Honey Vanilla Granola Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This crunchy, sugar-free Honey Vanilla Granola Recipe is easy to make and filled with healthy ingredients with antioxidants. Use this quick recipe as basic granola for yogurt or for a snack and don’t forget to add your favorite mix-ins.

Honey vanilla granola recipe on a rimmed baking sheet.

Why this Recipe Works

Yes, you can certainly purchase granola from your local grocery store, however, it’s cheaper to make it at home and you can make twice as much.

This honey vanilla granola is the basic recipe I use when making any granola. You can easily change the flavor when preparing it or change it up by adding other ingredients such as nuts and seeds after you’ve made it.

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals and yogurt parfaits are some of my favorite ways to start the day. This is the best granola for yogurt and layering it into a parfait or just eating it with milk is breakfast perfection.

It makes a great grab-and-go breakfast that is healthy and filled with wholesome nutrients and some antioxidants too. Best of all my kids love it too!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Honey vanilla ingredients in different bowls.

Applesauce: to keep this recipe healthy and low on sugar I use unsweetened applesauce, however, any version of applesauce will work.
Nuts: I prefer to use sliced almonds in my basic granola recipe, but you can use your favorite type of nuts or even a combination.
Oats: the best type of oats to use are old-fashioned rolled oats, which will produce crispier and crunchier granola. For a softer version, you can use the quick-cooking kind of oats.
Honey: I like to use honey in my basic recipe, but in the fall I switch it to maple syrup.
Oil: I like to use coconut oil because of all the healthy benefits, however, you can also use olive oil or canola oil. You won’t be able to taste the coconut flavor of the coconut oil once it’s baked into the mixture and it helps make it super crisp.

Additional Mix-ins:

Nuts: there are too many nuts to list, but you can add in a combination or swap the almonds out for your favorite nuts.
Dried Fruit: dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, and even pineapple make a delicious addition to this mixture. If you want to keep the sugar content low them choose unsweetened dried fruits. Shaved coconut is also a delicious add-in.
Seeds: I love to add hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds, but will sometimes add sesame seeds. Again, the possibilities here are endless too.
Chocolate: add some chocolate chips for extra sweet granola.

Other Flavor Combinations

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola = 1 tablespoon cocoa powder + ½ cup peanut butter + ½ cup chocolate chunks (remove cranberries, goji berries, and pistachios)
Apple Cinnamon Granola = ½ cup dried apples + ¼ cup chopped walnuts + 1 tablespoon cinnamon (remove cranberries, goji berries, and pistachios)
Chai Spiced Granola = 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1 teaspoon cardamom + 1 teaspoon allspice + ¼ cup crushed walnuts (remove goji berries and pistachios)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Process steps 1 and 2 for making honey vanilla granola.

Combine the dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl toss the oats, almonds, and cinnamon together until combined.
Mix the wet ingredients. In a small bowl whisk the applesauce, honey, and melted coconut oil together until smooth.

Process steps 3 and 4 for making honey granola.

Mix the granola. Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredient mixture and toss to coat evenly.
Bake. Pour the mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350º for 20 minutes and then toss the granola and spread it back out. Return it to the oven to cook for an additional 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

To add even more vanilla flavor add 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste or scrape the inside of one vanilla bean into the wet mixture before stirring it into the dry.
When melting the coconut oil add the applesauce to the bowl, which will help it to stay in a liquid state when mixed with the other wet ingredients.
If you’re including any add-ins like dried fruit allow the granola to cool completely after baking before tossing them in.
Use parchment paper. Line the rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to avoid the mixture sticking to the pan.
Don’t overbake. The oats should just be just a golden brown. They may not look like they’re super crispy when you pull them out of the oven, but they will continue to crisp as they cool.

Honey vanilla granola parfait with spoon holding granola in front.

Equipment Needed

You’ll need a large rimmed baking sheet to spread out the granola for toasting.
The parchment paper keeps the ingredients from sticking to the baking sheet or from toasting too much on one side.
A large mixing bowl to combine all the ingredients.
I like to use a wooden spoon to toss it all together.

Storing Information

This recipe makes a big batch and storing it is as simple as placing it in an air-tight container for when you want to use it. This healthy granola will last for about 3 weeks if kept in a container in the pantry or on the counter. There’s no need to place it in the refrigerator.

Honey Vanilla Granola FAQs:

Can I make this granola without nuts?

Yes. Just leave the nuts out of the dry ingredient mix and add additional oats instead or try some seeds like pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds instead.

What makes granola healthy?

This simple breakfast is extremely nutrient dense with healthy fats and tons of fiber and protein making it a complete breakfast. Plus there’s a good deal of minerals and vitamins to start your day off right.

How do I make granola chunky?

To get chunky granola clump the ingredients together on the baking sheet before you bake it. Make sure not to overcrowd it though otherwise, the centers of the clusters will not bake.

To get an even bigger chunky granola use a wooden spoon to firmly press some of the granola together at the 20-minute baking point. Then return it to the oven to finish baking.

Can this be made gluten-free?

Yes. In order to make it gluten-free choose oats and other ingredients listed as gluten-free.

If you made this recipe I want to hear all about it! Share a photo and tag me on Instagram using @AimeeMarsLiving and #AimeeMars so I can see your beautiful work. Enjoy!