The best granola is the kind you make at home, and its easier than you think.
Heres how to do it, plus some of our favorite healthy granola recipes.
We’ve got plenty of good reasons to keep the packaged stuff on the shelf.
Photo: Marty Baldwin
If healthy granola is what you’re after, then making it yourself is the way to go.
Plus, your granola will never be fresher (or more enticing!)
than when it comes out of your oven wafting with the scent of toasted oats, nuts and spices.
Healthy Granola Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make healthy homemade granola.
Oats
Oats are at the heart of every good granola recipe.
For granola, choose old-fashioned rolled oats.
They’re thick, sturdy and hold up well in the oven.
Nuts
Nuts add crunch and, well, nuttiness tohomemade granola.
No nut is off-limits.
Walnuts, pecans, almonds and even macadamias or hazelnuts make good additions.
If your nuts are whole, you may want to chop them up a bit to avoid larger pieces.
A good rule of thumb is 1 part nuts to every 5 parts oats.
And if you want to avoid nuts entirely, it’s possible for you to!
There are plenty of other add-ins that work well in homemade granola.
And remember: You don’t have to pick just one add-in!
If you’ve skipped the nuts, you could add a little more.
For oil, choose one with a neutral flavor like grapeseed or avocado oil.
For both oil and sweeteners, don’t go overboard.
But even if you skip the extra flavors, don’t skip the salt!
Even a pinch can bring out the flavors of your granola.
And again, get creative!
Dried fruit adds tart, sweet flavors and a soft chewiness to contrast all the crunch.
Be sure to add the dried fruit after the granola has cooled completely to prevent sticking.
