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The 25 Best Recipes for Whipping Up Crunchy Granola at Home

Updated on November 21, 2024
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Savory or sweet, it’s a versatile snack you won’t be able to put down.

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Our Best Granola Recipes

Granola is one of the most versatile recipes out there, which makes it one of our favorite things to make with oats. Whether you whip up a batch of super-sweet chocolate granola for a morning meal the kiddos will gobble up or a heaping pile of nut-and-seed-packed oats for a make-ahead camping breakfast, this easily adaptable food is always a crowd-pleaser. It’s easy to make and even easier to enjoy—and this list of recipes will make sure you never have a shortage of homemade granola in your pantry. Looking for your go-to granola? This simple version is crunchy, salty and sweet. It’s a versatile recipe that can be adapted with different add-ins or flavors, which makes it a universally-likeable snack that can be enjoyed at any time of day. Brown sugar and maple syrup add subtle sweetness, while vanilla adds deep, complex flavor.

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Healthy Granola

Granola doesn’t have to be a breakfast food, but we think this nutritious snack is a great way to start the day. This recipe cuts out some of the extra sweeteners found in other granola recipes and replaces them with healthy fats—like olive oil—and fiber-rich ingredients—like almonds and puffed millet. Toss in your favorite dried fruits and enjoy with milk, over yogurt or as is.

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S'mores Granola

If you love s’mores, you’ll love this dessert granola that’s a nod to the classic campfire treat. Light brown sugar adds rich sweetness, and vanilla extract adds deep caramelized flavor. Graham-flavored cereal is the secret to adding crunchy texture, which is perfectly balanced by chewy marshmallows and melty chocolate chips.

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Basic Granola Recipe

Basic granola is an easy and versatile recipe you can make on repeat. Whether you opt for dried fruit or nuts, this simple recipe is easy to personalize with your favorite add-ins. Serve it over yogurt, in a bowl with milk or grab a handful to snack on as an afternoon pick-me-up.

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Nut-and-Seed Granola

We left the oats out of this low-carb, low-sugar granola. Our taste testers were split on the level of toastiness: Some liked the granola golden brown, while others liked a deeper, more robust version. Just follow the recipe's visual cues (and your nose) for your preferred doneness.

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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Protein Granola

This homemade granola with almonds, coconut, maple syrup and a hit of protein powder is great to have on hand for fast, feel-good breakfasts or snacks. Each serving has eight grams of protein on its own and you can serve it with a 1/2 cup of low-fat plain Greek yogurt to boost it to 19 grams of protein total. It’s a great way to supercharge your protein goals and the large (eight-cup) batch of granola will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container in your pantry. Once you get the basic formula down, feel free to change it up a bit by using a different nut in the mix, adding a touch of warm spice like cinnamon or nutmeg or tossing the granola with some dried fruit after baking.

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Carrot Cake Granola

This fun spin on classic granola is packed with nutritious carrots and super-sweet dried pineapple. Our favorite part of the veggie-studded dessert granola is the yogurt-covered raisins, which is a fun nod to the cream cheese frosting on the classic cake. Chopped walnuts add crunchy texture.

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Granola

While many granola recipes can be filled with sugary ingredients, this recipe focuses on healthy, nutritious add-ins to create a naturally sweet flavor. Unsweetened apple sauce, honey and dried apricots are the key to the subtle sweetness, while sea salt and chopped pecans balance it out with savory flavor.

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Coconut Sour-Cherry Granola

Sour cherries are a flavorful addition to granola, because they perfectly offset the sweetness with a bit of tangy freshness. This simple granola bakes in the oven until golden brown and the whole recipe takes just over 30 minutes. Coconut flakes are the key to adding natural sweetness.

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Granola

Salty, sweet and crunchy, this PB&J-inspired granola is meant to be enjoyed for dessert. Pile it high on top of ice cream or sprinkle some over vanilla custard. Either way, it’s a sweet treat that packs nostalgic flavor.

