With more than 60 natural cleaning recipes for every room in your home, our Homemade Cleaners Book empowers you to make your own cleaners naturally. Save money and keep your family healthy & chemical-free.
Once you make your first batch you’ll be hooked by the taste, the ease, and the price. We were!
This is a very easy and rewarding baking project, so little effort for such a yummy result.
Homemade granola ended our quest for the perfect breakfast
For the majority of 2009 mornings the Jabs household has been eating a yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit breakfast. We started with store bought yogurt but quickly moved to homemade kefir instead (kefir is the healthier sibling to yogurt) – simple kefir recipe coming soon. We also moved quickly from store bought blueberries to picking our own local, organic blueberries.
For awhile now the last store-bought holdout has been our granola. Then I received this email from DFA reader Teresa White:
“I found your site while searching for homemade detergent (which is great), and I notice you and your wife eat the same breakfast my husband & I eat every morning, (we are addicted.) I thought you might want my recipe for homemade granola (healthy w/ no oil) Yummy, and cheaper than store-bought. We make our yogurt as well – it’s also much cheaper than store purchased. Let me know, God Bless your Ministry.” ~ Teresa
I was like… “Uhhhh yeah! Hand it over Teresa.” She did… and the results have been awesome!
How to make healthy homemade granola
Though she made a few tweaks, Teresa gives Ellie Kreiger credit for the original recipe. After a few trial runs, we also made a few adaptations to the recipe and came up with what you see below.
Cost = approximately $1.50/batch (at time of writing)
Using a large cookie sheet or other pan with sides that allow you to stir the mixture – butter pan and preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine:
- 3 cups whole rolled oats (not instant or quick)
- pinch of salt (optional)
- cinnamon (as you want – I add 1 tsp)
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup shaved coconut
- Nuts & seeds – Use whatever you like. My favorite was almonds and flax seed while Teresa likes pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, pecans, and almonds. Use as much as you want – I use about 1/2 cup.
Stir all ingredients together (will be slightly wet.) Pour into single layer on buttered pan and bake in preheated 300 degree oven for 15 minutes. Stir contents, arrange in single layer again, and continue baking for another 10 to 12 minutes and remove (Bake until barely starting to turn a little tan.) Stir again and allow to cool. Granola will be crunchy when cooled.
I you like, after cooling you can stir in dried fruit like cherries, raisins, cranberries etc.
Store in glass jar, not plastic – stays fresh in glass better.
If you double the recipe make sure you use a very large baking pan so the layer will still be thin enough to get toasty. Also… back at 300 degrees and not higher. This allows the granola to cook slow and get nice and toasty and crunchy.
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More about this homemade granola…
Teresa also added,
This granola is inexpensive as long as you don’t get carried away on the nuts. By the way, my husband and I have lost weight also (about 40 lbs together.) We are eating better food, eating more at home and walking. Plus… we are almost completely debt free – praise the Lord! We will make our last house payment next month and are so happy to be almost at this goal. I give God the glory because even though our business has been slow over the last 1 1/2 yrs, God has been faithful to provide beyond our needs.
Hope you enjoy this wonderful recipe, you may never buy granola again!
God Bless, Teresa
Thank you Teresa – and congratulations on being debt free… I cannot wait to join you!
Once you prepare, bake, and taste this heavenly snack… you’ll be kicking yourself that you have not been making your own granola all along. We did!
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{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
My wife was excited when she saw this post. We live overseas and cannot find many things in the store, but everything on the list is available at our rural third world store. We even get to use fresh coconuts. I’ll let you know how I like it when the chef has finished her work.
.-= Craig @ Money Help For Christians´s last blog ..What Credit Card Features are Important to You? =-.
Your family will love this Craig… so simply yet soooo delicious! Enjoy man.
I always need new recipes so thanks. Got any simple quick and easy dinner ones?
Ha ha, not on DFA but I have a ton at home – I love to cook. Email me and I’ll be glad to hook it up.
Mmm, sounds tasty.. I will have to give it a go. Sounds easy enough even I can do it.
