30 Minute Simple, Healthy Granola

This healthy homemade granola is easy to whip up and comes together in just 30 minutes! Use it for breakfast, snacks, or an ice cream topping.

Why Make My Own Granola?

Breakfast cereal and granola from the store are very quick and easy to grab for breakfast. Especially when you are running late for school or work or just have a busy morning and don’t feel like cooking. But even the ‘healthy’ cereals and granolas in the store contain a lot of added sugar and extra ingredients that often aren’t good for you.

We used to buy that cereal and granola from the store. But in trying to avoid as much processed food as possible, they had to go. The easiest way for me to switch to making my own of something is to just stop buying it, forcing me to make it at home. So I stopped buying cereal and granola and eventually, we got tired of eating eggs every day. I then started experimenting and trying to make a healthy granola for us.

I wanted to make something simple and easy to throw together so I tried to keep my ingredients to a minimum. The ingredients also all needed to have a purpose and add to the nutritional value, not just be there for filler. We both have active, busy days, so having a breakfast that keeps us full for a while is important. After several months of experimenting, I have settled on a recipe that I am happy with.

Ingredients In Simple Healthy Granola

1. Oatmeal. The base of this healthy granola is oats. Oats are whole grain, high in fiber, protein, and carbs while also having a lot of important vitamins and minerals like manganese, iron, folate, and b vitamins. I prefer to use quick oats just because it seemed when I was using old-fashioned oats they didn’t keep us full as long, but that’s just my preference.
2. Almonds. I use roasted, unsalted almonds. Almonds are also high in protein, and fiber, and have a lot of healthy fats. All of which contribute to helping you feel full longer after eating.
3. Coconut. I add dried coconut and coconut oil to this recipe. The coconut oil helps the granola crisp up while baking and the dried coconut adds flavor and another texture. Coconut is full of fiber, healthy fats, and iron. It is especially important to make sure you are getting enough iron while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Not having enough iron in your diet can leave you extra tired and also make you more susceptible to getting sick because it affects your immune system.
3. Maple Syrup. This is here for a sweetener and flavor, but maple syrup also has good minerals and antioxidants in it like calcium and potassium.
4. Sea Salt. Again, added for flavor, but sodium is important in your diet as well.

Simple Healthy Granola Directions

1. In a large bowl mix your oats, sea salt, and dried coconut.
2. In a saucepan on low melt your coconut oil.
3. While your coconut oil is melting if you are using whole almonds cut them into at least quarters.
4. Mix your almonds into your oat mixture.
5. Stir in your melted coconut oil, making sure to cover all of the oat mixture.
6. Pour in your maple syrup and stir it together.
7. Spray the baking sheet with baking spray.
8. Spread granola onto a baking sheet.
9. Pack granola down with your hands. (this will help it to clump and form clusters)
10. Bake at 325 degrees until it starts to turn golden. I bake it for 15 minutes and then stir it up and spread it back out and cook it for another 5 or so minutes.

Variations Of Simple, Healthy Granola

1. If you don’t like the maple flavor, use honey instead of the maple syrup. I use maple syrup because I like the flavor of it and we can get it cheaper than we can get good honey. It also has a higher concentration of minerals and antioxidants than honey.
2. If you want it sweeter you can add some brown sugar to the recipe. I’d just add a quarter cup to start with.
3. Add some craisins or raisins. You can either add these before or after baking. Just keep in mind that if you bake them with the granola they will become chewy.
4. Add some chocolate chips. I like to add a few chocolate chips for a different flavor and extra sweetness every once in a while.
5. You could also add some sunflower kernels or pepita seeds if you like more things in your granola.

Ways To Use Healthy Granola

• Eat it for breakfast! You can either eat this dry or with milk. Sometimes if we are running behind and have to eat in the car we just eat it dry so it is easier.
• Put it on yogurt for a healthy snack. This granola goes great with a bowl of plain Greek yogurt and some fruit.
• Use it for an ice cream topping! Top your ice cream with some of this granola to add some crunch and maple flavor!

How To Store

Once cooled, store your granola in an airtight container at room temperature.