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Mole-Scented Granola

If you’re looking to whip up a twist on traditional granola, look to this mole-scented recipe that marries bold, complex flavor with crunchy texture. First, mole seasoning gets sautéed and combined with honey and maple syrup. Next, oats, almonds and pumpkin seeds get tossed in the mole-flavored maple to create a crunchy snack that’s bursting with flavor in every bite.

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Granola

Many granola recipes take a long time to prepare, but this recipe can be ready in just one hour. Rolled oats combine with seeds, nuts and simple seasonings like salt and cinnamon. Bake in the oven for just 25 minutes and you’ll have a golden brown granola that’s crunchy, tender and flavorful.

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Apple Pie Granola

This sweet-and-spiced granola is meant to be eaten for dessert. Cinnamon-sugar pita chips mimic golden brown pie crust, and apple chips add just the right touch of tart and sweet. Eat plain, with a spoon, or sprinkle over vanilla ice cream for twist on pie a la mode.

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Miso Granola

Granola might be famous for being sweet, but we promise you’ll fall in love with savory granola after trying this recipe. It’s packed with umami flavor thanks to the addition of white miso paste, rice vinegar and soy sauce. Salted seaweed snacks add even more crunchy flavor to this savory snack.

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Homemade Granola Bars

Whether you prefer them crispy, chewy or somewhere in between, granola bars are an irresistable snack that can be enjoyed any time of day. This recipe is packed with flavorful add-ins—like dried apricots, cranberries and dates—that provide natural sweetness and complex texture.

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Crunchy Golden Tropical Granola

Tropical fruits are known for being sweet and juicy, but when dried, their deep flavor gets even more condensed. This tropical fruit-focused granola recipe is a fun spin on the traditional recipes because it puts the luscious fruits on full display. Ground ginger and cinnamon add rich, deep and complex flavor.

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German Chocolate Granola

If you love German chocolate cake you won’t be able to resist this sweet granola. Inspired by the classic cake, this crunchy snack is packed with coconut, pecans, and mini chocolate chips. Eat it straight up, or sprinkle it over ice cream or yogurt.

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Cherry-Almond Granola with Yogurt

In this recipe, oats get tossed with agave, brown sugar and lime zest and then gentled toasted. Once golden brown, the granola gets tossed with dried sweet cherries. It’s the perfect topping for tangy Greek yogurt, which makes this a fantastic idea for a brunch party or holiday breakfast.

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Peach Cobbler Granola

We love the extra peachiness the fruit preserves add to this dessert granola. Sprinkle it over vanilla ice cream, or stir it into yogurt.

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5-Minute Granola

In this ultra-quick granola recipe, ingredients get quickly toasted on the stovetop then tossed together, so you don’t even have to turn on your oven. Almonds and coconut add crunch texture, while honey, brown sugar and maple syrup add just the right amount of sweetness.

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Granola Bars

This granola bar recipe gets an extra kick of fiber with the addition of naturally-nutritious wheat germ. These bars are simple to make and even easier to enjoy, and best of all, they can be ready in just 35 minutes. Combine butter, brown sugar and honey, then mix with oats, nuts, dried fruit and wheat germ. Press into a pan, bake, cool and enjoy. It’s that simple!

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Banana Split Granola

This sundae-inspired granola has all the flavors of its namesake. Sprinkle it over Neapolitan ice cream, and don't forget to top it with a cherry.

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Classic Granola

If you’ve got hungry kiddos who love to snack, having a batch of homemade granola on hand is a must at all times. This recipe is simple and straightforward, and it can be ready in under an hour. Light brown sugar adds sweetness, while cinnamon and vanilla extract add deeper, more complex flavor.

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Granola

Our tasters all agreed: This dessert granola tastes exactly like the cookie. Sprinkle it over vanilla or butter pecan ice cream.

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Homemade Granola

This homemade granola is a great snack to have around the house—it’s an easy way to punch up cereal and gives the perfect crunch to a morning yogurt parfait. This recipe can be made in just one hour and yields 12 cups, which means it’s easy to make in bulk.

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