Homemade granola is everything you want it to be and more. Not only is making your own granola ridiculously delicious, it is a nutritious breakfast option and an easy recipe to put together!
Since homemade granola is such a low-maintenance recipe to make, I will often make my batches of homemade granola on a weeknight after I get home from work.
Meredith’s Tip: This is a Great Gift for New Mamas!
Homemade granola is easy to store, easy to grab in the middle of the night when they’re up for a feeding, and makes for an easy breakfast. Notice the keyword EASY? Additionally, many of the ingredients in this granola are on all those lists they’re Googling in the middle of the night looking for ways to help increase their milk production (I know from personal experience). As a new mama it is SO NICE to get homemade meals and snacks from friends and family… especially if it’s a better-for-you option! Be that friend for someone you know; they will truly appreciate it more than you can imagine.
If you love this easy granola recipe with maple syrup, you’ve got to try these peanut butter and chocolate energy bites too!
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Why You’ll Love This Homemade Granola Recipe
Easy to make! Making homemade granola is very easy. This is a good breakfast recipe for any skill level!
Wonderful flavor. This maple pecan granola has subtle maple and nut flavors, and is mildly sweet.
Perfect Texture. This maple almond granola is crunchy, just as you’d expect! This recipe does not create clusters like some do (see notes below in the ‘Recipe Substitutions and Variations’ section for how to create more clusters).
Ready in under an hour. From start-to-finish, it will take you approximately 50 minutes to make homemade maple syrup granola. This includes measuring, mixing your ingredients together, and baking time.
Ingredients Needed
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: I recommend using old-fashioned oats when making homemade granola (and in most baking adventures if we’re being honest). They are sturdier than the quick-cook variety, making the texture of your maple nut granola much more enjoyable
- Nuts & Seeds: I combine pecans, walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds in this recipe. I’ve played with different combinations (a lot) and just love the final product from this version the best. Using this variety adds great texture to your homemade granola as well as a variety of nutrients too!
- Maple Syrup: Real maple syrup is used both for flavor and so this maple granola is naturally sweetened. The fake pancake syrups (like Hungry Jack, Aunt Jemima, etc.) are highly processed with all kinds of ingredients that you don’t need…use the real deal.
- Neutral Oil: You need some type of neutral oil for this recipe (ie – something that does not have a strong flavor). I personally like to use grapeseed oil. Don’t have that? No problem. Other neutral oil options you could use include: canola oil, vegetable oil, and coconut oil.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is the final ingredient in your ‘liquid’ mixture that you pour into your oats, nuts, and seeds. Just enough to give your batch of granola a little bit of sweetness.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
Change the mix-ins / nuts and seeds used. The fun thing about making homemade granola is that you can tailor it to your liking. Don’t like pecans? No problem, replace them with a different ingredient! You can use different types of nuts, shredded coconut, dried fruit, or your favorite type of seed.
Use honey instead of maple syrup (this generally makes more clusters). Swap honey 1-to-1 in place of the maple syrup if desired. You can also do half honey and half maple syrup.
- Note: Substituting honey into this recipe will give your granola a different flavor profile (as you’re taking out at least a portion of the maple syrup).
- Note: Honey is much sticker to work with. If you do make this swap, I’d also recommend that you add in a layer of parchment paper below your granola…save yourself some elbow grease later.
Top Tip
The most important thing about this homemade granola recipe is the ingredient ratio: 3 cups oats, 2 cups mix-ins (the nuts and seeds), and 1 cup liquid mixture (made with the oil, maple syrup, and sugar).
How to Make Granola with Maple Syrup
Prepare a cookie sheet: Get out your biggest cookie sheet and set aside. No lining or cooking spray needed
Measure your dry ingredients: Place your oats, nuts, and seeds in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine
Create liquid mixture & pour over dry ingredients: In a small bowl (or 2 cup liquid measuring cup), add your oil, maple syrup, and brown sugar. Whisk to combine. Pour over your dry ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated
Spread granola mixture onto a baking sheet. Gently spread your granola mixture into an even layer on a baking sheet.
Bake your homemade granola: Bake at 300°F for 45minutes, stirring granola and re-distributing evenly over your pan half-way through the baking process.
Cool, enjoy, and store: Let granola cool completely and enjoy! Store in mason jars or other air-tight container(s) of choice.
Maple Granola Serving Suggestions
There are lots of great ways to enjoy this homemade granola! Some of my favorite ways to enjoy this crunchy nut granola is:
- Served with yogurt and berries! If you’d like to add more protein and some omega-3s, sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of hemp hearts on top as well.
- As a quick snack, enjoying it by the handful. Option to toss in some mini chocolate chips for an extra special treat.
- Sprinkled on top of smoothies.
- As a fun topping on ice cream.
Storage
Allow the granola to cool completely before storing. Store granola in an airtight container (like a mason jar) for 2-3 weeks at room temperature. You can also freeze granola is desired for up to 3 months.
Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy
Maple Nut Granola
Ingredients
- 3 Cups – Old Fashioned Oats gluten-free for GF diets
- ½ Cup – Sliced Almonds
- ½ Cup – Chopped Pecans
- ½ Cup – Chopped Walnuts
- ½ Cup – Salted & Roasted Pepitas
- ¼ Cup – Grapeseed Oil
- ½ Cup – Maple Syrup
- ¼ Cup – Brown Sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (149 degrees C)
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, pecans, walnuts, and pepitas. Set dry ingredients aside
- In a liquid measuring cup, measure out the grapeseed oil and maple syrup. Add the brown sugar to the liquid mix and whisk to combine
- Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated
- Spread the mixture evenly onto a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through
- Remove from the oven, cool, and store in an air-tight container
Victoria says
I tried this recipe for the second time and yes, easy is the right word, but so is yummy! This time I swapped out the almonds for cashews and added in 1/2 cup of snipped dried apricots just to make it interesting. Now the problem is to stop going to the container for another spoonful, and another spoonful! But my favorite way to enjoy it is over yogurt. Thanks for another winner!
Meredith says
I’m so happy to hear you’ve made this several times and love it too! Love the swaps you made too, I’ll have to try that next time 🙂
T. Hammerschmidt says
Such a good breakfast! Very filling.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
So happy to hear you enjoyed this granola recipe! Thank you for giving my recipe a try 🙂
Maren says
Our go-to granola! Will never buy granola from a store again.
ourlovelanguageisfood says
So glad you love it too!