.-= Kyle´s last blog ..My Identity may have Been Compromised =-.
Dude – it’s so easy. I double dog dare you to give it a shot.
Can I get a witness please?? That was in fact the dreaded double dog dare. Sorry Kyle… you have to make it now!
Ha! How funny – the Mrs. just posted her recipe too. Since she started making her own, she’s never gone back.
The coconut sounds great – If only I could get her to put it in ours (she’s not a fan)
.-= Mr. Not the Jet Set´s last blog ..Homemade Granola Recipe =-.
Oh man… the coconut and the almonds make ALL the difference. Have her make you a special batch.
I moseyed over to your site to check out her recipe – looks really good. How crazy that we both posted ours on the same day. Ha!
The planets must be in alignment…. ha!
I’ll have to twist her arm on the coconut – haven’t had it in ages. And having it toasted…. drewwwlll
Thanks for the kind words. I’ll let you in on a little secret on her recipe: Use fresh ground nutmeg. Takes it to a whole other level.
cheers!
.-= Mr. Not the Jet Set ´s last blog ..The Big Birthday Lesson: A new tradition =-.
OH YEAH… the wife & I always try to use the fresh stuff. Be it ginger, garlic, nutmeg, basil, parsley, cilantro, etc… fresh is always best. I think I’ll try adding a little fresh nutmeg to our next batch.
Matt, I love granola – I can’t wait to try this out!! Thanks!!
Go for it Bob… it is so simple and crazy good!
I usually buy the steel cut oats (if not using the quick oats), would they work as well in this? Or should I stick with the rolled oats?
The recipe itself sounds so yummy! I can’t wait to try it tomorrow!
I would assume STO will work as long as they’re not much thicker than rolled oats – if they are you may just have to bump up the cooking time. Let us know how it goes.
I finally tried it with SCO, and not so great. The oats didn’t “cook” through all the way. I’ll try with regular oats soon!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Some recent pages =-.
I just saw this post after the breakfast post. I love making granola too, but I wasn’t sure how much cheaper it was. But if you say it is, then I’m going with that! Thanks
.-= Michelle Traudt´s last blog ..10 Item Challenge =-.
If you find your stuff is too expensive, experiment with a few different (cheaper) ingredients until you find the recipe that fits perfectly to your taste buds and your pocketbook!
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’ve been making homemade granola for some time but have never made a version without oil/butter like this, I’m due to make more and look forward to trying it. I have to make a couple varieties to please my family, some don’t like dried fruit or coconut, etc. But the great thing is it is very versatile that way. I also add ground flax and wheat germ to my mix before baking. They’ll never know!
Hey Laura: FYI, my wife tried this without buttering the pan (accidentally) and found that as long as she stirred the granola up right after it came out of the oven the 2nd time (before it cools), she didn’t even need that butter!
Matt – it’s good to know that you don’t HAVE to use butter because I am extremely lactose-intolerant! Thanks for sharing your outtake!
You’re welcome Cameron! God bless.
Yummy! Granola is one of my favorites! I usually purchase Canola Farms version and it so expensive. I’m looking forward to making my own and saving money. Super combination. Thanks!
Thanks for the fantastic recipe, Matt! I also love your blog. It’s inspired me to set some budget goals for the first time.
I’ve made the granola twice already and it’s a big hit. I stocked up on Quaker Old Fashioned oats, which luckily I found out are the small thing as rolled oats, and a jug o’ maple syrup at Sam’s Club yesterday, so I should be able to keep my granola-addicted husband supplied
.-= Elizabeth May/DIY Mom´s last blog ..DIY Mom Does Christmas Applique =-.
Awesome Elizabeth. It’s delicious isn’t it! And so easy and cheap too – we love it, glad you do too.
I’m excited to try this recipe. When you say “shaved coconut” is that the sweetened stuff in the baking aisle? Or should I be looking for something else?
Thanks!
