Store bought granola will take a back seat to this goodness. Honey, cinnamon and vanilla make this granola aromatic and slightly sweet. With a slight crunch, it goes well with your favorite yogurt or just on its own. You’ll want to make this on repeat when you see how easy this is. Only six ingredients and a longer shelf life than most homemade goods. It’s gluten-free and dairy-free too, if you are into that.
INGREDIENTS YOU NEED
ROLLED OATS
Rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats) are the best choice for this recipe because they are thicker than instant oats.
If you need this to be gluten-free, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats. But aren’t oats naturally gluten-free? Yes, but the oats may have been packaged in a facility that had also processed foods with gluten in them. Using a certified GF product ensures there wasn’t any cross-contamination.
COCONUT OIL
Virgin coconut oil has a more distinct coconut flavor than refined, but both would work in this recipe. The coconut flavor doesn’t come through much in the finished granola.
HONEY
Honey adds a touch of sweetness to the granola.
VANILLA
Pure vanilla extract gives the granola a subtle vanilla flavor.
SALT
Table salt brings out all the other flavors in the recipe.
CINNAMON
Cinnamon will make your kitchen smell delicious while the granola is baking, almost like oatmeal cookies!
HOW TO MAKE HONEY CINNAMON GRANOLA
- Whisk together the melted coconut oil, honey, vanilla, salt and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl.
- Pour oats into a large mixing bowl. Then stir the coconut oil mixture into the oats until well combined.
3. Spread oats evenly onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Stir oats around midway through baking.
4. Pour granola into an airtight container. If you are gifting the granola, label the container and tie a bow around it if you wish!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW LONG CAN HONEY CINNAMON GRANOLA BE STORED?
Honey cinnamon granola can be stored in an airtight container for two weeks at room temperature. You can freeze the granola in a sealed freezer bag for up to six months, although it is best consumed within three months for the sake of flavor and consistency.
CAN I USE INSTANT OATS INSTEAD OF ROLLED OATS?
Yes. You could use the same amount of instant oats instead of rolled. However, instant oats are thinner and cook faster so you’ll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
WHY DID MY GRANOLA COME OUT SOGGY?
Granola will get soggy if it is exposed to any moisture. The granola must be fully cooled before storing. Make sure the container is air tight, and do not store in the refrigerator.
WHAT CAN I ADD TO THIS GRANOLA RECIPE?
The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it serves a great base for almost any additions that you fancy. Mini chocolate chips (after the granola is fully cooled), shredded coconut, dried fruits such as cranberries or cherries, almonds or any other nut makes a tasty addition!
TIPS AND TRICKS
DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO TURN UP THE HEAT
If you’re short on time, don’t be tempted to bake the granola faster by turning up the heat. Granola needs to cook low and slow so that it won’t burn!
WHAT TO DO IF YOU WANT THE GRANOLA EXTRA CRUNCHY
Add five minutes to the total cooking time. Keep checking on it though to make sure it doesn’t burn.
HONEY CINNAMON GRANOLA
Description
Forget store-bought granola- this honey cinnamon granola is amazing on its own or with your favorite yogurt. It smells amazing and makes a great gift! Slightly sweet with some crunch, your dairy-free/gluten-free friends will thank you.
Ingredients
3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
3.5 TBL coconut oil, melted
3 TBL honey
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
1. In a small mixing bowl, add the melted coconut oil, honey, vanilla, salt and cinnamon. Whisk until combined.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the rolled oats. Pour in the whisked mixture and stir until thoroughly combined.
3. Spread the oats evenly onto a parchment lined sheet pan.
4. Bake for 20 minutes, making sure to stir the oats around once after ten minutes.
5. Let cool. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
STEPS FOR GIVING GRANOLA AS A GIFT
1. Take your disposable container and create a label from card stock that says “homemade granola.”
2. Tape the label to the container.
3. Tie a ribbon around the container.
This recipe is so good! I really enjoy the cinnamon and honey combo. It’s really easy to make and has a great flavor.
Thank you for the kind words, Verlie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.