiber and 3 grams of healthy fats.
The Bottom Line. Dietitians agree that raw oats are generally safe to consume after they've been processed post-harvest. From savory meals to drool-worthy desserts, oats are a nutritious whole grain that can be incorporated into your diet in countless ways. Explore the endless possibilities of oats, both raw or cooked.
According to Healthline.com, oats are a good source of carbs and fiber and are even filled with "important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant compounds." When combined with the natural energy found in pure honey, there is no doubt that honey and oats pack a powerful punch when enjoyed together.
Though Honey Bunches of Oats is fortified with vitamins and minerals, it fails to provide a balanced breakfast, as — like most breakfast cereals — it's high in added sugar and low in fiber and protein. Dietary guidelines encourage you to include plenty of fiber and protein in your morning routine.
LOW IN FAT AND CALORIES - With only 116 calories per serving and less than 1 gram of fat, Kellogg's Special K Oats & Honey is a low-calorie option that can help you maintain a healthy diet.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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