Basic Granola Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is plain granola made of? ›

Basic (but very good) granola requires just a handful of ingredients: rolled oats, a sweetener, some cooking oil, and maybe nuts or dried fruit. Once you master that basic formula, it's easy to customize a mix for your own preferences.

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Egg White

About this method: According to Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, “Nothing glues like protein.” While there are many granola recipes that include an egg white, I got this tip from the Big Cluster Maple Granola recipe in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.

I aim to let it hit room temperature, whatever that may be; the real point is to give it ample time to shed excess heat and steam. This should take about 45 minutes; if left out indefinitely, the granola can turn sticky or soft, so do try to put it away as soon after cooling as you can.

Is Homemade Granola Cheaper? Initially, you'll have to spend more money on homemade granola than store-bought. However, over the long run (depending on your recipe) you'll most likely spend less on making your own granola.

Oatmeal vs. Granola. The primary difference between oatmeal and granola is that oatmeal is made from whole oat grains that have been cooked at a higher temperature than usual to gelatinize the starch. Granola contains rolled oats, fruits, honey, raisins, almonds, and other components.

Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.

Nut butter is a super flavorful fat that serves multiple purposes in granola. It acts as a binding agent—along with additional coconut oil and whatever natural sweetener I've chosen—helping to pull the dry ingredients together into a wet, sticky mass for baking.

Chia seeds are often praised for their binding powers. In fact, they secure ingredients so well that they can even be used as an egg replacer. Adding just a spoonful of chia seeds to your favorite granola bar recipe will make a huge difference in its texture.

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

Granola may prompt weight gain if eaten in excess, as it can be high in calories from added fats and sugars. What's more, sugar is linked to chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

How do you keep homemade granola crispy? ›

Whether it's homemade or store-bought, properly storing granola will help extend the shelf life and maintain crunchiness. Store granola in an airtight container or tightly sealed zip-top bag in a dry, dark place away from heat.

Stick with a low temperature, keep an eye on your mixture, and stir it from time to time to help it brown evenly.

Always use oil

Olive oil is one such choice. The flavor won't interfere with the nuts and oats, and olive oil's overall fat content is decidedly low compared to some other options. You might also want to try using coconut oil or sunflower oil, which are also healthy alternatives.

Yes. "Granola does contain important nutrients, and if you enjoy it, eating some every day is probably fine as part of a balanced diet," says Harris-Pincus.

While both granola and cereal may seem similar, there are significant differences between the two. Granola is a healthier, more nutrient-dense, and joyfully versatile option that will not only make your taste buds dance but also keep your body happy and healthy.

Healthy granola contains whole grains such as oats and barley, nuts, and very little added sugar and fat. Eaten in moderation, this calorie-dense food can help fill you up, provide energy, and have a positive impact on several important metabolic health indicators (blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight).

Granola is that special type of food that seems to always taste yummy. It's crunchy, sweet, subtly salty and equally as good eaten on its own as it is when combined with other ingredients.

Although similar, oats and granola are very different. Oats are a healthful cereal grain, often added to granola. Granola is far more versatile and consists of oats and other food items (such as dried fruits and nuts). Both are typically toasted and often enjoyed for breakfast.

Granola is a food consisting of rolled oats, nuts, seeds, honey or other sweeteners such as brown sugar, and sometimes puffed rice, that is usually baked until crisp, toasted and golden brown. The mixture is stirred while baking to avoid burning and to maintain a loose breakfast cereal consistency.