Vanilla Almond Granola

This homemade vanilla almond granola recipe is so easy to make with a handful of ingredients! Delightfully crunchy with sweet vanilla flavor, this vanilla and almond granola is just like the fancy store-bought ones but for a fraction of the price. Enjoy it on its own as a snack or over a yogurt bowl, smoothie bowl, and more!

This homemade vanilla granola recipe is one of my favorite granola recipes for meal prep. This recipe is also easy to customize with my favorite mix-ins, like chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc, without the flavors overpowering each other.

 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s budget-friendly! Fancy store-bought “artisan” granola tends to cost a pretty penny, and this homemade version is much easier on the wallet. You can also make as much or as little as you’d like so you can finish it before they get stale.
• I personally think this homemade version of vanilla almond granola is healthier than store-bought (unless you’re picking up the pricey organic ones), especially as you’re able to control how much sugar and the other ingredients goes into your homemade version.
• It is shockingly easy to make homemade granola with only a handful of simple ingredients!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• oil — I use olive oil, but you can also use coconut oil (use refined coconut oil so you don’t get the coconut flavor).
• maple syrup — make sure you are buying maple syrup and not pancake syrup. Maple syrup comes straight from trees, whereas pancake syrup is usually made with corn syrup.
• brown sugar — while you can use additional maple syrup, I like the caramel flavor you get from brown sugar! It adds a nice layer of flavor.
• vanilla — I like using pure vanilla extract as it adds a nice hint of sweetness to the granola.
• cinnamon — the ground cinnamon pairs wonderfully with the vanilla and almond flavors.
• salt — just a pinch of kosher salt to balance out the flavors.
• rolled oats — make sure you are using old-fashioned rolled oats. This will make up the base of the homemade granola and provide the best texture and flavor compared to using instant or quick cooking oats.
• almonds & pumpkin seeds — I’m using almonds and pumpkin seeds, but you can use your favorite nuts and seeds such as cashews, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc.

How to Make Vanilla Almond Granola

• Heat the oven to 325F.
• In a bowl, combine the oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and ground cinnamon. Stir until well combined.
• Add the rolled oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and the vanilla mixture to a bowl and stir until well combined.

• Using a spatula, spread the granola onto a lined sheet pan in a thin, even layer and press it flat.
• Bake the granola for 15 minutes and then stir before baking for another 12 to 15 minutes or until it is at your desired level of golden brown. If you would like large clusters, gently flip the granola and try to make sure they keep their shape instead of stirring. Allow the granola to cool before transferring to a container or serving.

Make Ahead Tips

• Meal prep: once cooled, store the homemade granola in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in a cool, dry area.
• Freezer: you can freeze homemade granola and it will stay fresh for up to three months. Allow the granola to cool before transferring a freezer-safe airtight container and freezing.

Serving Ideas

Here are a few ways to enjoy this applesauce granola:

• eat it by the handful, as a snack!
• serve it over a bowl of homemade yogurt (or my peanut butter Greek yogurt bowl or chia yogurt bowls)
• serve it over cottage cheese with fruit or whipped cottage cheese
• serve it over chia pudding (it’s great over warm chia pudding too!)
• serve it over overnight oats
• sprinkle it on top of a smoothie bowl

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