Best Organic Granola Recipe (Made with Nut Butter)
Granola is a go-to snack in our house. Whether topping it over yogurt, grabbing a handful on a busy day, or eating it as cereal, we consume a lot of granola. After scanning nutrition labels in grocery stores for years, I realized many granolas marketed as “healthy” were laced with added sugar, cheap vegetable oils, and other ingredients I didn’t want to eat. That’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands (like I do most things) and create one of the best organic granola recipes I have ever tasted!
This version, made with nut butter and simple ingredients, is crunchy, chunky, rich, and yummy! Let me show you how to make it…
Why I Make Granola at Home
A few years ago, I got tired of store-bought granola. The options at the grocery store were either too sweet, too oily, or simply didn’t taste good. Even the healthier-sounding “organic” granolas often included added sweeteners, questionable oils, and unnecessary fillers. Not to mention they are expensive!
So, I started experimenting with homemade granola, and I’ve never looked back. Making granola at home allows me to control every ingredient, from the quality of the oats to the type of sweetener I use. I love that I can adjust the recipe to fit my preferences and dietary goals, like keeping the grams of sugar low or adding more seeds for extra grams of protein (not to mention added grams of fiber). My husband LOVES to play with flavors. Check out his Chocolate Orange Granola!
Freshly baked granola has a flavor and crunch that’s unmatched by anything you’ll find on a store shelf (which sometimes can taste stale). Plus, I can make it in small or large batches, customizing it my way. If you’ve never made your own granola, this recipe is the perfect place to start. It’s very simple!
Ingredients for the Best Organic Granola
Here’s everything you’ll need to make the granola, I always use organic ingredients when possible:
- 3 cups organic rolled oats (I get mine from Azure Standard)
- 1 cup chopped organic nuts (any kind will do)
- 1/2 cup organic sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or whatever you like
- 1/3 cup organic nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter works great)
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or coconut sugar (adjust based on your sweetness preference, you can use brown sugar or honey here as well)
- 1/4 cup organic unrefined coconut oil or grass-fed butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Add-ins are optional (make sure you add these in after baking)
- organic dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, or chopped apricots)
- dark chocolate chips (optional, but a delicious addition)
How to Make the Best Organic Granola
1. Preheat your oven
This part comes down to personal preference. For perfectly chunky and crunchy granola, the goal is to dry it out slowly without burning it. I usually set my oven between 170°F and 325°F, depending on how much time I have and how chunky I want the granola. At lower temperatures (around 170°F-200°F), the granola dries out gradually, which helps keep the clusters intact because you don’t have to stir it to prevent burning. I often bake it low and slow, leaving it in the oven overnight to get that perfect texture without any risk of burning. Who doesn’t want to wake up to fresh granola?
If you’re short on time, you can go for a higher temperature, up to 325°F but I wouldn’t recommend much higher. Keep in mind that oats can burn quickly at higher temps, so you’ll need to stir them more frequently—every 10 minutes or so—to ensure they cook evenly. Remember that stirring often will break up the granola, resulting in smaller pieces and fewer clusters. If big, chunky clusters are your goal, stick with the lower-and-slower method and stir as little as possible.
2. Mix the Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oats, seeds, nuts, cinnamon, and sea salt.
In a small saucepan, heat the nut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil (or butter) over low heat until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract, then pour the mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix well until everything is evenly coated.
3. Bake
Spread the granola evenly on the prepared baking sheet, pressing it down lightly to form clusters. You do not need parchment paper for this and I highly discourage its use as it can be wasteful. My husband likes to put down a silicone baking mat, but for granola, I don’t find that it’s necessary.
If you preheat the oven to between 170°F – 200°F, you can let it cook for a few hours, checking in occasionally. If you like clusters, stir as little as possible. I let mine sit in the oven at its lowest setting overnight.
To speed up the process, preheat up to 325°F and bake for about 30 minutes (or until golden brown), stir gently every 5-10 minutes to avoid burning.
Allow the granola to cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking it into clusters.
As mentioned earlier, If you stir your granola too much, you won’t get those large clusters. That’s why I go for the low and slow method. It turns out perfect every time!
Why This is the Best Granola!
First, this recipe has natural ingredients, which means no synthetics, chemicals, or weird oils. We have even replaced our breakfast cereals with this homemade granola recipe, which has many variations (my husband’s favorite is this Chocolate Orange Granola).
Organic Whole Grains
I love using organic oats as the base for this granola and I get mine from Azure Standard. It’s important to go for organic due to oats being a heavily sprayed crop. Knowing they’re grown without synthetic chemicals is very important to me and my family’s health. Plus, oats are a great source of fiber.
Nut Butters and Oils
The nut butter in this recipe (peanut, almond, or whatever you like) adds creaminess and helps everything stick together to create those amazing clusters. Coconut oil or butter gives the granola that golden crunch and just the right amount of richness. If you want to make your own, it’s super simple, check out this Homemade Almond Butter Recipe.
