Homemade Granola Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free) (2024)

FAQs

What ingredient makes granola clump together? ›

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Egg White

About this method: According to Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, “Nothing glues like protein.” While there are many granola recipes that include an egg white, I got this tip from the Big Cluster Maple Granola recipe in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.

When added to your homemade granola bars, honey acts as glue that sticks all the pieces together. Another upside of adding honey to your recipe is that it is a natural sweetener, meaning you won't have to add any artificial sweeteners to your recipe.

I aim to let it hit room temperature, whatever that may be; the real point is to give it ample time to shed excess heat and steam. This should take about 45 minutes; if left out indefinitely, the granola can turn sticky or soft, so do try to put it away as soon after cooling as you can.

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

Nut butter is a super flavorful fat that serves multiple purposes in granola. It acts as a binding agent—along with additional coconut oil and whatever natural sweetener I've chosen—helping to pull the dry ingredients together into a wet, sticky mass for baking.

Honey – Along with the nut butter, it helps all these ingredients stick together! I love its warm amber flavor in this recipe.

It mainly depends on what kind of granola you buy. While oats are naturally free of gluten, they may be processed in an area that has been exposed to gluten which will then cause the oats to be contaminated with this protein. Some brands of granola also use wheat flour that contains gluten.

Not only do the EVOO and tahini infuse the oats with nutrition and deep, nutty flavor, but they also lend an extra layer of richness that helps the granola strike the perfect balance of crunchy and chewy!

You absolutely can! There's a reason our list of ways to use granola for desserts is the longest section of this post – we love granola at night! Granola with milk or yogurt is a great option for a healthier sweet treat at the end of the day, but you can also use it to top ice cream, milkshakes or homemade sweets.

Is Homemade Granola Cheaper? Initially, you'll have to spend more money on homemade granola than store-bought. However, over the long run (depending on your recipe) you'll most likely spend less on making your own granola.

What was the downside to granola as a food? ›

On the downside, granola can be high in added sugars, hidden calories, and saturated fat, making some options less healthy.

Stick with a low temperature, keep an eye on your mixture, and stir it from time to time to help it brown evenly.

As for packing the granola and shipping, anything airtight will do, but I would stay away from glass since there's the risk that it might break. You might want to consider packing the granola in a resealable plastic bag, and then placing that into a metal or plastic container so it doesn't get crushed.

For flavorful granola, don't skip the salt! Too little and your flavors won't sing. I prefer using fine-grain sea salt in this one (I always cook with fine-grain sea salt), but regular salt will do, too (just use a little less). I added cinnamon to this batch for some subtle warming spice.

After your granola has been prepared and cooled, it's time to pack it up. Divide the granola into portion. We recommend giving 2-4 serving to each person, depending on how many people are in their household. Package your granola in clear cellophane bags or mason jars and decorate to your liking.

Quick oats (also known as instant oats): These oats have been cut into smaller pieces, which makes them cook faster than rolled oats. They can be used in granola, but they will not provide the same texture as rolled oats and may cause the granola to be too crumbly.

A Hot Oven Is the Secret to Reviving Stale Granola

You'll want to be sure to avoid piling up the granola, so if you've got a lot, it's best to grab a second baking sheet. Once the granola cools completely, it'll have that crispy crunch again.

Top fruit with yogurt. Top with granola. If assembling this ahead of time, the granola will soften. So, if your kids like granola to be crunchy, have them add the granola just before they eat it.