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.

close up of granola with dried fruit and white chocolate chips.

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.

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ingredients measured out and labeled in small bowls.

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.

small saucepan with sugar syrup.

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.

bowl of oats before and after adding sugar syrup.

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.

baking sheet of granola before and after baking

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.

raisins, dried cranberries, peanut butter chips, and chocolate chips.

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

What is the best type of oats for making granola?

Old-fashioned oats! They’re cheap, tasty, and good for you!

What kind of oil is best for granola?

I use vegetable oil, but I understand many people don’t like it. I’d recommend a liquid coconut oil as a great alternative.

Can I skip the mix-ins?

Sure! That will cut down quite a bit on the sugar as well. 😊

close up view of granola with lots of fruit and chocolate chips

More Homemade Snack Recipes

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

Printable Recipe

Kid’s Favorite Granola

Plenty of delicious mix-ins combined with sweet brown sugar oats make a crunchy and versatile treat for all ages.
Print Recipe
close up of granola with dried fruit and white chocolate chips.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:20 minutes
Cooling time:20 minutes
Total Time:50 minutes

Ingredients

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

Mix-In Ideas

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

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Instructions

  • Prep. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prep a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment for easier cleanup.
  • Make the syrup. Add the oil, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, and salt to a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves and everything is combined. You do not need to boil or cook it down; just melt the sugar.
  • Make the base. Combine the oats, pecans, and coconut in a large bowl.
  • Coat. Pour the syrup over the dry base ingredients. Stir until everything is coated with no dry spots.
  • Bake. Spread the coated granola on the baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Add 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, dried cranberries, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips. The sugar syrup will harden to a crunch as it cools.

Notes

Some more mix-ins we love: hulled sunflower seeds, mini M&Ms, butterscotch chips.
Don’t add the mix-ins too soon or they’ll melt!

Nutrition

Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 67mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
Servings: 20 people
Calories: 182kcal
Author: Katie Shaw

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5 Comments

  1. Hey Miller,
    Yes, you can definitely use honey in place of the sauce for this granola recipe! Honey will add a nice touch of natural sweetness and a slightly different texture. Just keep in mind that honey is sweeter than sugar, so you might want to adjust the amount slightly if you’re watching sweetness levels.

    1. hey ann, sorry about that 🙂 it’s just a tablespoon to help the sugar dissolve into a syrup

5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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