You will love this Easy Granola Recipe that’s been transformed into four unique flavours! Package it in a mason jar for the perfect edible gift! {Gluten-free & vegan}
Last year around this time, I posted my DIY Mason Jar Overnight Oats. I had a lot of fun coming up with the flavour combinations and was pleasantly surprised when it became my most popular post to date!
Who knew a simple recipe in a jar could be so popular?!
Based on its popularity, I decided it was time to come up with some more fun and easy recipes in a jar.
Because…
#1. They’re fun to create.
#2. They make great gifts.
#3. They’re delicious.
#4. They’re cute to look at.
#5. Who doesn’t love a recipe in a jar?!
So this year’s inspiration are mason jars filled with this super easy granola recipe transformed into four different flavours!
Told ya it was fun!
The beauty of granola is that you can add in so many different ingredients to switch up the texture and flavours!
Table of Contents
Easy granola recipe: Optional add-ins
I always like granola that has some texture to it, which is why add-ins are ALWAYS a good idea.
Here are some delicious ideas to spruce up your granola!
- Pecan pieces
- Sliced almonds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chopped cashews
- Dried banana chips
- Dried apple
- Dried cranberries
- Unsweetened flaked coconut
- Mini dark chocolate chips
Check out the recipes below to see how I paired up these ingredients!
Tips to make the best granola
I love me some granola, but baking it does require a bit of a balancing act. We want to bake it long enough so that it’s crunchy, but not too long to the point where it becomes burnt.
My recommendation? Once you’ve cooked it for the initial 12 minutes, toss it and cook it for the lowest number in the time range, so in this case it would be 11 minutes.
Then check it.
If it still feels like it could use a bit of time, put it in for one more minute and check it again. Continue until you reach the desired taste, texture and crunchiness.
Also, make sure that the granola stays closer to the middle of the baking sheet. If the little bits of granola creep too close to the edges, it’s more likely to burn.
I like toasted granola, but not burnt and blackened granola.
That just takes all of the deliciousness right out of it.
Additionally, while the granola is cooling, just LET. IT. BE. Don’t go tossing it around or breaking it up with a spatula (or eating it all by the handful) since that will prevent the clumps from forming.
And we WANT clumps.
After all, granola clusters are the best!
So to summarize, give that granola a chance to harden up and form those crunchy clusters!
How to store granola
So you might be wondering, once you whip up all of these delicious recipe creations, how do you actually store it?
Your best bet is to store it in an airtight container or mason jar at room temperature for up to two weeks for optimal freshness.
Can’t eat it up in time?
Give some to family and friends. It makes the perfect shelf-stable gift!
How to serve granola
Beyond giving it away, there are a lot of creative ways that you can use up that granola.
Serve it up…
- On yogurt (try this Homemade Raspberry Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt)!
- With milk
- In trail mix
- On a smoothie bowl
- Sprinkled on apple slices with peanut butter (or on these Apple Nachos)
- By the handful (but pace yourself, it’s addictive)!
So without further adieu, let’s get to the recipes!
Easy granola recipe – 4 ways
Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Granola
- 1 1/2 cup oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the oats, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to combine. Pour in the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla and stir to combine. Add the almond butter last, and mix until incorporated. It’s okay if there are some clumps here and there!
- Spread the granola out onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Toss the granola on the pan, making sure to move the bits on the edges to the inside of the pan, so they don’t get burnt. Bake for 11-15 more minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Allow the granola to cool completely. Toss in the dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds and store in air-tight container.
Banana Nut Granola
- 1 1/2 cup oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/3 cup roughly chopped cashews
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1/2 cup dried bananas
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the oats, cinnamon, salt, and shredded coconut. Stir to combine. Pour in the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla and stir to combine. Add the almond butter last, and mix until incorporated. It’s okay if there are some clumps here and there!
- Spread the granola out onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Toss the granola on the pan, ensuring that you move the bits on the edges to the inside of the pan, so they don’t get burnt. Bake for 11-15 more minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Allow the granola to cool completely. Toss in the dried banana and store in air-tight container.
Double Chocolate Granola
- 1 1/2 cup oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the oats, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa powder. Stir to combine. Pour in the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla and stir to combine. Add the almond butter last, and mix until incorporated. It’s okay if there are some clumps here and there!
- Spread the granola out onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Toss the granola on the pan, ensuring that you move the bits on the edges to the inside of the pan, so they don’t get burnt. Bake for 11-15 more minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Allow the granola to cool completely. Toss in the dark chocolate chips and store in air-tight container.
Apple Pecan Granola
- 1 1/2 cup oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1/4 cup diced dried apple
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the oats, cinnamon, salt, and pecans. Stir to combine. Pour in the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla and stir to combine. Add the almond butter last, and mix until incorporated. It’s okay if there are some clumps here and there!
- Spread the granola out onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Toss the granola on the pan, ensuring that you move the bits on the edges to the inside of the pan, so they don’t get burnt. Bake for 11-15 more minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Allow the granola to cool completely. Toss in the diced dried apple and store in air-tight container.
What you need to make this granola into an edible gift
Now I mentioned before that this granola makes for a great gift option (think teachers, neighbours friends, and family)!
There are a few items that you can get to tranform these granola flavours into the perfect edible gift!
- Mason Jars (I used these 16 oz. wide-mouth mason jars)
- Labels (Grab my chalkboard labels by here)
- Ribbon
Measure out the different granola flavours into separate jars.
Cut out the label. I cut it out around the inner line to fit perfectly on the inner circle of the mason jar lid.
You can even secure the label to the lid using double-sided tape so that it doesn’t slip around when you open the lid.
Screw on the lid of the mason jar to secure.
Tie the ribbon into a bow just beneath the lid.
And there you have it!
They’re all ready to go!
Download the granola chalkboard labels here!
More similar recipes
- Pumpkin Flax Seed Granola
- Healthy Chocolate Granola Recipe
- Healthy Granola Bar Recipe
- Healthy Oatmeal Muffins
- Protein Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Heart Healthy Trail Mix
Love these granola recipes? Pin for later!
If you have a chance to try out these easy granola recipes, I’d love to see your pics! Tag me on instagram @hauteandhealthyliving and use the hashtag #hauteandhealthy!
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I made the double chocolate and it was yummmm. Thanks for the great recipe!
So happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback :)
they seem so delicious, I can’t wait to try these recipes, but I want to replace the almond butter, what do you recommend?
Thanks Roua! You could try another nut or seed butter like natural peanut butter, cashew butter, pumpkin seed or sunflower seed butter!
Do you have nutrition information on the granolas?
Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to calculate the nutritional information for the different granolas..sorry about that! You can try plugging the recipes into http://www.myfitnesspal.com to get a nutritional breakdown. Hope that helps!