I’ve been making granola for a while, but haven’t shared the recipe because it’s taken time to get it just right. I started out using this recipe, which is awesome, but I was making changes right away. I used honey instead of agave, added some other ingredients, and spread it out on a baking sheet for a more even golden color (and to avoid burning). I had to adjust the baking time quite a bit. I also found I needed to consistently double the recipe to make it worth the time and effort. It isn’t hard to make granola, but it’s kind of… a process. Lots of ingredients and measuring cups taking up counter space. Many dishes to be done, although it’s not like they’re super dirty, there’s just a lot.

When I first started with granola 5ish years ago, I wasn’t even making it for myself, but for my husband who loooooooves cereal for breakfast. We had just started eating clean, and I wanted to say goodbye to his boxed cereal, but he had to have something in a bowl with milk on it, so I started making granola for him on an almost-weekly basis. He initially said it was “better than Honey Bunches of Oats,” which he later admitted was maybe more of a nice thing to say to one’s wife, rather than an actual opinion one holds. (He is always and forever a peacemaker!)

Fast forward to the trenches of my life on a gluten-free/egg-free/etc-free diet (and my husband’s life being reunited with his honey-bunches). I had been eating oatmeal every morning for years, and it didn’t bother me at all… until I couldn’t have anything else, and then it super did bother me! I remembered the granola recipe and came back to it, and have been working on it ever since. Lately I’m eating it every morning, only going back to good old cooked oats when I run out of granola and haven’t yet convinced myself to make more.

This recipe is great because it can handle approximate amounts of all the dry ingredients, and you can use pretty much whatever you like! I typically use the ingredients listed in the recipe, but I’ve also thrown quinoa or cashews into the dry mix, and have added nut butter to the warm honey for a creamier consistency. I only just realized while writing this post that chocolate chips would be a fun addition– why haven’t I tried it yet??? If you find it too runny or sticky, add some more oats. Too dry? More honey. But I haven’t had to make too many adjustments, even when I make bigger changes. I hope you’ll enjoy this recipe as much as I have!