Best Vanilla Granola Recipe

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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! 

Recipe Features:

• Quick and Easy: Minimal ingredients and quick baking means you have fresh granola ready in minutes.
• Two Week Shelf Life: 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.

Ingredients and Substitutions:

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:

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.

Simple Vanilla Granola Recipe

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

Tips and FAQ’s:

• 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!

More Granola and Oat Recipes:

• 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

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