Natural Sweeteners
Instead of granola packed with too much sugar, I go for maple syrup to keep things naturally sweet. It’s a small tweak that makes the granola taste better without feeling overly sugary. Plus, you can adjust the sweetness of your granola to fit your taste! I have friends who like to add more sugar than I call for in this recipe. You do you!
Customizing Your Granola
One of the best things about homemade granola is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few ways to make it your own:
- Add More Fiber: Mix in chia seeds, flax seeds, or buckwheat groats for a fiber boost.
- Dried Fruit: Include raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dates for a touch of natural sweetness (add these in after the granola is finished baking).
- Extra Crunch: Toss in unsweetened coconut flakes or more nuts.
- Chocolate: Stir in dark chocolate chips after baking to satisfy that chocolate craving.
- Grain-Free Option: Skip the oats and use a mix of seeds and nuts for a grain-free granola.
- Try Steel Cut: I’ve got a great recipe for this!
Health Benefits of Homemade Organic Granola
I am not a health specialist so check with your doctor before considering any nutritional deviations. But here are some highlights and why I love granola!
- High in Fiber: The combination of oats, seeds, and dried fruit supports digestion and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
- Plant Protein: Thanks to the nut butter and seeds, each serving provides a plant-based protein boost.
- Healthy Fats: The fats from coconut oil and nut butter help promote gut health.
This is a calorie-dense food, so a good serving size for me is around 60 grams (that’s about 1 cup).
Ways to Enjoy Homemade Granola
This granola is endlessly versatile! Here are a few ways I enjoy it:
- Breakfast Bowls: Pair it with yogurt, fresh fruit, and a sprinkle of chia seeds.
- Plain ol’ Cereal: This is one of my favorite ways to consume granola.
- On-the-Go Snacks: Pack it into small bags for a quick, portable energy boost.
- Granola Bars: Press the mixture into a pan and bake it into bars for easy snacking.
- Dessert Topping: Sprinkle it over ice cream or baked apples for added crunch.
Check out these recipes!
Yummy Sourdough Discard Granola
How to Properly Prepare Almonds
Let me know what you think!
Once you try making your granola at home, I promise you’ll never want to go back to the store-bought versions. It’s easy, delicious, and packed with health benefits. Give this recipe a try and let me know how you like it—I’m confident it will become a favorite in your kitchen, just like it has in mine!
Best Organic Granola Recipe (With Nut Butter)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups organic rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped organic nuts I like almonds, but any kind will do
- 1/2 cup organic seeds I like pumpkin seeds, but any kind will do
- 1/3 cup organic nut butter I like homemade peanut butter or cashew butter
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or coconut sugar adjust based on your sweetness preference
- 1/4 cup organic unrefined coconut oil or grass-fed butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Optional
- ½ cup organic dried fruit, optional raisins, apricots, cranberries, etc.
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, optional my favorite delicious addition
Instructions
Preheat Oven
- This part comes down to personal preference. For perfectly chunky and crunchy granola, the goal is to dry it out slowly without burning it. I usually set my oven between 170°F and 325°F, depending on how much time I have and how chunky I want the granola. At lower temperatures (around 170°F), the granola dries out gradually, which helps keep those satisfying clusters intact. In fact, I often bake it low and slow, leaving it in the oven overnight to get that perfect texture without any risk of burning.
- If you’re short on time, you can go for a higher temperature, up to 325°F. Just keep in mind that oats can burn quickly at higher temps, so you’ll need to stir them more frequently—every 5 to 10 minutes—to ensure they cook evenly. Keep in mind that stirring often will break up the granola, resulting in smaller pieces and fewer clusters. If big, chunky clusters are your goal, stick with the lower-and-slower method and stir as little as possible.
Mix the Ingredients
- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oats, seeds, nuts, cinnamon, and sea salt.3 cups organic rolled oats, 1 cup chopped organic nuts, 1/2 cup organic seeds, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- In a small saucepan, heat the nut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil (or butter) over low heat until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract, then pour the mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix well until everything is evenly coated.1/3 cup organic nut butter, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup or coconut sugar, 1/4 cup organic unrefined coconut oil or grass-fed butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Bake
- Spread the granola evenly on the prepared baking sheet, pressing it down lightly to form clusters.
- If you preheat the oven to between 170°F – 200°F, you can let it cook for a few hours, checking in occasionally. If you like clusters, stir as little as possible,
- And If you ain’t got that much time, preheat up to 325°F and bake for about 30 minutes, stir gently to avoid burning, or until golden brown.
Cool
- Allow the granola to cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking it into crunchy clusters.
- If you decide on any add-ins, you'll do it at the end of the bake. For dried fruit, you can add right out of the oven. For chocolate chips, you'll wnat the granola to be almost entirely cooled to avoid metling the chocolate.½ cup organic dried fruit, optional, ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, optional
