Quick and Easy Mix and Match Granola Cereal Recipe

I’ve always been more of an oatmeal for breakfast kind of gal. If I indulged in cold cereal it was the oaty hippie kind but not very often because it is usually more expensive. When I discovered milk solids added to my favorite store bought cereal, I figured it was time to learn how to make my own. (grumbles at food intolerance)

Making a granola recipes is very, very easy and affordable! Especially when you make it with things you already have on hand in the kitchen. The way I do that is with what I can this Mix and Match Granola Recipe.

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I call this cheap and easy baked granola recipe Mix and Match because it is very versatile. All you need is a neutral tasting cooking oil, oats, a sweetener, and dried fruit, nuts, and other add ins if you wish, or in my case, chuck that last little bit of whatnot into the a granola recipe because I need to use it up.

How Not to Burn and Ruin a Baked Granola Recipe

Making a granola recipes is  very easy to burn and ruin if you don’t watch it particularly in the last 5 to 10 minutes it is in the oven. You really need to set aside 20 minutes of hanging out in the kitchen and do nothing else to keep homemade granola from burning into oblivion in the oven. This is absolutely not the type of baking recipe where you pop it in the oven, leave the room to do something else, and come back to a perfectly done whatever.

I’m not trying to scare you. I’m trying to set you up for granola making success by learning from how I scorched granola baking in the oven by leaving the room to do that one quick thing – more than once. I learned early one it is best for me to stay in the kitchen and empty/load the dishwasher, make coffee, etc. while baking granola so I’m there to give it a quick stir while it bakes to guarantee it does not burn.

How to Make the Best Ever 20 Minute Baked Granola Recipe

You Will Need the Following Granola Ingredients

• 1/4 Cup of the neutral tasting cooking oil of your choice – you can use coconut oil if you like as long as you remember the rest of your add ins should compliment the coconut flavor the oil will add to the dish.

• 3 Cups of the uncooked oatmeal of your choice – I’ve used quick oats like these, steel cut oats like these, and rolled old fashioned oats like these and all have worked well. In the example shown here I used a combination of the last bit of quick oatmeal I had and rest is from the new package which happened to be rolled oats,

• 1/4 Cup of the sweeter of your choice such as honey, molasses

, maple syrup (I like real maple syrup like this kind,) brown sugar, stevia, agave, etc. – feel free to adjust the amount to taste. In this recipe I am using 1/4 cup of honey.

• 1 1/2 cups of the add ins of your choice – nuts (or not,) dried fruit, raisins, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, chia seeds etc.- I generally add 3 add in items in 1/3 cup measurements based on what needs to be used up in my cupboard. Tip: To keep the cost per serving low, you can use a larger measurement an inexpensive dried fruit like raisins and a lesser amount of a more expensive add in. The measurement of add ins is very forgiving and doesn’t need to be exact. In this recipe I used sunflower seeds, raisins, and dried cherries.

• Optional: 1 teaspoon of the baking spice of your choice such as cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice (I absolutely swear by Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie Spice you can learn more about it here,) nutmeg, or you can do a combination of your favorites to taste. Or you can leave it out. For this recipe I didn’t use baking spices.

• 1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract- do your taste buds a favor and use real vanilla extract like this kind.

• 2 Tablespoons of water

Step by Step How to Make this Recipe

1. Combine and thoroughly mix all of the ingredients together in a 9x 12 baking pan. I like using a baking pan because I don’t have to worry about my granola ingredients accidentally falling off a cookie sheet when I stir it. Of course, this is a mix and match recipe so if you want to mix the ingredients in a bowl first and then put the mixture on a cookie sheet – go for it!

2. Put the granola in a 350 degree (F ) oven for 10 minutes. Make sure you set a kitchen timer for this!

3. When the 10 minute timer goes off oven the oven and stir the granola ingredients so they cook evenly and don’t burn.

4. Allow the granola to bake for another 5 minutes. Make sure you set a kitchen timer for this!

5. When the 5 minute timer goes off oven the oven and stir the granola ingredients so they cook evenly and don’t burn.

6. This is the make or break time. Allow the granola to bake for another 5 minutes. Do not leave your kitchen or try to do two things at once during the last 5 minute bake or you risk burning and ruining your granola. Make sure you set a kitchen timer for the last 5 minute bake and remove it from the oven when the timer goes off.

7. Remove the granola from the oven. You can eat it hot from the oven  or allow it to cool. You can eat it dry as is, or with milk (cow or plant,) on yogurt, on ice cream, or however you choose.


Rather buy than DIY? Check out my favorite granola and baking tools – and more! – below!

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