Hey Matt! I love homemade granola too. I just made my second batch of it last week. However, since the oats and nuts have phytic acid in them, they should be soaked so that they are easier to digest. Check out Kara’s recipe for granola at: http://goodlookingcook.blogspot.com/2009/09/feel-good-granola.html
It takes a little longer but the extra nutrients you’ll get are worth it.
Enjoy!
I love this recipe. I too had been looking for a good-for-you-easy breakfast and this is it!! The amazing thing that I discovered was that I didn’t get hungry as early as I did when I’d eat bagels w/ light cream cheese, or flax seed waffles (no syrup). My 2 adult kids live with me and they both can’t get enough. Thanks for posting this. YUMMMM!!!
I like the recipes on this site and would love to see more… what about the yogurt recipe you said would be coming?
I am so happy I found your site! I read all of your recipes 2 nights ago and became very ambitious! I have already made, tryed and loved the laundry detergent, toothpaste, deodorant and granola! I am anxiously waiting for my citric acid to arrive so I can try the dishwasher detergent! I made the granola today, but instead of using honey and syrup, I used 3/4 cup Agave nectar. Delicious and I believe less calories! Just wanted to share and say thank you!
Thank you so much for this recipe- it couldn’t be more simple or delicious. We have lots of allergies, so to customize this without preservatives is a great benefit for us! Thanks!
Very Interesting Blog! Thank You For Thi Information!
I haven’t had granola in so long because it’s just too expensive (or it’s afforable and gross). I live on a military base in the middle of the Mojave desert, though. We have only the commissary on base or a Walmart 45 minutes away. I really hope i can find all these ingredients I would LOVE to try this.
Love all your information on homemade stuff! Just started making our own yogurt and granola (oh yes, drool, yum). Instead of honey, we use about a half a cup of applesauce (sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the texture). It’s delicious and lower calorie while still giving you that granola-y crunch.
We love walnuts and cinnamon, a touch of vanilla and nutmeg in ours.. And I can’t convince the hubby of coconut. Shame! 
Love your website! I have now switched from store brand laundry detergent to homemade AND love this granola recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the encouragement Susanne, and for letting us know you’re making the switches… I LOVE hearing that!
This looks great. I’m making granola for my wedding favors so I needed to find one that was healthy, delicious, easy and affordable! One question: how many servings does this recipe make?
Thanks!
just made it, but my granola ended up being chewy instead of crunchy…gonna give it another shot
Hi Melissa, did you spread it out on a cookie sheet, cook it for 15 minutes, turn it, then cook for another 12-15 minutes? Keep trying… it turns out wonderful for us every time! God bless.
the second batch turned out…I substituted applesause for half of the maple syrup the first time and assume that is the reason it didn’t turn out..I still like it chewy…but the second batch was sooooooo good…I also sprinkled on more cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and pumpkin pie spice…:)
Betsy said that you have to let the granola completely cool and dry on the cookie sheet before stirring and putting away… so that could have been the problem too.
Do you have to use pure maple syrup – as in the kind that is expensive – or just regular pancake syrup? I have made 2 batches of the granola and my family loves it. I bought 100% pure maple syrup for $6+ and it is enough to make 2 batches. Was wondering if I really need to spend $3 just in syrup for each batch. It’s worth it but if I don’t need to spend that much, I’d rather not.
I am also looking at making my own syrup, would that work for the granola?
Hi Eve, buying maple syrup one gallon at a time is MUCH cheaper, that’s what we do. I wouldn’t use the commercial pancake syrup if they paid me, that stuff is straight HFCS.
Teresa – Best part about this post was the part about how you are paying off debts! My husband and I want to have kids and me be able to stay home with the kids. If we look at it with our eyes it’s impossible but everywhere I look God is saying TRUST ME I will provide everything you need! So thank you for another sign!!! God used you tonight to speak to me!!!
Isn’t it amazing how GREAT God is and how loving, powerful, patient, and faithful. Trust God Stacy and obey His commandments, He promised to provide for those who love Him. God bless.
Would Agave work in place of the maple syrup?
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