Nothing beats breakfast yogurt, cereal, or oatmeal topped with warm homemade granola! It has that lovely crunchy yet chewy texture that we absolutely love. It is simple to make and amazingly more satisfying than the store-bought alternatives.
Dress up a salad, prepare a healthy on-the-go snack, or bake it into zucchini or banana bread. We promise you will love it!
Need-to-Know
Not all Vanilla Extracts are Created Equal
For this recipe, you may swap the vanilla extract for vanilla bean paste scraped from the insides of vanilla bean pods. Whenever I spot vanilla bean pods in the grocery store’s aisles or a specialty food store, I will snatch them up for this recipe and others! Its flavors are unmatched!
However, if you can’t get your hands-on vanilla bean pods, I suggest buying a high-quality vanilla extract. Imitation vanilla extract is derived from wood pulp products, ugh. This gives the extract a harsh and bitter flavor. Alternatively, the higher quality brands are soft and palatable, though perhaps a bit pricier.
The vanilla extract should be “pure” or “100% vanilla” harvested from vanilla bean pods. Check the labels and the ingredients to ensure you are getting the real deal. I advocate for extracts from Madagascar as I find the flavor is pronounced and round, but there are many equally reputable options from Mexico and Tahiti.
What is Homemade Granola?
Granola is a breakfast food or snack that is composed of primarily rolled or old-fashioned oats. Rolled oats are derived from groats, which are the seed of cereal grain, usually roasted to develop a toasted flavor, steamed, and flattened into discs, resulting in the oats we are familiar with. The oats are combined with the following ingredients and baked in the oven on parchment paper until golden:
- Unrefined oil
- Salt
- Sweeteners such as sugar, honey, or maple syrup
- Dried fruits
- Nuts and seeds
Fruits, Nuts, and Seeds that You Can Add
We love the combination of flavors that we have chosen for this granola recipe; however, if you wish to add other fruits, nuts, or seeds, add what you desire. Here are some notable additions:
- Dried apricots
- Dried cranberries
- Dried dates
- Dried blueberries
- Banana chips
- Sunflower seeds
- Toasted pistachios
- Toasted pecans
- Roasted peanuts
- Roasted almonds
How to Eat It
- Spoon it over yogurt
- Sprinkle it in a bowl of oatmeal
- Spoon clusters over ice cream
- Drizzle melted chocolate over it and freeze it
- Bake it in banana bread
- Drown clusters in milk
Additionally, try our Vanilla Yogurt with Blueberry Compote and Homemade Granola.
Storage
Store homemade granola in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. You may also freeze the granola, which will allow it to last much longer than 2 weeks.
Purge your Fridge
You just finished devouring our vanilla yogurt with blueberry compote and homemade granola, and you are left with the following ingredients:
- Rolled oats
- Toasted pepitas
- Black raisins
- Fresh coconut
Make oatmeal for breakfast with all these ingredients. Alternatively, try these Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies and add coconut flakes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled or old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup black raisins
- 2 tbsp coconut flesh grated
- 2 tbsp toasted pepita seeds
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Grate Coconut and Preheat the Oven
- Grate the coconut flesh. Set aside.
- Grease a baking pan (or line with parchment paper) and preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix Up the Granola
- Combine rolled oats, coconut flakes, toasted pepita seeds, raisins, olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla extract into a mixing bowl and stir together using a spatula.
- Spread mixture over the greased (or parchment-lined) baking sheet evenly.
3. Bake the Granola
- Place in the oven for 25 minutes or until golden.
- Serve and enjoy.
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