Wednesdays are the only day of the week that I have all my boys in school. After I drop them off and before I need to go back and pick them up, I have about 2 hours and 15 minutes where I am HOME ALONE. For an introverted girl like me who is rarely alone, this is GLORIOUS.
Now I feel like I need to do a little disclaimer here: Of course I love my boys to death and they are the cutest things ever, even sweeter than my Triple Layer Brownies. And yes, I know someday I will miss the noise, dirt, stinky socks, and Lego booby traps.
Okay, now can I go on with my rant?
I love my alone time, and I actually find myself in a complete state of panic when I walk into my house after returning from preschool drop-off.
The silence is so shocking.
Now what do I do?
In an effort to make the most of this precious time, I’m almost paralyzed with indecision.
- Should I clean up the house?
- Put the laundry away?
- Get some exercise?
- Organize my junk drawer?
- Test out a new recipe?
- Take a shower?
- Go grocery shopping?
- Iron that pile of shirts on the ironing board?
- Take a nap?
- Dust my ceiling fans?
- Pin some recipes?
- Read a book?
- Meet up with a friend?
- Go get a pedicure?
- Water my flowers?
- Get lost at Target?
- Listen to a podcast?
- Write my grandma a letter?
- Go to the MVD to update my driver’s license picture?
SEE WHAT I MEAN?
My time always goes by really fast, but I’m amazed at how much I can accomplish when someone else is attending to the constant needs of my children. They aren’t extra needy or anything, but kids just need a lot of attention.
So last week, I used a tiny portion of my Wednesday alone time to make this granola. Granola is very easy to make. After making this off and on for the last few years and tweaking it a little each time, this recipe is now perfection to me.
My favorite thing about it is the finely ground almonds that coat each little oat. But I also like to leave some almonds chopped up more coarsely for extra crunch. It’s wonderfully sticky and clumpy.
A bowl full of this Homemade Coconut Oil Honey Almond Granola topped with juicy, sweet strawberries and a splash of ice cold whole milk is the way to go my friends. You can feel free to add your favorite granola type mix-ins, but I like mine a little on the plain side.
I hope you get a day this week to do whatever it is that makes your heart happy, whether it’s gathering with friends, watching a favorite show, or going to a nice long walk. Or maybe making granola?
Print
Homemade Coconut Oil Honey Almond Granola
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Makes 4 cups 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Wonderfully sticky and clumpy, this Homemade Coconut Oil Honey Almond Granola will make your day!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole almonds, divided
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a food processor or blender, pulse half of the almonds until they are very finely chopped. Pour them into a large bowl. Then chop the other half of the almonds coarsely, and pour them into the same bowl.
- Pour the oats, salt, and brown sugar into the bowl with the almonds and stir to combine.
- In a small microwaveable bowl, combine honey and coconut oil, and heat for 40 seconds. Stir to dissolve the coconut oil, and add the vanilla and almond extract.
- Pour the honey mixture over the oats, and stir so that they are evenly coated.
- Pour the oat mixture evenly onto a Silpat or parchment lined baking sheet (helpful if it has sides).
- Bake for 5 minutes, and then stir and spread back to an even layer. Return to the oven for 5 more minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
- Pour the granola and onto a piece of wax paper to cool. Spread it out into a thin layer – about 1/2 inch thick.
- After it cools completely, break the granola into clusters and store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 672
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 445mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 86g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Arissa says
Love granola and if it’s homemade even better! I have a question though, do you use raw or roasted almonds for this recipe?
Thanks!
Julie says
Hi! Thanks for your question. I used raw almonds. Hope you enjoy!
Shivani says
Heyyy! I’m currently waiting for this granola to be ready from the oven. It’s the first time I’m making it and I chose your recipe as it looked easiest and healthiest! Smells fab and I can’t wait to try it! One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s not sticking together as clusters – should that happen or is yours all quite loose? Maybe it will happen when it cools… Anyways thanks for this lovely post on granola!
Julie says
Yes, that happens as it cools. Spread it out to cool in a layer about 1/4 inch thick. Hope you enjoy!
Heather says
This recipe BURNED every ounce of the granola, wasting the ingredients and ruining the pans…Use a granola recipe that sets the oven at a low temperature for a long period of time!
Julie says
Sorry yours burned… I’ve had so many other people make this recipe and love it (plus I’ve made it multiple times myself) so I’m afraid your oven might run hot. You might want to check it with an oven thermometer. Hope this is helpful for you!
Marissa says
For those of you that said your granola wasn’t sticking well: I had the same problem (perhaps because I used quick oats instead of old-fashioned oats). After allowing the granola to cool, and realizing it didnt stick at all well together, I refused to throw it all away. So what I did was, put all of the granola back into the bowl, added much more honey, and kept stirring until I the mixture began sticking to each other well. Once it did, I placed it back into the oven for 5 mins, stirred it, 5 mins again, and allowed it cool in a thin layer. I made sure the layer was smooth and there was no empty holes in some spots. And it worked like a charm for me!
Julie says
I made this today with the addition of shredded coconut and it’s wonderful. I questioned whether or not it would be crispy after only 10 minutes but it was great once it cooled. I ended up putting some in a bowl and tossing that in the freezer because I was so impatient about starting to eat it. Very good, very easy, thanks for figuring it out!
