Sweet & crunchy vanilla almond granola is easy to make and tastes about a thousand times better than store-bought. Wholesome oats and almonds cluster together with the sweet flavors of maple syrup and vanilla, without the long list of unrecognizable ingredients. Sprinkle it over yogurt for breakfast or enjoy it on its own as a snack you can take on the goโthis delicious homemade granola is a reader favorite for a reason!
I originally published this recipe in 2014 and have since added new photos.
I have several recipes for homemade granola on my site, like pumpkin spice granola and chocolate peanut butter granola, but this vanilla almond granola is the gold standard. My flagship granola, if you will. Aromatic vanilla, pure maple, almond, and cinnamon mingle together in perfect harmony, bite after crunchy bite. This stuff is seriously the best.
Since I first published this recipe many years ago, I still make it regularly. Sprinkled on yogurt or oatmeal, served in a bowl with milk, used as a garnish on maple vanilla baked pears or a bowl of fresh berries, or simply enjoyed with a spoon, my vanilla almond granola is a staple in many other kitchens, too:
One reader, Sheila, commented: “This granola is delicious and so easy to make. My husband, who never met a granola he liked, puts this on his oatmeal every morning and on his yogurt as well. I will never buy granola again. I added some pepitas before cooking and cranberries afterward... โ โ โ โ โ ”
One reader, Christina, commented: “I have made this granola so many times that Iโve lost count. My friends and family all love ‘my’ (i.e., Sallyโs!) granola and I get so many requests to make it! Itโs great to have on hand for a quick breakfast for the kids but itโs rare that it lasts more than a day in our house! โ โ โ โ โ ”
And one reader, Brittany, commented: “I made this twice just this week! My whole family absolutely loves it! So glad for a healthier and tastier option to store-bought and itโs so quick and easy to make. Canโt go wrong with this recipe! โ โ โ โ โ ”
Here’s Why You’ll Love This Granola
- 8 simple, recognizable ingredients
- Crunchy, nutty, a little salty, a little sweet
- Sweetened naturally with pure maple syrupโno refined sugars
- As delicious as a snack on its own as it is over yogurt for breakfast
- Unlike store-bought granola, you have control over the ingredients
- Easy to makeโonly 3 steps! Wonderful recipe for beginner bakers
- And homemade granola makes a great gift!
- Vegan, egg free, and gluten free (if using certified-GF oats)
See all vegan recipes, all egg-free recipes, and all gluten free recipes.
8 Simple, Recognizable Ingredients
- Oats: Old-fashioned whole rolled oats are key in this recipe, making up the bulk of the dry ingredients. I don’t recommend quick or instant oats here.
- Sliced Almonds: Almonds add crunch, texture, and flavor. I usually use sliced, but you can use slivered or roughly chopped almonds instead. Raw or roastedโthe choice is yours!
- Cinnamon: A little cinnamon lends its warmth to the flavor of this granola.
- Salt: Just a pinch, to enhance all the flavors.
- Pure Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup adds flavor and sweetness, and you’ll appreciate that the sugar in this recipe is natural and unrefined. It also helps bind the ingredients together.
- Coconut Oil: Do not leave this out! Coconut oil is the key to the CRUNCH in every cluster, just like when we make granola clusters. You can use vegetable oil or melted butter instead if needed.
- Almond Extract: A touch of almond extract adds the BEST flavor to this granola. The smell brings to mind sugar cookies and birthday cake pancakes!
- Vanilla Extract: We’re using a whole Tablespoon, for maximum vanilla flavor.
How to Make Vanilla Almond Granola in 3 Steps
This recipe only has 3 steps. That’s it! Honestly, it’s starting to sound like going to the store to buy granola is way more work.
- Mix together dry ingredients.
- Mix together wet ingredients.
- Combine the wet + dry, spread on a baking sheet, and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
Let the granola cool completely on the baking sheet. This is where a lot of the crispy-crunchiness happens.
Once you’ve tried these naturally sweetened, nutty clusters, I’m confident you won’t want to go back to the pricey store-bought stuff.
More Homemade Favorites
- Healthy Bran Muffins
- Chocolate Crunch Granola
- Whole Wheat Pancakes
- Pumpkin Spice Granola
- Homemade Fig Bars
Vanilla Almond Granola
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Yield: 2.5-3 cups
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Sweet, sticky, and crunchy granola exploding with vanilla and almond flavors. Ditch store-bought, because healthy homemade granola is easy! This recipe is vegan, egg free, and gluten free (if using certified GF oats).
