Whether you’re a breakfast enthusiast like us or simply looking to elevate your snack game, our homemade cinnamon granola is a tasty treat that strikes the perfect balance between cozy and wholesome. Easy to make and completely addicting, homemade granola tastes better than any of the store-bought granola, plus it isn’t loaded with sugars and additives. Creating your granola at home allows for endless customization, ensuring you get exactly the flavors and textures you desire.
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Looking for more homemade breakfast favorites? You’ll love our old-fashioned buttermilk biscuits and silver-dollar buttermilk pancakes. For more make-ahead breakfast options, try our hash brown breakfast casserole or cinnamon spice oatmeal.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This is a very basic and easy granola recipe that uses a handful of ingredients. The best thing about making your granola is that it is completely customizable, so go a little crazy with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.
In the printable recipe below, you can find a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Only use old-fashioned rolled oats for the perfect granola. They have a heartier, chewier texture that holds up to baking and also has a tendency to clump together, which means you will get those coveted granola clusters.
- Sweetener: Any “liquid” sweetener like honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup can be used for granola. We like using a 50-50 ratio of honey and agave nectar.
- Cinnamon: For a warm spice note in the granola, cinnamon is the perfect choice. It also compliments the sweetness of the honey or maple syrup.
- Almonds: The choice between almonds and pecans in granola depends on personal preference and dietary considerations. We prefer the flavor that the toasted almonds give the granola, but you can substitute any combination of nuts or seeds.
How to Make Cinnamon Granola
Here are the quick, step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions, including the exact ingredients, in the recipe card below.
Pro-tip: Granola will crisp up as it cools, so let it cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring it to an airtight container.
1. Combine Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 300℉ and line a baking or cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, cinnamon, and salt, then add the old-fashioned oats and almonds. Stir everything well to get the oats fully coated in the oil and honey mixture.
2. Transfer to Baking Sheet: Spread the oats in an even layer onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and then press the oats into a flat, even layer using a rubber spatula.
3. Bake: Bake for 10 minutes, then stir the granola and spread it back into an even layer. Bake for another 10 minutes. The granola is done when it is golden brown, and the almonds are toasted. Remove the granola from the oven and sprinkle in the dried fruit if desired.
4. Cool: The mixture will still be slightly wet when it comes out of the oven but will dry and harden as it cools. To create clumps of granola, press and tamp it down before it cools completely to help it stick together. Cool the granola completely before storing it in an airtight container.
What to Serve with Granola
Granola does not last very long in our house; we can eat it morning, noon, and night. It is delicious with yogurt and berries, as an alternative for cereal with milk, or as a topping for a smoothie bowl or ice cream. Add other ingredients like dried fruit, chocolate chips, and seeds for a great snack.
Storage
Store your granola in an airtight container to keep it fresh. It can last for several weeks when stored properly.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Make sure that all dry ingredients are evenly coated with the wet mixture (sweeteners and oils). This helps form clusters and distribute flavor.
- Customize your granola with your favorite ingredients. Add spices, extracts, or even a touch of cocoa powder for unique flavors.
- To create clusters, press the mixture with a spatula or the back of a spoon before baking. After it’s out of the oven, don’t stir it until it’s cooled.
- Keep it simple or include a mix of textures by adding a variety of nuts and seeds like almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds. Add dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or apricots for chewiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Breakfast Recipes to Try
Breakfast recipes come in all shapes and sizes, from sweet and savory to quick and easy. These are some of our favorites:
- Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake – Bursting with blueberry and lemon flavors, this cake is moist and rich with the addition of ricotta cheese. It is perfect with morning coffee or for an afternoon snack.
- Puff Pastry Breakfast Tart with Bacon and Eggs – A complete breakfast with buttery, flaky puff pastry, a cheesy shallot mushroom spread, crispy bacon, and sunny-side-up eggs.
- Cinnamon Spice Oatmeal – Flavored with your favorite fall spices, this simple-to-make oatmeal recipe is ready in less than 15 minutes and makes the perfect start to cold days.
- Crepes with Berries – These easy-to-make blender crepes are filled with homemade whipped cream and berries. It is perfect for breakfast or brunch.
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Cinnamon Granola
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Equipment
- 1 Cookie or Baking Sheet
- 1 Large Bowl
Ingredients
- ½ cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed or sunflower
- ½ cup honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup dried fruit, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the oats and almonds to the oil and honey mixture and stir to coat.
- Spread the oats in an even layer onto the parchment lined baking sheet. Using a rubber spatula press the oats into a flat, even layer.
- Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Granola is done when it is golden brown and the almonds are toasted. The mixture will still slightly wet when it comes out of the oven but will dry and harden as it cools.
- Remove the granola from the oven and sprinkle in the dried fruit if desired. To create clumps of granola, press and tamp it down before it cools to help it stick together.
- Cool granola complete before storing in an airtight container.
Very tasty. Going to make a second batch for friends now. Thanks!