Basic Granola Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient makes granola clump together? ›

Add an egg white.

However, when I did this the clusters disappeared. In order to get them back, the fix was simple: I had to add a couple of egg whites. The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together.

Bake low and slow.

Cook at 300 degrees F slowly for about 30 minutes or until it is golden brown and toasty. Cooking at too high of a temperature will likely burn the honey coating, the oats, and the nuts. A lower temperature ensures even baking for crispy, crunchy granola.

YUM! More reasons to obsess over homemade granola: Healthier: it has less sugar and is lower Calorie than anything you'll find at the store. Freezer Friendly: It will keep for months in the freezer, stored in a freezer safe bag.

High-fiber foods, like the oats and whole grains found in granola, fill you up and keep you feeling fuller longer. Dietary studies have found eating a high-fiber diet can help you lose weight. Dried fruit and nuts also contain antioxidants, like vitamin E, which can lower inflammation in the body.

While there are several different sticky ingredients that you can use, we've found that the binding agent that works the best is honey! When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together.

Not only can you transform that soggy, chewy granola back to being blissfully crunchy, but it's easier than you might think. All it takes is spreading the granola in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and heating it in a 400 degree oven for five minutes — essentially re-baking it.

On the downside, granola can be high in added sugars, hidden calories, and saturated fat, making some options less healthy.

Add the dried fruit at the end.

You don't want to run the risk of burning your dried fruit in the oven, so stir it into the granola after it cools. That way, you know any dried fruit you add will be soft and chewy, not crisp. (P.S. It doesn't hurt to add a handful of chocolate chips at this stage, either!)

If the granola is clumpy, use a spatula to press it into the pan. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Bake, stirring halfway through, for about 20 minutes total. The granola is ready when golden-brown and the almonds have toasted — it will still feel wet coming out of the oven but will dry as it cools.

Many types of granola contain healthy ingredients that may offer numerous benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and gut health.

Is granola better for you than Oatmeal? ›

Which One Is Better for Breakfast? Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.

“For active people, granola is best known for being a source of carbohydrate to fuel the muscles and provide energy for a busy day,” Clark says.

How much granola should you eat a day? The prevailing belief is that you should consume 45-50g of granola daily. This is frequently the recommended portion size on the granola cereal package. Suggested portion sizes are often 45g, only about three tablespoons full.

The oat flour mixed with liquid creates a coating that clings to the dry ingredients and clumps them together, creating an excellent crisp texture. Rather than large clumps, you get little clusters of oats and nuts coated in crispy oat flour.

Make sure that whichever granola recipe you use, it calls for some liquid, typically oil of some kind (I recommend olive oil for a subtle earthy, floral flavor, or melted unrefined coconut oil for subtly coconutty flavor). The liquid will help the chia seeds to gel, ensuring the granola sticks together.

Summary of Homemade Granola Clusters:

Wholesome treat made with oats, almonds, and maple syrup. A little salty and sweet, wonderful maple flavor. Energy-packed snack you'll feel good about eating. Vegan, egg-free, and gluten free if using certified GF oats.

Granola bars are made from ingredients like oats, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, honey, coconut, and chocolate chips. The nutritional value of granola bars can vary greatly depending on the brand and ingredients used.