Ingredients
- 2 and 1/2 cups (213g) old-fashioned whole rolled oats
- 3/4 cup (100g) slivered or sliced almonds*
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch salt (about 1/8 teaspoon)
- 1/2 cup (120ml) pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup (56g) coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract (yes, Tablespoon)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300ยฐF (149ยฐC). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Toss the oats, almonds, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the maple syrup and melted coconut oil together until combined. Whisk in the almond and vanilla extracts. Pour over the oats and toss to coat. Make sure all of the oats are moistened.
- Spread out onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Allow granola to cool completelyโas the granola cools, it becomes crunchy.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Granola is the perfect recipe to make ahead because it stays fresh for so long. Store this in anย airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Baking Sheet | Silicone Baking Mat or Parchment Paper | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Silicone Spatulaย
- Almonds: Sometimes I use honey roasted slivered almonds from Trader Joe’sโthey’re delicious! If you use honey roasted almonds, the granola will no longer be vegan.
Reader Comments and Reviews
I make this granola all the time! I love it! And the family loves it too! I sometimes add a few of your suggestions and they all work, but the regular recipe is perfect, and easy to make! Thank you! We love your new cook book!
I make this granola all the time! I love it! And the family loves it too! I sometimes add a few of your suggestions and they all work, but the regular recipe is perfect, and easy to make! Thank you! We love your new cook book!
Question on this: I saved (to Pinterest) a few years back a SBA recipe called “Toasted Coconut Tropical Granola” — the backstory included something about a snack for a road trip to the beach iirc, and it had additions of dried tropical fruits, banana chips, and –I think– mashed ripe banana as part of the liquid binder. I even remember commenting on it. Now that pin routes to this recipe (though I can still see the original photo and title). I’ve searched for years for that original recipe but can’t find it — does it still exist somewhere… was it pulled to include in a cookbook… where did it go? Thank you for any help — would love to make it again!
Hi Elizabeth! We recently removed that older recipe from the website, but if you send us an email (sally@sallysbakingaddiction.com) we’d be happy to share a copy with you. Thank you!
What is a serving size? Am I missing nutritional values?
Granola is in the oven. House smells great on this cool, fall afternoon.
Thanks
Hi Nancy, We donโt usually include nutrition information as it can vary between different brands of the same ingredients. Plus, many recipes have ingredient substitutions or optional ingredients listed. However, there are many handy online calculators where you can plug in and customize your exact ingredients/brands. Readers have found this one especially helpful: https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
Hi Sally! Love this granola recipe! Do you think this would work as the topping for your apple crisp to be baked on top of the apple mixture? Thanks for your thoughts and guidance!!
Hi MaryAnn! This would be a little too crunchy on top of apple crisp, we think – we would stick with the crisp topping from our apple crisp or from this gluten free apple crisp.
Best granola Iโve ever made! Simple ingredients, easy to make. The hardest part is waiting for it to coolโฆ.want to eat it right out of the oven
This was SO GOOD and so easy to make. My husband and I almost devoured it all in one day. (I did sub with honey and avocado oil) 10/10
How can I make this and have clusters of crunchy granola?
Hi Jill, weโd recommend following the granola clusters recipe and adding a 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. Let us know how it goes!
Oh my word this is fantastic!! Tried this recipe to replace my favorite Trader Joe’s Vanilla Almond granola that has recently become too pricey for my budget. This is the best granola I’ve used and made. Smells amazing while baking and has just the perfect amount of sweet.
Took three tries though to get it right though. First try did not read comments before I made the recipe so it was over-baked at 45min. Second try I added 1/2 cup of Rice Krispie style cereal after blending oats with the liquid so they don’t get soggy and baked half the time at 300F then the balance at 275F. I was afraid of it being overdone again but it could have stood the 300F. Third time I wanted to go the cluster route so I added 1/4 brown sugar to the oil/maple syrup liquid to give it a bump in stickie-ness. I stirred in a full cup of Rice Krispie cereal for extra crunch. Baked 15 min then turned pan around and baked 15 more with no stirring. Came out PERFECT. Just like if not better than my favorite Trader Joe’s Vanilla Almond granola that unfortunately went way up in price past my threshold. Now that I can make my own I don’t need to buy theirs!!
Hi Sally, I havenโt made this yet, but was wondering if you have a
Almond granola bar.
Love your recipes, Thank you
Linda
Hi Linda, Here are our vanilla almond snack bars.
Hi!