Julie says
I was surprised that 10 minutes was enough as well when I first tested this recipe. It sure makes it easy to bake up when the craving strikes! So glad you like it, and the coconut sounds wonderful!
Candice says
I saw someone posted a comment about using quick oats. I have A TON of quick oats on hand – do you think this will change the outcome of the recipe dramatically? I can’t wait to try it! Other recipes call for cooking for 45 minutes… I’m psyched to try this!
Julie says
I’ve never used quick oats in this recipe so I’m not sure, but it might be worth a try. It will definitely have a different texture (quick oats have a much finer texture), but might still be tasty. I love using up what I already have too, so let me know how it goes if you do try it.
Colleen Allen says
I just made the granola, and used quick oats by accident. Cooked it a bit longer because it was a bit mushy at first- about 30 mins total. Perfect consistency when cooled and super yummy! 🙂
Julie says
I’m so glad! Good to know you can use quick oats with a good result.
Dee says
Julie, I am not one to comment often but this is the best homemade granola and so easy! I made it fresh and used it to top a kale and fruit salad with a citrus vinaigrette dressing. The granola topping/crunchy in the salad was the rave!
Thank you – trying the pretzel version next.
Dee
Julie says
I’m so glad! That salad sounds amazing! Thanks for taking the time to tell me about it. Hope you enjoy the pretzel version as well!
Jane says
Hi Julie – i pin so many recipes that I havent gotten around to trying yet – but with this one, I pinned yesterday and am going to make tonight. Looks delicious. BTW, I live in Canberra, Australia, so isnt Pinterest great to connect people worldwide?
Julie says
Hi Jane! Thanks for saying hi, and I really hope you enjoy this granola. I just made another batch last night! And I pin way more recipes than I can make too 🙂
Sarah says
In love with your granola! I should have made 2 batches. It’s almost gone! How do you make it into a bar?
Julie says
Sarah, I’m so glad you like it! Hmmm… how to make it into a bar? I’m wondering what would happen if you baked the oats in a 9 by 13 baking dish lined with parchment paper, and then let it fully cool in the pan before cutting into bars. I think the cooking time need to be adjusted as well. I might try this and see what happens. Let me know if you give it a go too!
Crys says
So easy and so delicious! My kids are eating it up, need to triple batch it! Thank you
Wiebke Zielke says
Thanks a million for the amazing recipe. It was so easy and fast to make. I took it as a “base” recipe and changed it a bit. Since I didn’t have almonds at home I took hazelnuts and sunflowerseeds instead, I also replaced the honey with rice syrup and I added a little cinnamon. I will totally keep on experimenting with it.
Best regards from Germany.
Julie says
Sounds wonderful! Thank you for saying hello all the way from Germany.
Cherie Strand says
Julie, I would like to tell you how much I enjoy this granola. I use it in my yogurt daily for breakfast. My 19 year old daughter likes it also. It’s so easy to make and delicious. I plan on trying pecans or walnuts instead of the almonds soon. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Julie says
You are so welcome. So happy to hear that you and your daughter both love it!
Teri says
I found your recipe on Pinterest and made it last night. I have to say this stuff is devine! I did flake my own oat groats which made it a little moister. Thank you for sharing.
Julie says
I’m so glad you like it Teri. Thanks for stopping by!
Jennifer says
Do you think it would taste alright if i was to omit the brown sugar? I’m trying to watch my sugar…
Julie says
Jennifer, I think omitting the brown sugar all together might prevent that caramelization from happening that we love. You could try cutting the amount by half and see how you like it?
jayne says
I found this to be too sweet, even after cutting the brown sugar & honey to 1/4 cup each. I added more oats, almonds and some sunflower seeds to fix it.
Lauren says
I needed a simple, yummy granola recipe to layer into yogurt parfaits I was making for a breakfast party this past weekend. I was so thrilled to find it – this granola is DELICIOUS, not at all too sweet, with the perfect texture and crumble. I plan to make up batches of it regularly. Thank you!
Julie says
I’m so glad! Thanks Lauren!
Charlotte says
I’ve been making this WONDERFUL granola for a couple months now. My daughter has a walnut allergy, and found Trader Joe’s has almonds not processed with any other nuts. This recipe has been an addictive addition to our daily diet. My little gsons love it too as a daily breakfast. I do add cinnamon to ours, and occasionally add a few Craisins for my gsons. Thank you for this guilt-free, allergy free granola. It is truly the best I’ve ever made.
Julie says
I’m glad everyone can enjoy. That’s very sweet of you to make it for your family and I love the addition of cinnamon and craisins!
Molly says
Wow– going along with the other comments on here. This recipe makes the house smell divine! We are enjoying our first snow fall this weekend up here in Yooper Country and the gorgeous blue skies and crisp temperatures outside called for some heavenly goodness inside this Saturday morning. THANK YOU for this lovely recipe. Consider our household a fan. Will be making this recipe again and again– Shalom to your home.
Julie says
Molly, your comment here just made my day. Thank you so much, and I’m so glad your family enjoyed the granola. Yooper Country sounds amazing right now!
Cristina S says
Great recipe!! Just the right amounts. I added a hint of cinnamon and switched the brown sugar for coconut sugar instead. Thanks!!!
Julie says
Sounds perfect! Glad it worked out well for you.