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
Erin Dischinger says
I have made this granola twice now, and I too was having problems with it clumping. After reading others comments I see it is due to using the quick oats. But this granola is so delicious I don’t care what the consistency is! I look guard to checking out your other recipes! Great job!!!
Julie says
Thanks so much Erin. I’m glad you enjoy the granola!
Lisa says
This is absolutely delicious. I followed the recipe exactly. My adult son loves it and eats is plain. I put it on greek yogurt. I also imported the recipe into MyFitnessPal.com, using 12 servings. The numbers I got were perfectly fine. And all ingredients are healthy. This is a great recipe to help control my diabetes. Thank You!
Julie says
Thank you Lisa!
Lydia says
This is some life changing granola! Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe – I love it to the moon and back! And it’s stuff I always have – WINNING 🙂
Julie says
So glad you liked it Lydia. I think it’s time for me to make another batch!
stasi says
We love this! Could it be made into bars too? thanks.
Julie says
Hi Stasi, I’m not sure, they would definitely be a crunchier bar I think. Let me know how they work out if you decide to try them.
Samantha Gobba says
Perfection! This tastes just the way granola should. Thank you for a wonderful recipe! I was glad to find one with both coconut oil AND honey… 🙂
Julie says
Thank you Samantha, so glad you liked it!
Trimelda says
Love this granola recipe just as it is written. Read the other comments and I dont understand people who write negative things or don’t read others comments before asking the same thing repeatedly. I admire your patience and your blog. Keep up the good work.
Julie says
I’m so glad you like it! And thank you for your kind words!
Sandra says
Julie – My family loves this recipe and has been making it for a long time. This year my kids make several batches and gifted it to their teachers before heading out of class for winter break. This time of year we add a few extra spices to warm up the flavor on cold days.
Julie says
Great idea to give this granola as a teacher gift! So glad you love the recipe too.
Mei Yee says
Hi im planning on making this granolas. Wasn’t thinking can I change the honey to maple syrup? Will it change the texture?
Thank you
Julie says
Hi! I think that it is definitely worth a try, but I can’t say for sure because I haven’t tested it that way. Let me know what you think if you try it!
Holly says
Oh My Goodness! I just made this. I wish I have made this sooner! SO GOOD! I used 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract because I didn’t have any almond extract. It is wonderful! I am glad to read that it is so versatile and will be adapting the recipe soon with add-ins. Pinned, saved, and bookmarked. Thank you!
Julie says
Thank you Holly!
Katy Hope says
Thanks for this post, I can’t wait to try this recipe. I also just recently posted my favorite granola recipes at http://www.hopepostkids.com/granola-recipes I’ve shared my Aunt Hope’s killer maple almond granola recipe. yum!
Julie says
Thanks Katy!
Natalie says
Do you think this would still clump up appropriately with a reduced amount of brown sugar? I am trying to reduced processed sugars and I wonder if the honey and just a couple tbsp of brown sugar would be sufficient (I’m not a total sweets fiend, either, so I don’t think I’d miss the extra sweetness, just worried about the granola clusters forming properly). This looks really good and simple and am excited to try it! Tired of everything having chia seeds in it these days… I tried, just not my thing lol.
Julie says
I hear you Natalie, and yes it might make the granola clump a little less if you reduce the sugar. I’ve seen granola recipes lately that have an egg white in them to help with clumping and I’ve been wanting to do some testing with that method. Let me know how it goes if you experiment with this recipe.
Laura says
This is an excellent recipe. I made it for the first time this morning and immediately made a 2nd bath. I LOVE IT. Thank you for the GREAT receipt.
Laura says
I meant to say 2nd batch. Sorry. 🙂
Julie says
Thank you Laura!
Laura says
Also meant to say “recipe”. Hahahahaha. What is wrong with me. I guess my mind is working faster then my fingers. I’m just so excited about the recipe.
Tanya Hudson says
I look forward to trying this granola. But what I REALLY want to comment on is: when you talked about suddenly having an empty, silent house and a little time to yourself. OH MY! I thought you had crawled into my head and found a way to write EXACTLY that feeling I have never been able to put into words, including the “what to do now” list! It truly touched me, and made me feel a little less crazy. Thank you!
Julie says
Haha! You are definitely not crazy 🙂 Now that all my boys are in school I do this all the time! Hope you get a chance to try the granola!
Ann says
I just made this and I can already tell I’ll be making multiple batches of this at a time. It’s so delicious!
Julie says
Wonderful Ann! It’s such a favorite around here!
Laurainks says
I didn’t read all the comments, so someone else might have said this, but here is how I make this recipe and get it to be clumpy. I have made this so many times now, it’s the only granola recipe I use anymore. Everyone who tries it falls in love with it!
I follow the recipe, except I don’t grind up any almonds, and I add more nuts than called for. (personal preference only) When I bake it, I bake it longer and don’t stir it. I allow it to get rather brown around the edges, but not burnt. Then I cool it in the pan on a cooling rack and voila! I have nice, clumpy granola great for snacking. I probably bake it for about 15-20 min. Please watch it the last 5-10 min so it doesn’t burn. Every oven is different so the timing might be shorter or longer for you. I think not stirring it and letting it cool without taking it out of the pan is what helps most. I just like my granola a bit more browned…
Julie says
Wonderful feedback, thank you!
Colleen Tendall says
This recipe is my ultimate favorite! I have diabetes and made the recipe with splenda brown sugar and I love it! My family cannot get enough of it! You are an amazing cook, Julie! I cannot thank you enough for this fabulous recipe! I do not have to buy granola in the grocery store anymore nor do I have to go without eating granola because of my diabetes! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Julie says
So glad to hear this recipe worked well for you and that you adapted it with the Splenda!
Rebecca Laman says
This recipe is amazingly delicious! The aroma while baking is almost too much to bare. Thank you so much
Julie says
I agree, glad you like it!
Christie MacPherson says
I make this recipe weekly and it doesn’t last long! My kids love it!
Julie says
You are a good mama! Glad you all enjoy!
Kelsie says
I made this last week and LOVE it! I’m going to make it for the ladies I work with for Christmas! How long does it last? If I make it over a weekend and give it to people at the end of the week, do you think it will be okay?
Thank you!!
Kelsie says
Sorry, saw you already answered this. Please disregard! 🙂