There is so much to love about this homemade vanilla granola recipe. It is super simple to make and my go-to for a quick breakfast or snack. Enjoy it as-is or use it to top ice cream, yogurt, smoothies, or as a starting point for your favorite add-ins!
The perfect breakfast recipe and delicious on top of overnight oats!

Recipe Features:
- Quick and Easy: Minimal ingredients and quick baking means you have fresh granola ready in minutes.
- Long Lasting: Homemade granola will last up to two weeks if stored properly.
- Nut and Dairy Free: This recipe contains no nuts or dairy. Although, you can add chopped nuts if you’d like for a great added texture.
We are granola lovers in this house. Having a good staple recipe that is easy to customize makes this ideal for on-the-go snacking or a quick breakfast. I like my granola to have big clusters of oats and flavor and a super long shelf life so we can have it on hand always.
Luckily, this vanilla granola recipe checks all of the boxes. It is insanely easy to make, fills my home with the most amazing vanilla scent, and gives me so many clusters of flavor. It is my go-to base granola and one I frequently gift to friends and neighbors.
You cannot go wrong with this easy granola recipe.

The ingredient list is not long. Most are pantry staples which means you could have a batch of granola ready in no time! Let’s break down what you need and any substitution options:
Homemade Vanilla Granola Ingredients:
- Rolled Oats: Here’s the deal, this recipe really is best with old fashioned rolled oats. BUT, what if I told you you could switch things up and do half and half? If you use half rolled oats and half quick oats you end up with something magical. While you can do my little 50/50 split, I do not recommend using quick oats for the entire amount. You end up with a glob mess that just doesn’t set right and miss that delightful crunchy texture.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds just a touch of molasses flavor which makes it my go-to over granulated sugar. Granola needs that little bit of extra flavor and binding. That being said, you can always substitute with coconut sugar, white sugar with a touch of molasses, or muscovado sugar in a pinch. We’ve done all 3 with similar results.
- Spices: Spices are a great place to play around. If you want the true classic flavor- Stick with cinnamon and salt. It marries beautifully with the vanilla and brown sugar giving you a granola that is family approved. You can swap the cinnamon for apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice in the fall.
- Honey: Honey is what will keep things clustered and give you those amazing big clumps of goodness. I’m a sucker for local honey and always have it on hand, but in a pinch I have also used maple syrup. You still get clusters together but not quite as big.
- Oil: Coconut oil is my favorite way to go when making this recipe. It has little flavor to it which really allows the vanilla to shine through. Our second grab is a light olive oil or avocado oil. You can also opt for vegetable oil or canola oil in a pinch. Do not use butter. It will reduce the shelf life and need to be stored in the refrigerator making it soggy and less crisp.

Honey Vanilla Granola Recipe
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- Line a large baking tray with a silicone mat or parchment and set aside.
- Combine the oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Add the coconut oil and honey to a small saucepan.
- Heat over low/medium heat until warmed and the oil is completely liquidated, roughly 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the oil mixture over the oats and stir to combine.
- Spread into an even layer onto the prepared sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, gently stirring once halfway through.
- Granola is done when golden brown and fragrant.

Tips To Make Perfect Granola:
- I do suggest taste testing as you go. I put about 1/4 cup of sugar and honey but my husband likes it with a little less (around 2-3 tablespoons).
- Be liberal with your add-in’s. I like it plain Jane because I use it with fruit and on Greek yogurt, but have big plans to create some outstanding flavor combos for you.
- It also makes an incredible vanilla granola cereal! Just add milk!
FAQs
The beauty of granola is that it can be eaten in so many ways! A few of our favorite?
– On its own as a grab-and-go snack
– With added fruit and yogurt
– On top of pancakes
– As a topping for ice cream
– With a little milk and fruit as cereal
This recipe makes an excellent base to any additional ingredients you would like to add. Here are a few of our favorites:
– Nuts: Cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds… This is an incredible vanilla almond granola recipe!
– Dried Fruit: Bananas and apricots are my favorite, but my kid lives for dried blueberries.
– Seeds: sunflower seeds are one of my favorites.
If you are looking for more clusters, try adding 1 egg white to the granola before baking. This will give you a beautiful binding that will hold things together well.
Also, try not to mix vigorously. Only gently mix to allow the edges to be blended to the center and avoid burning.
Absolutely. Eating granola with milk is one of our favorite ways to enjoy. Try adding a cup of chopped fruit for an even more fun experience.

