The first job I ever had was working as a hostess at The Cottage in my hometown of La Jolla, California. It’s one of the best breakfast spots in the nation, and that ranking is due in large part to a single menu item: granola!
The Cottage makes the absolute best granola loaded with chopped nuts, toasted oats and dried fruit. And while their recipe has remained a secret for decades, I’ve whipped up a similar version inspired by their light and crunchy breakfast staple as well as my favorite chewy Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars.
Mastering my Easy Homemade Granola comes down to a few simple tips and tricks:
- The darker the granola is in color, the crunchier it’ll be in consistency.
- Letting the granola cool completely on the baking sheet also ensures a crisp (rather than chewy) texture.
- Toasting the nuts before mixing them with the wet ingredients enhances their rich flavor without adding more fat.
It’s just that simple! You can also mix and match various dried fruit and nut combos based on your personal taste preferences. I’m a big fan of cashews and dried cherries or almonds and dried pineapple. Whatever mix-ins you choose, one thing is certain: Store-bought granola doesn’t stand a chance against this DIY version!
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Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts (See Kelly’s Note)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large egg whites
- 2 Tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the oats and nuts on the baking sheet, mixing them to combine, then bake them for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the toasted oats and nuts to a large bowl.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the honey, vegetable oil, egg whites, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the oats and nuts and stir until the mixture is combined.
- Pour the mixture back onto the lined baking sheet, spreading it into an even layer, and bake it for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until it’s golden brown and mostly dry. Remove the granola from the oven, stir it one more time, then allow it to cool completely on the baking sheet.
- Once the granola has cooled, stir in the dried cranberries and serve it immediately or transfer it to an airtight container and store it for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.
Kelly’s Note:
- Any type of nuts will work in this recipe but I prefer using unsalted mixed nuts.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
Looks delicious! I plan on trying it soon. Do you have any suggestions for incorporating peanut butter into the recipe?
Hi Kelly! I’d add the peanut butter to the wet ingredients. I’m not sure on quantity, but I also do have a Peanut Butter Granola Bars recipe if you search for it in the search bar. Enjoy!
What can I sub for nuts? I am serving at a brunch and there will be people there that are allergic to nuts.
Hi Tammie – Mixed seeds such as pepitas, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, and/or hemp seeds would work!
From Sheila
This recipe looks so delicious! Can I omit the egg whites?
Hi Sheila! I’ve never tried this recipe without the egg whites, however, I think you could just omit them and add a touch more oil. The egg whites lend crispiness to the texture of the granola.
I am a fan of your recipe. I just made granola according to your recipe. It turns out to be amazing! It is not too sweet, crispy and crunchy. Love it so much. Thank you for thethe lovely recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it, Janice!
This granola is super tasty. I used mixed salted nuts (I like my granola to have just a touch of saltiness), dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds.
Thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Lesley! And thank you so much for rating it!
What are the nutrition facts for this granola. Im sorry I did not see them
thanks
San
I have made this recipe many times without dried fruit. I’m watching my carbs. I see how many carbs are in this recipe but don’t see a serving size? And would the carbs be less without the dried fruit?
Hi Carol! I am not a nutritionist so I can’t opine on if it’d be healthier or not, as there are a lot of different impacts of changing out ingredients.
Hi. Is there a recipe without egg whites? What can I replace egg whites with? For vegetarians…
Hi there! I’ve never tried this recipe without the egg whites, however I think you could just omit them and add a touch more oil. The egg whites lend a crispiness to the texture of the granola.
We have eaten at the cottage! We had a delicious breakfast there after spending the weekend in La Jolla at the Empress Inn. This was about 18 years ago and it still is a great memory. The Cottage is a warm and friendly place.
I will give this recipe a try, it’s full of all my favorite granola items.
So glad you had the chance to eat at The Cottage! That was right around the time when I worked there. :) Enjoy the granola!
Hi Kelly!
Sorry but I don’t get it….
Pour mixture over oat stir…next paragraph = pour the mixture back ???????????
Do I have to take baked oats out ????
Also how I,am going to mix with parchment paper in bottom ?Going to be hard not to make a hole or move the paper?
Thanks Klara
Hi Klara – You toast the oats/nuts first on the baking sheet, but everything gets mixed in the bowl, per the recipe.