Granola doesn’t need to come from a bag to taste good, or hold its crunch, and these recipes prove how simple it is to bake up your own version at home. Some lean sweet with maple, chocolate chips, or lemon zest, while others go the nutty route with peanut butter, pecans, or a solid protein boost. You’ll find slow-baked clusters, bark-style slabs, and crumble-ready options that work just as well by the handful as they do over yogurt or fruit. These granolas mix fast, bake low and slow for texture, and cool into pieces that hold flavor without turning soggy. Some are crisp and loose, others form bigger chunks, but every one of them starts with the basics, oats, something sticky, and a handful of mix-ins that don’t need measuring down to the gram.

Homemade Granola is Easy and Delicious!

Homemade Granola is Easy and Delicious!. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

This base recipe brings oats, nuts, sweetener, and oil into one pan and bakes until golden and crisp. It’s flexible on ingredients and bakes up in big, crunchy clusters. Serve in bowls, bags, or over yogurt. A fast-start granola that still feels finished.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Granola is Easy and Delicious!

Dark Chocolate Granola Bark

Dark Chocolate Granola Bark. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Granola pressed flat and baked into a slab, then topped with melted dark chocolate that sets into a bark-style crunch. Break into pieces for snacking. Stores well in bags or jars. It’s part snack, part dessert, part meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Dark Chocolate Granola Bark

Protein Granola

A bowl of protein granola on top of yogurt and garnished with fresh berries.
Protein Granola. Photo credit: The Honour System.

This version mixes protein powder into the oats for an extra boost without changing the base too much. Add-ins like seeds, nuts, and nut butter help it hold together. Bake in chunks or keep it crumbly. A build that works post-gym or mid-morning.
Get the Recipe: Protein Granola

Lemon Poppy Seed Granola

Lemon Poppy Seed Granola. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Bright and citrusy with lemon zest and juice, this granola bakes light and crisp. The poppy seeds add texture without weighing it down. Serve with fruit or plain. It’s sharp without being sour.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Granola

Peanut Butter Granola

Overhead image of peanut butter granola in a jar.
Peanut Butter Granola. Photo credit: The Honour System.

Creamy peanut butter binds the oats and adds richness that toasts up in the oven. It bakes into firm clusters with real depth. Add chocolate chips or leave it straight. It’s strong, simple, and doesn’t crumble apart.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Granola

Pumpkin Pie Granola

Bowl of yogurt topped with granola next to a cup of coffee.
Pumpkin Pie Granola. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

Pumpkin puree and spice coat the oats and nuts before baking into golden chunks. The flavor hits with cinnamon and nutmeg without being too sweet. Serve with milk or yogurt. It’s made for fall but works year-round.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Granola

Easy Homemade Vegan Gluten Free Granola

Easy Homemade Vegan Gluten Free Granola. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

This version skips dairy, gluten, and refined sugar while still baking into full-size clusters. Made with oats, maple syrup, and coconut oil. Mix in nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. It’s the kind of granola that checks boxes but still holds crunch.
Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Vegan Gluten Free Granola

Maple Pecan Granola Recipe

Maple Pecan Granola Recipe. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Pecans and oats baked in maple syrup until the nuts toast and the mix holds together. The result is golden, crisp, and lightly sticky with deep flavor. Serve in chunks or keep it loose. It stores well and smells even better.
Get the Recipe: Maple Pecan Granola Recipe

Gluten Free Granola

A bowl of homemade granola with fresh blueberries.
Gluten Free Granola. Photo credit: Sage Alpha Gal.

Made with certified gluten-free oats and mixed with seeds, nuts, and a simple sweetener. This one bakes firm with clusters that don’t fall apart. Serve on its own or over smoothie bowls. Clean build, easy flavor.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Granola

Chocolate Chip Granola

Chocolate pecan granola in a bowl next to a glass of milk.
Chocolate Chip Granola. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Oats and mix-ins baked until golden, then tossed with chocolate chips that melt slightly into the mix. It holds big chunks without turning overly sweet. Serve dry or with milk. A pantry-friendly version that doesn’t miss.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Granola

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, Iโ€™m Lucy! Iโ€™m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. Iโ€™ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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