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This simple granola recipe is a delicious whole grain cereal drizzled with pure maple syrup and vanilla and baked to a satisfying crunch.
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👩🏻🍳 Homemade Granola Back Story
Because I just don’t have enough to do, I decided to make my own granola cereal.
Actually, it was super-easy and didn't take much time at all. And breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so you want to make it count! Can you say whole grains?!? I used puffed kamut, puffed wheat and rolled oats to get that whole grain goodness going.
Fall is the perfect time for maple syrup, and there's a lot of really great information regarding how it's made!
Any way you make this simple granola recipe, it is a delicious choice for a weekday breakfast, and great to serve to your kids on school mornings!
🥘 Ingredients Needed
- maple syrup - adds some sweetness and helps the granola stick together.
- butter - it's like when you eat waffles or pancakes, the butter balances out the syrup perfectly!
- vanilla extract - gives the granola its vanilla flavor.
- cinnamon - pairs perfectly with the maple and vanilla flavors.
- puffed kamut - you can also use puffed wheat, puffed rice, or a combination of any of them!
- rolled oats - a classic addition for any granola.
- sliced almonds - provides a nutty crunch.
- sesame seeds - an optional ingredient that adds just a bit more flavor and texture.
🔪 Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and while it's preheating combine the syrup and butter in a saucepan and heat on medium until the butter is melted.
- Stir in the vanilla and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl combine your puffed kamut (or whatever puffed cereal you're using), oats, and almonds.
- Slowly pour the syrup mixture over the cereal, stirring as you go to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the mixture and mix them in (optional step).
- Spread into a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes. Make sure to stir at around the 15-minute mark!
👪 FAQs
If stored properly in an airtight container or sealable bag, your granola should be good for up to 6 months. Make sure to store it in a place that's cool and dry to increase its shelf life!
The oats actually contribute to a good amount of the fat in this recipe, so you could substitute the puffed cereal instead of the oats to cut back on that. The same is true of the almonds; you could just replace them with more puffed cereal. You could also use a buttery spread or butter substitute if you don't want to use traditional butter.
Of course! If you want to use this granola as a fun gift for the holidays or even in goodie bags for a birthday party, you could easily double or triple it. Just make sure you've got a big enough bowl!
✔️ Storage Suggestion
Your homemade granola can easily be storage in a gallon size ziplock bag. I absolutely LOVE this lay-flat zippered storage bag from rezip.
They are made of food-safe silicone and are easy to securely zip shut. In addition, they are dishwasher and freezer safe, and can be reused over and over again.
That saves me money over time and also helps to reduce waste! Win-win!
💭 Top Tips
- Any plain puffed cereal will work, just make sure it isn't sweetened or doesn't include other ingredients.
- Be sure to use a really large bowl to make it easy to mix in the maple syrup mixture without spilling cereal.
- If you have regular sesame seeds (not toasted), you can toast your own in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Or you can skip them altogether (they really are optional).
- Serve with milk or just eat as a crunchy snack!
📖 Variations
- Though it negates some of the nutrition of this granola, after baking you could mix in some chocolate chips for some extra sweetness. A healthier option would dried fruit, like raisins or apricots.
- You can also play around with which grains and nuts you use to switch up the flavors. Try some peanuts, pecans, or walnuts, and mix up the combinations to figure out which you like best!
- If you want to use a different sweetening agent in place of the syrup, some honey or agave nectar would be a great substitution.
🥞 Additional Breakfast Recipes
If this simple granola recipe has you craving great options for the morning, here are a few more breakfast ideas for you!
Simple Granola Recipe: Vanilla Maple
Love this recipe? Awesome! Please give it a 5 star ⭐ rating below! And if you make this, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!
📋 Recipe Card
Simple Granola Recipe: Vanilla Maple
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 4 tablespoons butter or buttery spread
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 5 cups puffed kamut, puffed wheat, or puffed rice (or combine 2 or 3 of these)
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Combine syrup and butter in a small saucepan and heat on medium until the buttery spread is melted and the mixture is hot.
- Stir in vanilla and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, combine the puffed cereal, rolled oats, and almonds.
- Slowly pour the syrup mixture over the cereal mixture, stirring as you go to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the mixture and stir to combine (this helps them to stick to the other pieces of cereal instead of just ending up on the bottom of the bowl.
- Spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet, then bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring at about the 15 minute mark.
Notes
- You can substitute margarine or other buttery spread for butter.
- Any plain puffed cereal will work, just make sure it isn't sweetened or includes other ingredients.
- Be sure to use a really large bowl to make it easy to mix in the maple syrup mixture without spilling cereal.
- If you have regular sesame seeds (not toasted), you can toast your own in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Or you can skip them altogether (they really are optional).
- Serve with milk or just eat as a crunchy snack!
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in August 2013, but was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in October 2020.
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Happy cooking!
Michelle
Huh, I always thought this was difficult too. Thanks for sharing at My Favorite Posts Show Off Weekend Party!
Michelle @ On A Wing And A Prayer
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs
This granola looks so crunchy and amazing, I can't wait to try it! Great pictures, by the way c:
Micha @ Cookin' Mimi
Homemade granola is the only kind I will eat and you cannot go wrong with the flavor combination of vanilla and maple.
Kristin
Thanks, Micha! The whole family loved it, so it was a huge success here and I will be making it often. 🙂 Heading over to check out your yellow squash and onion saute...I can always use more recipes for yellow squash! Thanks for stopping by!
Lizy @ http://justdipitinchocolate.blogspot.com/
Hi Kristin...in two weeks we're going to be eating lots of yummy goodies like this! bye bye summer and like you said welcome granola breakfast. I make my own granola as well...last time I used it for my pizza topping, lol...I know I like to experiment. Thank You for sharing this awesome recipe! Came to you via living better together party.
Kinsey
Thank you much for the mention! Your granola looks absolutely scrumptious.
Kristin
Thanks, Kinsey! Appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
Rae
I will definitely be making this. I recently tried making granola for the first time and it was a success...my kids loved it so I am sure that they will like this too.
Thanks!
Kristin
Hi Rae, thanks for stopping by! I am headed over to check out your jerk chicken turnover post! 🙂
Miss Messy
Maple!! 😀 Amazing combination! I wish Maple syrup was cheaper over here!
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon
And no preservatives. That makes me happy.
CJ
That looks awesome!!
Ashley
I love the shout out in related articles 🙂 Thanks so much -- although I must say I think I've found my next granola adventure here!