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If you are like me, you love to make anything you can homemade. Especially when it is healthier, less expensive, and EASY! I love this family granola recipe for those reasons and the fact that it is delicious and nutritious. For me and for my little kids!

Being made with coconut oil and honey means this granola is easily metabolized and boasts a low glycemic impact. Can you say healthy? While many granolas you buy at the store are going to have refined sugars and highly processed oils, this one beats them out in flavor and in nutritional value.

This granola pairs perfectly with my homemade yogurt or as a part of a toddler-friendly breakfast or snack. Check out my posts for toddler breakfasts and toddler snacks to read more about how I use it for the kids. It’s also a great breakfast for you mom!

Why Make Granola Homemade?

Long story short? Cost-effective, healthy, customizable. And the obvious… Delish!

Even healthier brands of granola at the store can contain a high sugar content or processed sweeteners and flavorings. Once you really get to the clean label (like One Degree or Purely Elizabeth) brands you start to pay a pretty penny! Solution? Make your granola at home with ingredients you know and pay significantly less! My easy granola recipe will have both your gut and your wallet thanking you.

Another of my favorite reasons to make things homemade: FUN! I would argue that most of us have a creative side. And being creative in the kitchen is a great way to tune into our creativity in a way that is beneficial and practical. Making granola with your kids is also totally doable and can be a great activity for toddlers and older kids too!

Cost Comparison (for those of us who love budget friendly!)

Store brands of granola range from about $0.17 – $1.25 per ounce. The healthier brands that don’t contain added sugars and other mysterious ingredients are closer to $0.50 – $1.25 per oz. My granola? $0.09 – $0.14 per ounce. How is that for budget friendly? Even with add ins like nuts (which can be pricey) and using whole ingredients like honey and coconut oil, this granola is so good to your budget and beats out all the competitors on price!

Ingredients I Use in Homemade Granola

This granola has 4 main ingredients. Oats, Coconut Oil, Honey, and Water.

Oats: You can use either rolled oats or quick oats. They are almost identical in their nutritional value and simply change the texture of your granola slightly. Want a smaller oat and slightly softer granola? Quick oats are the way to go. Want crunchy oats with great texture? Use the rolled oats.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is full of quickly metabolized fats that help with energy. It is also said to support immune health thanks to its lauric acid. And my personal favorite? It tastes great! Adds a subtle tropical note to a delicious granola.

Honey: It is full of antioxidants and better for a balanced blood sugar. Honey also boasts immune support properties and adds a great depth of flavor to your granola.

Water: Using water encourages your granola to clump. It also softens the oats just a little before they are bakes and leads to a crunchier texture once they are done in the oven.

Things I love about these ingredients? Gluten free. Natural Sugars. Tasty… the list goes on. You can also add all kinds of other things! I like to throw in some salt and vanilla flavoring to my granola. Mix in nuts for an extra punch of nutrition and flavor (and texture!). Dried fruits are also a great add in! I will often add wheat germ or chia seeds too. Once you make your “base” you can add whatever you want!

Simple Homemade Granola

Great as a yogurt topping, cereal, snack, or toddler-friendly breakfast, this granola is naturally sweet, gluten-free, and budget-friendly—mom-made magic from just four ingredients!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 2

Servings: 32 1/2 cup servings

Ingredients

12 Cups Quick Oats (can use rolled oats if you prefer)
1 Cup Coconut Oil
1 Cup Honey
1 Cup Water
2 tsp Salt (optional)
1 TBS Vanilla Extract (optional)

Optional Add In's

1 Cup Wheat Germ
1 Cup Chia Seeds
3 Cups Chopped Nuts (Pecans, Almonds, Walnuts etc..)
2 Cups Dried Fruits (Raisins, Craisins, Dried Blueberries etc…)

Equipment

1 Large Mixing Bowl
1 Sauce Pan
1 Wooden Spoon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250°F.
Mix Oil, Honey, Water and bring to a boil. Add salt and vanilla at this point.
Put the oats into a LARGE mixing bowl. (If you are adding wheat germ or chia seeds do that now). You really want a large bowl to be able to stir this without making a mess.
Pour the syrup mixture over the oats and stir well. The oats should be coated in the syrup mixture and clump together slightly in some spots.
Add any other ingredients you want in your granola.
Spread the mixture out on 2-3 cookie sheets. You want it to be ¼ inch thick at most so that it can all get pretty toasty. If there is too much on a pan it can take longer to get it all crisped up and ready for storage.
Put the pans (as many as you have) into the oven. Doesn't matter if they have to be on multiple racks. This is acting more as a dehydrator anyway.
Bake for 2 hours or so, stirring every 30 minutes or so for a nice even toast.
Let cool completely. Store (or go ahead and eat some!)

Notes

Your house is going to smell AMAZING while this bakes. Be warned.

Tips & Variations

Crunchy vs. Chewy: For chewier granola you will want to use less oats and then bake it for less time. If you want to make granola bars for example, you may half the oats and be sure to use quick oats. This will mean they absorb moisture more and soften during baking.

Flavor Ideas: I use vanilla for some added flavor. You could also add cinnamon or even cacao powder to change things up a little.

Kid-Friendly Mix-ins: Raisins are always a win with my little ones. I try to avoid nuts if I am going to be feeding this to toddlers without all their teeth. If you want that nutty flavor without the choking hazard you can just blend your nuts up to the consistency of the oats or wheat germ. Tastes great! Toddler breakfast ideas

My Favorite Ways to Eat Granola

Yogurt Topping: Mixed with my easy homemade yogurt and some fresh or frozen fruit? Granola with yogurt is seriously a winner of a breakfast.

Cereal: This is also great as a cereal with some milk. It stays crunchy and is a perfect blend of nutty and sweet. Plus its a nutritious way to start the day!

Snack: Clumpy or in bar form this makes a healthy snack for toddlers and moms alike!

Desserts: If you want to add texture to an ice cream Sundae this is a great way to go! I also love granola with yogurt as a “healthy dessert” when I just want something crunchy and sweet.

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

This granola will last for months in the pantry. I like to re-use use the cylindrical oat container to store mine. You can also use a Ziploc baggy. Or any container (like these storage containers on Amazon).

Granola is PERFECT for meal prepping too. As you can see this is a large batch of granola. Make it ahead and have a quick and easy breakfast go-to for many many weeks.

Closing Thoughts

Homemade granola really is one of those simple joys that keeps on giving. It’s healthy, budget-friendly, and endlessly customizable—and when you make it with ingredients like coconut oil and honey, it nourishes your whole family in more ways than one. I hope this recipe brings ease to your mornings and a little more flavor to your daily rhythm. Whether you’re scooping it onto yogurt, tossing it in a snack bag, or sharing it with your toddlers, this granola is mom-made magic. Let me know how you customize it or what your favorite mix-ins are—I’d love to hear!