More Granola and Oat Recipes:
- Easy Chocolate Granola Recipe
- Cinnamon Crunch Granola
- Pumpkin Pie Granola Recipe
- Banana Bread Granola
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Granola Bars
- Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
- Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Oat Bars
- Best Baked Oatmeal
- Almond Joy Granola Recipe
Still hungry? Follow One Sweet Appetite on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

Vanilla Granola
This fragrant Vanilla Granola is my go-to for a quick breakfast or snack. Enjoy it as-is or use it to top ice cream, yogurt, smoothies, or as a starting point for your favorite add-in’s!
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- Line a large baking tray with a silicone mat or parchment and set aside.
- Combine the oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Add the coconut oil and honey to a small saucepan.
- Heat over low/medium heat until warmed and the oil is completely liquidated, roughly 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Pour the oil mixture over the oats and stir to combine.
- Spread into an even layer onto the prepared sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes, gently stirring once halfway through.
- Granola is done when golden brown and fragrant.
Notes
I do suggest taste testing as you go. I put about 1/4 cup of sugar and honey but my husband likes it with a little less (around 2-3 tablespoons).
This recipe makes an excellent base to any additional ingredients you would like to add. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Nuts: Cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds… This is an incredible vanilla almond granola recipe!
- Dried Fruit: Bananas and apricots are my favorite, but my kid lives for dried blueberries.
- Seeds: sunflower seeds are one of my favorites.
How do you get granola to stick together?
If you are looking for more clusters, try adding 1 egg white to the granola before baking. This will give you a beautiful binding that will hold things together well.Also, try not to mix vigorously. Only gently mix to allow the edges to be blended to the center and avoid burning.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 213Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 109mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 3gSugar: 14gProtein: 3g
Erika
Monday 30th of May 2022
This is a great recipe! I make a few adjustments for the tastes of my family. I add pecans and unsweetened coconut. My husband like things really sweat so a do a very generous 1/4 cup of brown sugar. I also replace the honey with pure maple syrup and half the vanilla extract. I have been using Trader Joe’s pure bourbon vanilla extract and it adds a nice flavor. Thank you for the recipe!!
Jesseca
Monday 30th of May 2022
Oh, I LOVE the idea of added coconut and bourbon vanilla! Thanks for the suggestion. I can't wait to try that.
Amy Jensen
Friday 11th of February 2022
Great recipe! I’ve already made it twice this week. I gave some to my friend and she loves it too! Thank you!
Jesseca
Friday 11th of February 2022
Thank you so much, Amy!
Jess
Wednesday 9th of February 2022
Honestly, the only reason I would tell someone not to make this is because you WILL become addicted to it, no if ands or buts about it! I LOVE this recipe so much! Having multiple food allergies, finding safe store bought granola is virtually impossible, so this recipe is perfect! But I end up eating it all within a week at most XD. Even when I double the batch, it doesn’t last long!
Jesseca
Wednesday 9th of February 2022
Hi Jess, you had me for a second. 😜 This is one of our all-time favorites. It's so easy to customize and the perfect pantry snack, so I'm thrilled you love it as much as I do.
Hannah
Monday 22nd of March 2021
This is super delicious and easy to make. My kids loved helping (and eating!). We used canola oil because my daughter is not a fan of coconut.
Jesseca
Friday 26th of March 2021
Hi Hannah! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Funny, we were out of coconut oil last week and made a double batch with canola. Equally as delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Lorraine
Monday 15th of March 2021
The granola smells delicious even before you put it in the oven. I used my homemade vanilla and didn’t add anything else to the recipe. The recipe is so easy and was glad to see the honey & coconut oil instead of butter. I have tried a few granola recipes but this one is by far the best tasting. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Carol S
Saturday 25th of December 2021
@Jesseca, this is great recipe. I have added dry roasted peanuts,slivered almonds,chopped walnuts which can be great also
Jesseca
Monday 22nd of March 2021
Hi Lorraine! Thank you so much for your kind words. This is one of our favorite granola recipes and made regularly in my home. I'm so glad you loved it too!