Description

This Vanilla Almond Granola is a deliciously crunchy and aromatic breakfast or snack option, combining the natural sweetness of honey and brown sugar with fragrant vanilla and almond extracts. Toasted oats and chopped almonds create a perfect balance of texture and flavor, baked to a golden crispness in the oven for a homemade treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Syrup Mixture

¼ cup honey
⅓ cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
8 Tablespoons salted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 pinch of salt

Main Ingredients

¾ cup whole natural almonds (or chopped)
3 cups rolled oats

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Melt Syrup Ingredients: In a medium pot over medium heat, combine the honey, brown sugar, and butter. Stir occasionally with a spatula until the butter has fully melted and the sugar is dissolved, approximately 5 minutes. Remove the pot from heat once done.
Prepare Almonds: While the syrup mixture is melting, chop the whole natural almonds into bite-sized pieces to ensure even distribution and texture in the granola.
Add Flavors: Stir the almond extract, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt into the warm honey and butter mixture to infuse the syrup with aromatic flavors.
Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the chopped almonds and rolled oats to the syrup mixture. Mix thoroughly until all oats and nuts are evenly coated with no dry spots remaining.
Spread and Bake: Pour the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly using a spatula to ensure consistent baking. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the granola turns lightly golden brown around the edges. For a crunchier texture, gently stir the granola once halfway through baking.
Cool and Store: Allow the granola to cool completely for about 30 minutes on the baking sheet. Once cooled, break it into pieces by hand. Optionally, add dried fruits or other mix-ins at this stage. Store the granola in an airtight container to keep it fresh.

Notes

For crunchier granola, stir once midway through baking to promote even browning.
You can substitute salted butter with unsalted butter and add an additional pinch of salt if desired.
Feel free to mix in dried fruits, such as raisins or cranberries, after baking for added flavor and texture.
Store granola in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to two weeks.
Use rolled oats rather than instant or steel-cut oats for best texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: vanilla almond granola, homemade granola recipe, baked granola, crunchy granola, breakfast granola, healthy snack