Homemade Maple Granola with Nuts and Cranberries

Breakfast is often my favorite meal of the day. A lot of times I enjoy making Oat flour German pancakes or something similar first thing in the morning, but other days I just need to grab something quick and healthy without turning on the oven.

Granola is my go-to breakfast for those days! After years of playing around with recipes, this is my all-time favorite version.

It’s healthy, delicious, and filling and perfect with milk or over homemade yogurt. I like to keep granola on hand so I always have a wonderful easy breakfast option.

Is Granola Healthy?

This can be a tough question that a lot of people often wonder! The answer is that it depends. While the base for granola is always oats (which are one of the healthier grains), the added ingredients vary drastically.

Some store-bought granola may contain everything from seed oils to lots of refined sugar while others are only made with simple, healthy ingredients. If you’re buying granola, it’s so important to check the ingredients!

Homemade granola is typically healthier, but not always. Some recipes call for lots of sugar or other unhealthy ingredients. A number of recipes also use honey to sweeten granola, but honey is best raw.

That’s why I’ve created this recipe! It’s made with only the healthiest ingredients and is a wonderful way to start your day.

To increase the nutrition even more, I make this with sprouted rolled oats instead of regular rolled oats. However, you can use whatever you have on hand.

Affordable Breakfast Option

If you’ve ever looked at the list of ingredients on most cereals, it’s pretty clear that most cereal is not a good way to start your morning. Granola can sometimes be one of the few exceptions.

Healthy versions are widely available, and while there may still be a few ingredients that aren’t the best, granola is a big step up from standard breakfast cereal.

However, one of the biggest downsides to healthy store-bought granola is the cost. If you’re on a budget, the best versions of granola are typically way too expensive to regularly keep in your pantry.

Of course there are cheaper options, but they often have more sugar or seed oils.

The best solution is making your own granola! Not only is it so much cheaper, but you can completely control the ingredients.

No more starting your day with seed oils or refined sugar! This granola recipe is my favorite because, not only is it easy and delicious, but it only uses the best ingredients

Why You’ll Love Making Homemade Granola

Delicious flavor – The maple syrup blends perfectly with the oats, nuts, and cranberries to create a rich and slightly sweet cereal.

Easy recipe – In only a few simple steps you can have amazing homemade granola to keep in your pantry for the busiest mornings!

Healthy breakfast – Oats are a great way to start your day and combining them with nuts, cranberries, and milk or yogurt makes it a great, well-rounded breakfast.

Make in advance – If you’re trying to avoid processed food, having homemade options prepared in advance is a great way to prevent unhealthy last-minute food decisions.

How to Store Homemade Granola

After your granola has cooled completely, place it in an airtight container, and store it at room temperature. I love using glass jars or containers for this! It keeps for up to 4 weeks.

If you’d like it to last even longer, you can freeze it. To do so, after it has cooled, place it in an airtight container or plastic freezer bag, and freeze it for up to three months.

Tools You May Need

Large rimmed baking sheet

Mixing bowl

Silicone spatula

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Ingredients for Homemade Maple Granola

Rolled oats – Not quick oats. For the most nutrition, I use sprouted rolled oats. If you need to make gluten-free granola, make sure the oats are gluten free.

Chopped nuts – Walnuts or pecans are my favorite, but you can use any type of nuts you like in granola.

Maple syrup – It’s the perfect sweetener for granola! Many recipes use honey instead, but I prefer maple syrup since honey is best raw.

Coconut oil

Shredded coconut

Vanilla extract

Cinnamon

Salt – Sea salt or Himalayan

Dried cranberries – Since cranberries are usually grown with high levels of pesticides, they’re one of the most important foods to buy organic. I like to get organic, apple-juice sweetened cranberries from Azure Standard. If you prefer, you can substitute raisins.

Chia seeds – You can substitute flax seeds or leave them out if you prefer.

How to Make Homemade Maple Granola

Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, nuts, maple syrup, coconut oil, shredded coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.

Then spread the mixture evenly across the baking sheet, and place it in the oven for 30 minutes total.

After the first 10 minutes, stir the granola to help it bake evenly. After another 10 minutes, stir it again and then smash it down. This will help it to form clumps. Finish baking for the final 10 minutes.

Remove the granola from the oven and let it cool completely.

Once it has cooled, break it up and stir in the dried cranberries and chia seeds.

Store it at room temperature in an airtight container, and enjoy as a delicious, healthy breakfast!

If you try this recipe, let me know in the comments! Tag me on Instagram @violet_rightathome

More Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Banana & Date Oatmeal Cookies

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes with Oat Flour

Gluten-Free Blackberry Banana Breakfast Muffins with Oats

Blackberry Cheesecake German Pancakes