This kid-favorite homemade granola recipe is made with 6 simple ingredients, uses one bowl, and takes just 20 minutes to make. It's sweetened with maple syrup and tastes so much better than store bought!
If you ask me, there can never be too many granola recipes! It's always nice to change things up once in a while, you know?
And this granola made with maple syrup will have your whole house smelling like homemade goodness! The incredible aroma of maple and vanilla will have your kids drooling! You'll never want to buy store bought granola again.
This granola recipe is crunchy, but not chunky, like my original granola recipe that breaks into chunky clusters. The texture of this granola actually reminds me of cereal which makes it perfect for making yogurt parfaits and topping a smoothie bowl.
Wondering what you are going to do with 5 cups of granola? Thankfully, there are so many ways to eat granola, that you'll find yourself making this again in no time.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy recipe You just mix all of the ingredients together, spread them out on a lined baking sheet, and bake it. That's it! And you only need one bowl, so cleanup is a breeze!
- Naturally sweetened Maple syrup makes mixing easy and tastes so incredibly good!
- Kid-Approved My kids absolutely love this recipe. In fact, they are thrilled when I pack it as a lunchbox snack in small containers for them.
- 20-minute recipe Need I say more?
- Vegan This recipe is completely vegan because it is sweetened with maple syrup instead of honey.
- Low FODMAP granola recipe If a serving is limited to no more than one-half of a cup. See notes section about almonds in a low FODMAP diet.
Ingredient Notes
- Oats Use Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. Rolled oats are easy to find and are inexpensive (especially when purchased in bulk). Oats are a whole grain and are an excellent source of soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, phosphorus, thiamine, magnesium, and zinc.
- Almonds Considered low FODMAP if limited to 10 almonds. One-quarter cup serving of this granola recipe has about 4 almonds in it.
- Maple syrup Added for maple flavor. Natural sweetener that is considered Low FODMAP.
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is a brief overview of the steps to make this easy granola recipe. For a full list of ingredients and complete instructions, scroll down to the recipe.
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl.
- Pour mixture out on to a rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment paper,
- Use the back side of a spoon to spread the oat mixture out evenly.
- Bake in the oven for 15-17 minutes, until the oat mixture is light golden brown in color.
- Let it sit at room temperature to cool.
Dietitian Tips
I'm sure you've noticed that I've referred to this recipe as being 'vegan' as well as meeting the criteria for a 'low FODMAP' recipe. If neither of these words pertain to you, it doesn't mean that this recipe is not for you. Nor does it mean that I think you should decide to be vegan or follow a low FODMAP diet 😉
I try to include these words in some recipes to help families that do need to know these details. For instance, not only does the term 'vegan' mean something to those who follow a vegan diet, but it is also a signal to families who worry about food allergies that the recipe does not contain dairy or egg (two of the most common food allergens).
And in case you are wondering why I didn't decide to call this a "healthy granola recipe,' it's because when 'healthy' is used to describe food, it can be confusing. What may be considered 'healthy' for one person, may not be 'healthy' for another. Additionally, the word "healthy" used to describe food may trigger disordered eating in certain populations.
Expert Tips
- Let cool completely before storing.
- Spread the granola out on one single layer, covering as much of the surface of the baking sheet as possible. This will allow for even browning.
- I like to use a hand held food chopper or the chopper attachment that came with my Smart Stick Hand Blender to chop the almonds into small pieces.
- The size of the almond pieces will determine how crunchy this granola is. The larger the pieces of almond, the crunchier it will be.
- Slivered almonds can be used in place of chopped almonds.
- Honey can be used in place of maple syrup, but then it will no longer be considered vegan, and it will take a little more work to spread out the oat mixture. Also, the mixture will be stickier if you use honey, so you'll have to use the palm of your hand or back end of a flat spatula to press and smooth the mixture down onto the parchment paper before baking it.
- If your kids like dried fruit like raisins or dried cranberries in granola, feel free to mix some in!
Questions You May Have
Granola is so versatile! It can be eaten alone as a snack, with milk (like cereal), added to yogurt, and so much more. I've compiled a list with 20 ideas of how to eat granola. Let me know if you can think of more!
FODMAPs are sugars that aren’t absorbed properly in the gut, triggering symptoms in people with IBS.
Although I haven't tried it yet, I think chopped walnuts or pumpkin seeds would make a nice substitution in this recipe.
Yes, you sure can! Honey is not considered low FODMAP or vegan, if you care about that. Otherwise, you can substitute it equally for the maple syrup.
The mixture will be stickier when using honey, so you'll need to use the palm of your hand or the back side of a flat spatula to flatten and spread out the mixture before baking it. Then, once it cools, break the pieces apart.
Once granola is completely cooled to room temperature, it can be stored in an airtight container and used within a few weeks.
While I have not tried it myself, I've also heard that granola freezes well.
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Did your kids love this easy granola recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating below or a review in the comments section!
Don't forget to snap a pic of their granola and tag @carrots.and.cookies on Instagram so I can see it. Enjoy!
Easy Homemade Granola Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups Rolled oats Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
- ⅔ cup Almonds Chopped
- ¼ cup Hemp hearts
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- ⅓ cup Maple syrup Pure Maple Syrup
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil I like to use extra virgin olive oil, but any neutral-flavored oil can be used instead.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix all ingredients together in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir well, until all of the dry ingredients have been mixed in with the maple syrup, vanilla, and oil.
- Pour mixture onto a lined rimmed baking sheet. Spread out evenly using a spoon. Mixture should cover the entire surface.
- Bake in the oven for 15-17 minutes, until the mixture is golden brown.
- Remove and let cool.
Notes
- I like to use a hand held food chopper or the chopper attachment that came with my Smart Stick Hand Blender to chop the almonds into small pieces.
- The size of the almond pieces will determine how crunchy this granola is. The larger the pieces of almond, the crunchier it will be.
- Slivered almonds can be used in place of chopped almonds.
- Use the back of a spoon to spread the oat mixture out evenly to cover the base of the lined baking sheet.
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- Honey can be used in place of maple syrup, but then it will no longer be considered vegan, and it will take a little more work to spread out the oat mixture. Also, the mixture will be stickier if you use honey, so you'll have to use the palm of your hand or back end of a flat spatula to press and smooth the mixture down onto the parchment paper before baking it.
- Remove granola from the oven when it is golden brown. Do not over-bake it.
- Let the granola cool completely before storing.
- Store in an air-tight container or jar at room temperature. Can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
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