I’m planning to make these but I’m wondering if I can substitute the maple syrup for honey.
Will it work out?
Thanks!
Hi Anna! Honey should work just fine in a pinch. The taste will, of course, be a bit different.
Can I substitute light olive oil for the coconut oil? Thanks !
Hi Marie, Yes, that would be fine.
Absolutely the best and so easy! Made it twice now. This time I added 3 tbsp of chia seeds to the mix. Yum. So much better than any commercial granola. I don’t get a lot of clusters, but it’s crunchy and tasty and makes my daily yogurt and strawberries so much better. My only problem is getting rid of the commercial stuff in the pantry. Thank you for the recipe!
Just made this granola…DELICIOUS!!
Thank you for the recipe.
I canโt seem to find slivered almonds! Will whole ones do in a pinch?
Hi Smoothie, can you find sliced almonds? Whole almonds will work, but will be very crunchy. You could chop them into smaller pieces.
I buy whole almonds in bulk and smash them up a little in a bag with a mallet. I love the texture and itโs significantly cheaper.
Easy and crazy delicious. May just be my own oven but I only needed to cook it 25 mins to get it perfect.
I make this weekly to go on top of yogurt, to snack on, or to put on top of oatmeal. It is simple to make and so delicious. I substitute pepitas and unsweetened coconut for the cranberries to reduce sugar.
This is the third granola recipe I’ve tried from this site. I will NEVER buy granola again!!! These granola recipes are sooooo good and healthy. I can adjust them according to taste and I know what is in them. Nothing is better than having a healthy snack that is absolutely delicious!
Iโve made this recipe several times and Iโve always loved it. I recently moved and use a different oven now and it definitely takes less than 45 minutes for me, Iโd say check on it during the last 15 minutes interval and remove when golden. Fantastic flavor and texture, sometimes I even eat mine by itself with milk when Iโm craving cereal.
Im thinking of making this recipe but someone in my house has a coconut allergy, do u have any recommended swap outs for the coconut oil?
Hi Dani, you can use vegetable oil or melted butter instead if needed.
This recipe was so quick, easy, and delicious to make! I loved it. Iโm on a yogurt and granola kick, so I layered the granola with vanilla greek yogurt, sliced strawberries, and a drizzle of honey. A super easy and yummy snack for when youโre on the go.
Thank you, Sally!
ahh I do the same thing with store bought granola but I need to remember to add the honey – that sounds good!
trying this recipe asap!
This is so yummy! I havenโt bought granola in years as this is soooo much better. I change the nut and fruit varieties and sometimes use other spice mixes too. Thanks Sally!
Excellent granola and super easy to make. It has become a household staple. I use a convection oven and it gets nicely toasted and really crispy. Thank you for this great recipe!
My husband bought a load of uncut oatmeal which was a hard sell for breakfast. This granola recipe was the perfect solution! I’ve never made granola and this recipe was not only delicious but super simple. Thank you!
Iโm excited to try this recipe. Are you able to share the nutrition information? Calories, fats, protein, carbs and fiber per serving? Thanks
Hi Sarah, We donโt usually include nutrition information as it can vary between different brands of the same ingredients. Plus, many recipes have ingredient substitutions or optional ingredients listed. However, there are many handy online calculators where you can plug in and customize your exact ingredients/brands. Readers have found this one especially helpful: https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
I love all your recipes!! Iโm not a fan of Maple syrup, is there a substitute or can I omit it??!
Hi Michele, honey should work just fine in a pinch. The taste will, of course, be a bit different.
Fantastic! Easy to make and utterly delicious. Healthy, too. You really nailed it with this one, Sally! Thank you.
New cook, 80 years old. Made this for the first time, with a few errors, but absolutely delicious! No more plain old oatmeal for me! Thank you… can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
That’s wonderful, Ray!
So wonderful! Should I adjust the amount of oil and syrup if Iโm adding more dry ingredients like seeds and dried fruit? Also, is there any nutritional info for this recipe? I still have to figure into my daily calorie allotment.
Hi Mandy, we recommend mixing in dried fruits after baking (so it doesn’t dry out too much). You can swap out some of the almonds for seeds if you would like. We donโt usually include nutrition information as it can vary between different brands of the same ingredients. Plus, many recipes have ingredient substitutions or optional ingredients listed. However, there are many handy online calculators where you can plug in and customize your exact ingredients/brands. Readers have found this one especially helpful: https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
So good – I had to exercise serious self control to not eat it all before it was completely cooled. This is my new go to granola recipe!