My kids–my teenage son especially–is suddenly obsessed with granola. He eats it as cereal, puts it in his yogurt, and keeps it in little containers for emergency snacks. After going through about 100 bags that cost $5-$8 each, I realized we need an easy homemade granola recipe I can make in bulk. I consulted my brilliant Aunt Carla who is the best baker and cook in the family. She gave me her mother's recipe from 1969! Talk about tried and true. This is the BEST recipe for granola.
Easy Homemade Granola Recipe
This easy homemade granola recipe can be tweaked to your preferences. Add in chocolate candies and some more dried fruit, and you've got the perfect trail mix! Portion it into baggies for hikes or other family adventures where snacks are needed. The crunchy goodness will most definitely be added to our list of road trip essentials.
How to Make your Own Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 cups old fashioned oats (NOT quick cook)
- 4 cups wheat germ
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 14 oz package coconut
- 1 12 oz package Craisins
- Nuts (1 small package pecans + 1 package chopped walnuts) or whatever your preference but in total it's about 16 oz of nuts
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp powdered milk
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup sunflower oil
- parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275º.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, wheat germ, cinnamon, coconut, Craisins, nuts, and salt.
- In a medium nonstick saucepan, combine the milk, honey, oil and heat until warm.
- Once warmed, pour over oat/nut mixture and stir until evenly mixed.
- Pour the mixture onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper and bake at 275º for 30 minutes stirring the granola half way through baking.
- Store in a covered container or portion into fun little boxes and give as gifts.
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These adorable little tin favor boxes would make the perfect gift for dads, husbands, and anyone who works in the construction field. Our dad (and uncles and grandpa) work with sheet metal every day, so I think we'll drop off a bunch of these as cute–but manly–Valentine's Day gift boxes.
Use your granola for parfaits, cereal, put it in yogurt, ice cream, or just eat it by the handfuls! I love it with fresh berries too.
As you can see this is a recipe that's been passed along and perfected by the talented women in my Aunt Carla's family. As much as I don't like to mess with perfection, there are many other items one could toss into this granola recipe. Organic chia seeds and unsalted, shelled sunflower seeds are a few we plan to try next time. It's a recipe to have fun with and mix up to make your own. The next time you need a nutrient dense snack idea, try this granola recipe homemade and modify it to your liking.
What would you eat with this easy homemade granola recipe?
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Dana Rodriguez says
That is really easy and it looks so good. I think it would be good on yogurt.
Natalie says
I would love to make my own granola!!
Anne says
The best part of this post is the picture of the original handwritten recipe. What a treasure! Even more so because the recipe is such a good one. I’ve pinned it and plan to make it as soon as I can gather all of the ingredients. Thanks!
Kelly says
This looks amazing. I am a huge fan of wheat germ and I bet it would be so yummy in this. I will be making soon. thanks for the recipe.
Jenna Hudson says
Excited to try this recipe out. I’ve never had wheat germ before. How wonderful your aunt held on to this recipe for so many years!
Tina Harris says
This sounds great, I would have to omit the nuts as all my boys are allergic but the rest sounds great! I would love to try some on some yogurt and I could see just grabbing a bag on the go for travel or an everyday snack.
deanna says
I love a good granola. Those boxes in the photo are fabulous too!
Barrie says
I love making granola. I like the looks of this recipe and will make it next week. Great to top yogurt and ice cream.
Maryann D. says
I love home made Granola. This does look like a wonderful recipe to try.
Sarah L says
Much better than buying the expensive granolas that you don’t know what’s in them.
Margot C says
Ha, ha , ha – that’s why we hippies were called ‘crunchy’ – yes i am old enough to have done this the first time arund. I still make granola – very similar only now I use coconut oil.
Margot C says
What i really want to know is where you got those tins.
Shelley says
Hahah! Crunchy!
Margot, there is a link to the tins in the middle of the post. 🙂 Simply click the “get it here” button under the picture of them. 🙂
Karen Glatt says
This is such good healthy granola that I want to make and have for breakfast with the family. it is easy to make. Thanks for sharing.
ellen beck says
Thats a great recipe and one that I am sure was tweaked to make it even better. I remember eating granola when young… it was good and actually stretched a budget. People think granola is a new thing, and it really isnt. Yours looks and sounds delicious and a lot like the kind we ate!
Lisa Coomer Queen says
This is great! I will have to make it. Who knew they were making granola back in 1969. Awesome!
Sarah L says
I looked at the title and thought, that’s not too old. Then I realized that it is almost 50 years ago. WHAT???
Jennifer says
I thought the exact same thing! So crazy!!!
Edgar says
Thanks for the recipe my kids will really love it and the presentation inside the box looks awesome.
Rana Durham says
homemade granola from 1969 i so retro and tasty. i gotta try this.
shelly peterson says
This granola recipe looks super yummy. I would love to try it out.
Hallie says
Love old recipes