Easy Homemade Granola
We had an engagement shoot on Saturday with a fun couple who took us up to their families ranch. It was gorgeous! And we got a ton of great pictures of them. On our way home Shawn mentioned we should check ourselves for ticks since we spent so much time in the tall grass. I was tick free, but Shawn was not so lucky.
I found a tick crawling on his chest! He started screaming “Get it! Get it!” while I’m screaming “Hold still! Hold still!” I put a cup on his chest to trap the tick, then slid a piece of paper under it to trap it. I felt like we were in a crazy I Love Lucy episode.
Crisis averted.
The next morning while Shawn continued the tick hunt by checking our camera bag and shoes, I made us this easy homemade granola. I absolutely love this granola. It is extra crunchy thanks to lots of nuts that are full or protein and toasty rolled oats that are full of fiber. The granola is the perfect combination of salty with just a touch of sweetness from maple syrup.
When I make this homemade granola I like to make at least a double batch so I always have lots on hand. It will keep for 3 months in an airtight container, and goes with just about anything. I love sprinkling the granola on yogurt with fruit for breakfast, adding it to ice cream for a crunch topping, or just eating it plain by the handful.
Easy Homemade Granola
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup dry roasted almonds
- 1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds
- 3 cups rolled old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together. Stir in the canola oil and maple syrup and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat. Spread the granola out evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring gently every 10 minutes. Will keep for 3 months in an airtight container.
34 Comments on “Easy Homemade Granola”
Oh man, I would’ve been freaking out if I found a tick on my husband (or myself for that matter)! But hopefully this granola eased the excitement just a bit. This looks delicious!
Aaaah! Ticks freak me out! Good thing you found it! This granola looks so delicious, and simple to make. I can’t believe I’ve never made granola before, I think it is time to start :)
Ah! Ticks! We have them where I live and I’m paranoid about getting bitten. I had to take them off my dog once and almost couldn’t take it! They are so nasty! It does sound so much like an I Love Lucy episode haha!
I loooove homemade granola. I rarely make it, and but I should because it is so delicious. Sometimes you need something crunchy and sweet -granola is the perfect thing! I recently added some granola to a salad, which is kind of weird, but it was so good! Like a salty-sweet crouton :) This looks one looks delish!
Yesss this granola (also boo, ticks)!! I’ve been thinking of breakfasts and snacks I can pack for our road trip that give us half a chance of eating healthy during the week or so it’ll take us to get to TN. This granola looks absolutely perfect – I’m going to make a batch to bring with us! Perfect timing. :)
Your poor husband, sounds like he has been through the ringer lately with spiders and ticks, no wonder he is having nightmares. Your granola looks amazing, this is one recipe that I would follow to a T. Great pictures Natalie.
Ahhh! You’re lucky the tick hadn’t stuck it’s little fangs in yet! Ticks were a daily occurrence when we lived in the South…. so glad we only have to worry about them now if we are hiking in the woods or something. This granola sounds delish– maple syrup is my favorite way to sweeten anything!
Looks delicious! What a wonderful breakfast…..your recipe looks better than mine :)
That’s the way to go – how could anyone not make a double batch when it comes to this sweet and salty granola?! I have got to jump on the train and join the homemade granola club. Your recipe might just be my ticket! Looks amazingly crunchy and satisfying.
Also, I did the same thing on Saturday. I was out and about on my friend’s farm taking family pictures in super tall grass – I was paranoid about having ticks one me afterwards, but I got lucky. Glad you caught that bad boy just in time!
I adore granola, I make at least one batch a week! We probably eat so much of it that it is no longer considered healthy! I love this, I rarely use maple syrup, but I will have to try this!
Oh boy! I would have totally freaked out. Ticks are creepy!
I eat granola everyday and making my own is so much less expensive. I love the walnuts
Yum! Look at all of those nuts! I bet I could eat that entire jar, no problem. I have to search my dog Sydney for ticks after hanging at my mom’s house. Super fun trying to get one off a dog, ha!
On no, a tick! Did he have tick nightmares?! This granola looks amazingly good. :)
This looks fab! Love granola. And ticks are definitely no fun. My husband is from New York and had never even seen one until he moved here to Maryland — and now we check religiously! (And find them all the time, even when we’re just briefly walking across a yard.)
Homemade granola is like my ultimate breakfast. So hearty and filling, yet so dang good and addicting! Yours looks sooo easy and unbelievably crunchy too! LOVE the addition of sunflower seeds. I’ll bet it adds a fantastic crunch. :)
Yuck…ticks are so icky! Glad you found it on him before it bit! This granola looks so good! I love to make granola, and it’s such a money saver!
Eww ticks are gross aren’t they!! I know in MN in the spring if you go into the woods for a walk, you’ll come out covered in them. I know one time I had like 10 on me…super gross huh?! As far as this lovely granola – love how you sweetened it with maple syrup :D Totally right, the best part of granola is that it lasts a long time in a good container! My favorite way is with yogurt for sure. I eat yogurt daily..it’s just so yummy!! Thanks Nat :)
I’m glad your tick crisis was averted!
This granola looks great, I’ve been wanting to make my own so I can’t wait to try this :)
Nat, I love granola and I also love sprinkling it on yogurt for breakfast or just eating it plain by the handful, but I’ve never made homemade granola. It looks so easy to made and delicious. Just mouthwatering! Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week ;-)
Oh gosh,a tick?! NO GOOD!
But, what is good…is this granola (segue FTW!)
My hubby LOVED granola, so this is gonna give me epic wife status! Pinned!
MMmmmmm homemade granola. My wife would down that entire batch right there, ESPECIALLY with those sunflower seeds in it! Looks great!