Crunchy Homemade Granola Clusters (Print)

Crunchy golden clusters with oats, nuts, and honey—ideal for breakfast bowls, snacking, or yogurt toppings.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts), coarsely chopped
03 - ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
04 - ¼ cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
05 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Wet Ingredients

07 - ⅓ cup honey
08 - ¼ cup melted coconut oil
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Optional Add-ins

10 - ½ cup dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped dried apricots
11 - ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, coconut, seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to mix evenly.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
04 - Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir until everything is evenly coated and clumps start to form.
05 - Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Gently press down with a spatula to encourage clusters to form.
06 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown.
07 - Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet without stirring to help clusters set.
08 - Once cooled, break into clusters. Mix in dried fruit or chocolate chips if desired. Store in an airtight container.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • The clusters actually stay together unlike most homemade granola recipes that crumble into disappointing loose oats when you reach for a handful.
  • You can customize every batch with whatever nuts and seeds are hiding in your pantry that week, making each creation slightly different.
02 -
  • The granola won't seem fully crisp when you first remove it from the oven, but it hardens significantly as it cools, so resist the urge to bake it longer or you'll end up with burnt nuts.
  • The key to perfect clusters lies in pressing the mixture firmly onto the baking sheet before baking and then not disturbing it at all until completely cooled.
03 -
  • For extra-large clusters, let the granola cool completely in the oven with the door slightly ajar, which creates an even crispier finish without additional baking time.
  • If you like clusters with both chewy and crunchy elements, add half of any dried fruit before baking so it caramelizes slightly, and the remaining half after cooling for bright, juicy contrast.
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