The Best Easy Granola Recipe

This has to be the easiest granola recipe out there, and so delicious! It will take you about 10 minutes to mix the oats, nuts, coconut oil and maple syrup together in a bowl, and another 25 minutes to bake the granola in the oven. It's incredibly simple to throw together, yet it tastes better than any gourmet granola you can buy at the store.

Homemade granola is a staple in my house. I love it for breakfast, snacking, topping ice cream, gift-giving... Over the years I've created several different granola variations —all wonderful in their own way: my favorite healthy granola recipe, vanilla toasted almond granola, and almond maple granola. But what really sets this granola apart from the rest is how ridiculously quick and easy it is to prepare.

A big shout out to my sister-in-law Jen who shared this granola recipe with me. Jen is a fantastic cook with a remarkable talent for coming up with excellent easy recipes. In addition to being super quick and easy, this is such an all-around great granola recipe—it's nutritious, delicious, nutty, and it has the perfect amount of sweetness and crunch.

How To Make The Best Easy Granola

Truly as easy as can be!

1. In a large bowl, mix rolled oats, almonds, pecans, walnuts, coconut flakes, maple syrup, coconut oil and salt.
2. Spread the mixture out onto two rimmed baking sheets, and bake.

Note: I sometimes skip the coconut flakes and add ground flax seed or other seeds, as you can see in the photo below. Refer to the section below, "Variations and Tips," for suggestions on how to make substitutions.

If your coconut oil is hard, melt it in the microwave to make it easier to mix through.

Bake the granola for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. The nuts are extra delicious when they're well-toasted.

In 25 minutes you'll have a big batch of hearty, healthy granola that's way less expensive and way more delicious than anything you can buy at the store. And it will keep for 2 weeks—that is if you can resist snacking on it all day long.

Make it Your Own: Easy Variations & Tips

• Swap Your Oil: If you prefer, you can use an equal amount of extra virgin olive oil in place of the coconut oil in this recipe. The recipe will be even quicker and easier because you can skip the step of melting the coconut oil. Plus olive oil contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.
• Boost the Nutrition: Add ⅓ cup of ground flaxseed for extra healthy goodness. You can also swap out ⅔ cup of the oats for an equal amount of seeds, such as pumpkin and sunflower seeds, for a richer variety of nutrients.
• Add Dried Fruit: If you want raisins, dried cranberries, or cherries in your granola, simply add them in after the granola has completely cooled.
• Toast without Burning: I personally love dark golden brown granola because well-toasted nuts are incredibly flavorful. The safest way to get extra toasted granola without burning it is to turn off the oven after 20 minutes, but leave the granola in the oven to continue toasting in the residual oven heat, checking every 5 minutes, until you get your desired level of toasting.

Ways To Serve This Granola

• A Healthy Breakfast: Granola with yogurt and fresh seasonal fruit or berries is the best! It's a breakfast packed with fiber and protein to keep you feeling satisfied for hours.
• The Perfect Snack: A handful or two will give you a quick energy boost. Because it’s so nutrient-dense, it will leave you feeling full and satisfied.
• A Great Dessert Topper: Add some sweet, salty, crunchy granola to your ice cream. Trust me—it’s great!

If you try this easy granola recipe, I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. I'd love to know what you think!

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This recipe was first published on June 2, 2022. It has been updated with added useful and helpful information added to the written post and to the recipe notes. The post has been edited for a better reading experience. The same delicious recipe!