Sweet & Crunchy Homemade Granola

Before we start, a couple words of caution: wait until this is completely cool before stirring in any mix-ins. Don’t skip the parchment paper either, unless you want to scrub stuck-on sugar syrup off your pan. But all in all, this recipe is a winner. Classic flavor, a simple method, and plenty of sweetness and crunch.

My kids love it sprinkled on yogurt, I love it straight from the jar, and it tastes way better than any kinds I’ve bought at the store. The secret is making the base sweet and crunchy, then letting everyone vote on what mix-ins go into the batch… dried fruit, chocolate chips, whatever makes the family happy. 

what You’ll Need

You can add whatever dried fruit or chocolate chips you want. Just make the base, and then everyone can customize their own bowl.

This will go fast depending on how many kids you have. I strongly suggest doubling or tripling this recipe; you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. The only issue is that you’ll ne

Granola Base

• 4 cups old-fashioned oats
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• ½ cup shredded coconut
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon water
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt

my favorite mix-ins

• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup raisins
• ¼ cup chocolate chips
• ¼ cup peanut butter chips

More Mix-In Ideas

Nuts & Seeds

• Sliced almonds
• Chopped walnuts
• Sunflower seeds (hulled)
• Pumpkin seeds
• Chopped cashews

Dried Fruits

• Dried blueberries
• Dried strawberries
• Chopped dried apricots
• Banana chips (broken up)
• Dried cherries

Sweet Treats

• Mini M&Ms
• Butterscotch chips
• White chocolate chips
• Mini marshmallows
• Caramel bits

How to Make Kids’ Granola

If you prefer a crunchier texture, bake for an additional 5-7 minutes. Make sure there’s a visible change in color of the granola before you take it out of the oven.

Step One: Make The Syrup

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Get a large, rimmed baking sheet and put parchment paper on it. This will make it easier to clean up later.

Put the oil, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, and salt in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until the sugar melts and everything is mixed together. You don’t need to boil or cook it down, just melt the sugar.

Step Two: Mix

Combine the “base” ingredients. Put the oats, pecans, and coconut in a big bowl. Pour the syrup over the dry ingredients. Stir until everything is coated and there are no more dry spots.

Step three: bake

Put the coated granola on the baking sheet. Make sure it is in one layer and not too thick. Bake for 20 minutes. It will be golden brown when it is ready.

Step Four: the mix-ins!

Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes. If you’ve used parchment, lift the whole thing off, so it cools faster. When the pan is no longer warm, add the raisins, craisins, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips. The sugar syrup will harden to a crunch as it cools.

Storing leftovers

Let your granola cool completely before storing – any leftover warmth will create condensation and make it soggy. Transfer to an airtight container or large mason jars. I use old peanut butter jars because they’re free and seal well.

It keeps for 2-3 weeks at room temperature, though it rarely lasts that long around here. Don’t refrigerate it – the moisture will make it lose its crunch. You can freeze it for up to 3 months in freezer bags, but honestly, it’s so quick to make that I just whip up a fresh batch instead.

If it starts to lose its crunch after a week or two, spread it on a baking sheet and pop it in a 300°F oven for 5-10 minutes to crisp it back up.

How to Use it

Great for car trips and lunch boxes.

• My favorite way to eat this is sprinkled on top of yogurt. So delicious.
• My kids like to eat this granola as a cold cereal with milk.
• And of course, it’s the perfect portable snack all on its own.

Questions and Troubleshooting

More Homemade Snack Recipes

Make some snacks that the kids (and you) will love.

• Chewy oven dried strawberries are like chewy candies, and the kids will love these in their lunch.
• Oatmeal whoopie pies are sweet and so fun!
• Caramelita bars with chocolate and caramel are everyone’s favorite dessert.

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