The Best Granola!!

Updated 2.11.21

The Best Homemade Granola

Seriously, this is the best granola!!  

First off, let me set the record straight, in case any of you get the notion that I like to cook.  I do not.  

I have done it for the last 30+ years and will continue to do it out of necessity.

I have told hubby that in my dreams, when he retires he will take over ALL of the cooking.  I’ll clean up any day! He really enjoys cooking, he just works sooo many hours that he can’t.  

Oh, well... He makes me breakfast every single weekend! He is the best!! I’m so grateful for him!  

I love to bake. My hips don't like it, but who's asking??? This granola is so easy to throw together and your house will smell amazing! It smells like an apple pie baking. Your mouth is starting to water, isn't it....

Granola with yogurt and blueberries

So, I’m a little picky about my granola…. Don’t give me that soft chewy stuff, I like it hard and crunchy!  

This recipe I tweaked until I got it just right. It had to be perfect, we use this stuff almost everyday!

First, preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Get out a 9X13 pan and add 2 ½ cups of old fashioned oats.

2 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats in a pan

Add ¼ cup of ground flax seed,  ¼ cup of brown sugar (I prefer light brown), 1 tsp. of cinnamon and ½ tsp. of salt.

Granola dry ingredients

This is sooo easy to make…. Mix this until well blended. I usually have to mash the brown sugar to break it up.

Mix and mash dry granola ingredients

Now in a small cereal bowl, that you can microwave in, add 1 Tbl.  of oil (any light oil), ½ cup of applesauce (I use the little individual cups, we don't eat that much applesauce), and 1 Tbl. of honey. (Use the same measuring spoon as the oil and the honey will slip right into the bowl!)

Granola wet ingredients

We are almost done!! Mix that around and pop it into the microwave oven for 30 seconds on high. Stir and repeat.

Now just add the applesauce mix into the oats mix and stir, stir, stir until it is well blended and coated.

Mix wet and dry granola ingredients

Now,  set 2 timers…. One for 1 hour and the other for 10 minutes. I could keep setting the one timer for 10 minutes, but I would inevitably forget how many times I had set it.  So, now no thinking!

This needs to be stirred every 10 minutes for 1 hour. When it's done, it should stir easier and it has a nice dark caramel color to it.

Stirring Granola

Let it cool, and store it in a container.  It does not need to be refrigerated.

Then make one of these…

Granola with yogurt and blueberry lunch

This is my absolute favorite lunch! I dump a light vanilla yogurt in a bowl with a ¼ cup of the Best Homemade Granola, add some blueberries. Soooooo good!

The Best Homemade Granola
The Best Homemade Granola!
2 ½ c. old fashioned oats
¼ c. ground flax seed
¼ c. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
½ c. unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbl. oil
1 Tbl. honey

Preheat oven to 300.

In 9X13 pan mix first 5 ingredients and mix, set aside.

In a small bowl mix remaining 3 ingredients and heat in microwave for 30 sec. on high.  Stir, then repeat.

Mix applesauce mix into the oats mix and stir until well coated.

Bake for 60 minutes, stirring mixture every 10 minutes.  Use 2 timers so you don’t lose track like me…  Let it cool, then store in a container. Enjoy!!

Blessings,
Lori

44 comments

  1. This looks yum! And the photos make it look I can eat it right off the screen. I'll have to try. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my orange lamps. Your blog looks great.

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    1. Thanks, Sarah! Hope you like it too!

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    2. Congrats too on being featured on Addicted2Decorating--I recognized your file folders as soon as I saw them. Great work.

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    3. Awww Thanks, Sarah! Congrats on your feature too at Here Comes the Sun!

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  2. Looks so delicious! I believe you when you say its the best! Going to have to try ti ASAP!

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    1. Thanks, Kelley! I hope you like it as much as we do!!

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  3. Mmmmm...sounds yummy! I'm always looking for inexpensive alternatives to pricey breakfast cereal. Thanks for sharing. I'm pinning it!

    Have a lovely week!
    Deborah

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    1. Thanks, Deborah! I love cheap and easy! Hope you like it!

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  4. This looks amazing! I'm always looking for relatively healthy granola for my yogurt in the morning and this fits the bill! Thanks for the recipe!

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  5. This looks so yummy! Great pic!! I too, am picky about store bought granola...most is waaayy tooooo sweet for me! Love this recipe. Gonna try it! and hey...I'm going to Haven too! Would love to meet you! Excited to be a new follower!

