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This Classic Granola “build your own” is simple to put together using pantry staples like oats, nuts and seeds, along with dried fruit and warm spices. It’s perfect to top of a bowl of yogurt for a quick breakfast or grab a handful for an afternoon snack. When making granola you always want to use all-natural ingredients that start in their whole form to maximize their health benefits. From healthy to sweet, soft or crunchy, putting together a classic granola depends on what ingredients you have on hand and the flavors you like.
Granola is still believed to be a wholesome snack made popular in the late 1960’s-1970’s during the hippie movement. My vintage inspiration for this recipe is from a vintage 1980’s La Leche League cookbook.
Whole Foods for the Whole Family (1981), by the La Leche League International, is filled with vintage wholesome recipes for breakfast, lunches, and desserts. Here is an original recipe for one pan granola inspired from this cookbook.
If your looking to try some other tasty varieties here is a recipe for my Cranberry Almond Granola or Cherry Superfood Granola.
- Start with OATS
Use old-fashioned oats along with some quick oats. If you don’t have quick oats, using all whole grain is is just fine.
- Add in a some whole GRAINS or SEEDS
Choose a whole grain such as wheat germ, oat bran or seeds like flax seeds, pepita seeds or chia seeds.
- Add in some NUTS
You can use a variety of nuts like almonds, cashews, walnuts, or pecans. It’s good to mix up both whole and course chopped nuts to add texture.
- Add a SWEETENER
You can use either one or a combination of sweeteners such as honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses or sorghum.
- Add SPICE
Add up to 1 Tablespoon of warm dried spices, such as 2 tsp. of cinnamon + 1 tsp. nutmeg.
- Add FLAVOR
Add up to 1 Tablespoon of flavoring like vanilla plus up to 2 Tablespoons of fruit juice or fruit puree.
- Add DRIED FRUIT
After the granola is done baking, add in the dried fruit. Some of the best to add are dried cherries, cranberries or raisins. You can even dice up some larger dried fruits like dried apricots or dates.
Dietary Substitutions
Making granola can be very versatile and you can basically swap out the ingredients to fit your dietary needs.
For the oil, you can substitute out really any oil that works for your dietary needs. Coconut oil or butter also work great in this recipe.
If you need to avoid certain types of nuts like tree nuts, swap out the almonds and coconut with peanuts or seeds like sunflower seeds or hemp seeds.
If you have a tree nut allergy, this is a list of them to avoid: almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, chestnuts and coconut.
How to make granola bars from granola
To make granola bars: In a saucepan combine 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1/4 c. honey, 2 T. butter, and 2 T. brown sugar and heat until it boils. Then add 2 1/2 c. prepared granola into the hot mixture and pour into greased 8×8 pan. Add 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips on the top. Chill for 1 hour and cut into bars.
Classic Granola
Ingredients
DRY INGREDIENTS
- 2 c. old fashioned whole oats
- 1 c. quick oats
- 1 c. pecans or walnuts rough chop
- 1 c. almonds rough chop
- 1 c. unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ c. pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 2 T. flax seeds
- 1 T. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. salt
WET INGREDIENTS
- ½ c. oil
- ½ c. honey or maple syrup (or combination)
- 1 T. vanilla
MIX-INS
- 1 c. dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, or currants
Instructions
PREP
- Pre-heat oven to 325°.
- Chop the nuts and set aside. Grease or line a cookie sheet with parchment.
GRANOLA
- In a large bowl, mix together oats, nuts, coconut, pepitas, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, mix together oil, honey, and vanilla and pour over dry ingredients.
BAKE
- Bake granola at 325° for 25-30 minutes.
MIX-INS
- Toss in dried fruit and break into pieces.
- Store in an air-tight container.
Related Recipes
Try these other granola recipes
1980’s Vintage Cookbooks
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