An easy, light homemade granola with just 5 basic ingredients!
Granola to me means wholesome goodness. It’s crunchy, it’s sweet, it’s oh so satisfying. It works for breakfast, for snacking, for travel. We love the stuff!
However, store-bought versions can be expensive and loaded with fat and calories.
And it can have some funky, less than wholesome stuff in it. Check those labels, y’all.
So I make my own and keep it pretty simple. Just five basic pantry ingredients and lots of ways to use it.
Ideas for homemade granola:
- Top your morning yogurt with some fruit and granola for an easy parfait.
- Pack some for school lunch or in a small container to have at the office for a mid-day snack.
- Take it on road trips, to kids sports events or to the pool. It travels great!
- Make healthy granola muffins – so tasty!
- Add it to some frozen yogurt or ice cream for a crunchy dessert topping!
My kids love granola too! I waited until about age 2 to introduce it to M since it’s so crunchy. Took her a full 30 minutes to eat the very small bowl I gave her, but she was determined. Loves the stuff!
We started taking it with us when we’d go out to brunch because we knew she’d be well occupied. I call that a #momwin!
As for my husband and I, we use it for a little yogurt parfait in the morning. Just spoon up your Greek yogurt, drizzle with honey if desired, top with blueberries (or fruit of choice) and sprinkle with granola.
And by sprinkle, I mean I tried to restrain myself for the purposes of this picture but as soon as I put the camera down, I added another fistful.
There’s usually more granola than yogurt in my parfaits. 😉
Of course, you can use this as a base recipe and tailor it to your tastes. Add some chopped nuts or chopped fruit if you want after it’s cooked. It’s all about you. Make it your way.
But do try this homemade granola. It’s so easy, so much more budget-friendly and lots healthier.
Enjoy!
5-ingredient granola
An easy, light homemade granola with just 5 ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 heaping teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 1/2 cups oats (I use old-fashioned)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 315 degrees. (Yes, 315 F.) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix together peanut butter and honey in a medium bowl, until smooth. Stir in vanilla and cinnamon until well-incorporated. Add oats and stir until they are well coated.
- Spread mixture onto parchment paper in an even layer.
- Bake at 315 for 30 minutes, flipping the pieces over after 20 minutes. This helps it get crunchy all over. If you flip carefully and leave lots of it stuck together, you'll get really huge clusters.
- Let cool completely to firm up. (It can be soft out of the oven but it does get hard and crunchy. Just wait for it.) Store in an airtight container and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Adapted from Peanut Butter Fingers.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1/4 cup |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 798kcal Calories from fat 213 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 24g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat 5g | 25% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Sodium 9mg | 0% |
| Carbohydrate 124g | 41% |
| Dietary Fiber 16g | 64% |
| Sugars 34g | |
| Protein 28g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
Be sure to check out my 5-minute granola bites too – great for snacking!
This was amazing! So simple & so good.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it Haley!! It’s a staple in our house!
Just made this, I love it! Perfect ratio of peanut butter and sweetness from the honey.
Yay, so glad you love it Kiki! It’s one of my breakfast favorites 🙂
I may add mini chocolate chips next time to make it dessert 😀
Great idea! I’d still eat it for breakfast though – I love a little chocolate in the morning! 😉
I just put this in the oven and can’t wait to add my fruit and yogurt for a nice little snack while I meal prep!! I used almond butter instead of peanut (not a huge fan of PB) and added 1/2 cub cacao nibs as well. I hope it turns out ok. Will toss in some dried apricots too once it’s done.
Thanks for a great and easy recipe … looking forward to making some of your other creations!
In good health,
Esther
Those sound like some delicious additions! I hope you love it Esther 🙂
Hi, I’m wondering if I can omit the peanut butter? If yes, do I need to add anything to make up for the omission?
Hi Ev! Yes, you can make a substitution for the peanut butter. I’d suggest almond butter or cashew butter, as those are similar in flavor profiles and still bring the healthy fats and binding qualities to the recipe. Let me know what you think!
My 13 yrs old daughter & I are trying to eat healthier. So no more store brought snacks. We just made this granola. It was super easy! The next time we are going to add nuts. Thanks!
🚴New Beginnings🚵
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the granola Andrea – it’s one of my favorites! And good for you on working on eating healthier! 😊
Can quick oats be used? Any modifications to cooking temperature or time? I’m trying to use what I have on hand.
Hi Tracy! I haven’t tried it with quick oats but I’m sure they would work just fine! Keep an eye on them as they cook but I don’t think you’d need much adjusting, time-wise. Hope you try it!