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    1. Hi Janis! Oh, good! I think you'll like it.... I'm sooo excited for Haven! I would love to hook up and meet you too! I checked out your blog, LOVE IT! I followed you back!

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  6. This looks great. I will be featuring it tonight at my Swing into Spring party that opens at 8pm EST. Please stop by and pick up an I've Been Featured button. Thanks.

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  7. Hi! I saw your link on Adventures of a DIY mom. I can't wait to try this! I hope you don't mind if I pin it. :)

    http://sarahsworld-sarahsworld.blogspot.com/

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  8. I sooo want to try this! I looks super yummy and I love that it's made with applesauce, instead of a lot of butter. Pinned! Thanks so much for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays.
    Rachel
    adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com

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    1. Yay! Thanks, Rachel!! It is sooo good! I hope you like it as much as we do!
      Blessings,
      Lori

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  9. I'm with ya, I hate chewy granola! I've been searching for the perfect recipe. Does it 'clump' at all?

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    1. Hi! Thanks for stopping by! This recipe clumps slightly. Where the brown sugar may not have broken up. It's so tasty though!! Hope you enjoy it!

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  10. My family loves granola with our yogurt, and I make my own. I've never tried it with applesauce, I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. Hi Patricia! I'm so glad you stopped by! It's so good and EASY!! Hope you like it, too!

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  11. Your granola looks wonderful, I really like the addition of the apple sauce! I love making granola at home too, it tastes so good, plus you can add in whatever you want and regulate the amounts of oil and sugar! Thanks for sharing your recipe, I'll have to try adding the apple sauce next time!

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    1. Thanks, Maria! I really like the applesauce in it! Enjoy!!

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  12. Your granola sounds and looks wonderful!! We are so happy to have you link up to our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." We hope you'll be back!! -The Sisters

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  13. That granola looks wonderful. I would have never thought of putting applesauce in granola.

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    1. Thanks, Nicole! The applesauce really cuts down on the sugar and fat!

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  14. This looks delicious - I love the addition of apple sauce, I never would have thought to add that! Thanks for sharing at Beautify it Monday, we hope you'll be back next week!

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    1. Thanks, Girls!! The applesauce gives it such a nice flavor!

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    2. You've been featured today at Bringing Beauty! Feel free to stop by and grab a button!

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  15. thanks for sharing! i love how straight-forward all your ingredients are (like i don't have to go buy agave nectar or anything..ha!). i kicked my cereal habit months ago (used to eat it ALL the time) but this would be a nice break from my oatmeal or eggs breakfasts i do now! :o)

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    1. Thanks so much, Anne! It's really good! I hope you like it. Very easy to make!

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  16. Mmmm...This does look pretty incredible! Pinning it for sure!

    Thanks so much for linking up at Feature Friday FREE-FOR-ALL!

    ~Abbie

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    1. Thanks, Abbie! I love your blog! Thanks for the pin too!!

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  17. It has been several years since I made granola. Homemade is always better. Thanks for the recipe, I have filed it away.
    Come for a visit to my blog
    http://wildoakdesigns.blospot.com
    Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy! This is one you'll practically memorize, you'll make it so much!

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  18. This looks soooo yummy!

    PS: I look forward to seeing you this week at Show Me What You Got Tuesday's at ODH via: http://ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com/2012/05/live-show-me-what-you-got-linky-party_28.html

    Mrs. Delightful
    www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com

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  19. Hi Lori, I am one of your newest followers. Just had to say thank you for this wonderful new Granola recipe! Looks wonderful and I am making. I also work in the bakery at a CHRISTian college......I will be making it there also! I pinned it to my Pinterest....it will bless a lot of ladies!

    Blessings to your day,
    Linda

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    1. Hi Linda! Thanks for your sweet comment! I hope you like the granola recipe, we LOVE it and I usually need to make it every week. How cool that you'll make it for a christian college! My daughter attends Liberty University and loves it.

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  20. Definitely going to have to PIN this, hubby loves granola and you made this look super quick and easy!

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    1. Thanks Christine! My hubby LOVES this! I still make it on a regular basis. Soooo good!

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  21. I know this is an old post but yum!! a just made it and it’s delicious!! Keeping this recipe. Thanks!

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    1. Hi Kathy! Thanks so much! It is delicious! I'm so glad you like it.

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