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This recipe was edited to make it vegan on February 20, 2025. The previous version included honey, which is not considered a vegan ingredient. Honey was replaced with pure maple syrup. If you're used to the version with honey, we hope you'll give the maple syrup version a try...and doubt you will notice a difference!
Homemade Granola with Dried Blueberries
Happy weekend, friends! I've nursed a headache the past few days, so appreciate your patience releasing this recipe I've had fun teasing on Instagram. Let me tell you, that between the busy week and tension headaches, this granola totally hit the spot. Cliff loved it, too, and has requested more for the last few days in a row. What I love about homemade granola is that you can customize it to suit your preferences. Make a plain version sans fruit, or incorporate a more unique spice than cinnamon. Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be delicious!
Fun Homemade Granola Ingredient Ideas
Obviously, don't incorporate these at the same time, but create a fun flavor profile for whatever you happen to be craving that day. Make something a little more seasonal with pumpkin spice and seeds or rosemary and dried cranberries. Go savory or sweet - whatever your heart desires.
- Sunflower seeds
- Candied nuts - add close to the end of baking
- Cardamom
- Allspice
- Nutmeg
- Dried cherries
- Chia seeds
- Matcha
- Rosemary
- White Chocolate
- Quinoa
- Pumpkin seeds
- Pumpkin spice
- Coconut flakes
Pro Tip:
Remember the homemade granola ratio! Generally, you want 6 parts dry mixture (grains, seeds, etc.) to 1 part wet mixture (oil, maple syrup, etc.).
Optional homemade dried blueberries
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If you decide to dry your own blueberries at home, it is actually very easy! Wash and dry your berries before adding to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 225ºF for 3 hours. The berries will shrivel, but still add a nice flavor punch to your granola. some recipes, like this recommendation from Martha Stewart suggests adding a sweetener to the blueberries before drying. To keep sugar to a minimum, I dried mine without the added sweetener and loved it. Granted, these are an addition to a recipe that contains pure maple syrup, so consider your goal and particular preferences. If you decide to add sweetener, I would add small amounts (like ½ - 1 tsp. per cup of berries) to test until you find the desired flavor. Finally, don't forget that they will shrink and your total amount will differ post-baking. 1 ½ cup of blueberries yielded ½ cup dried blueberries.
Recipe
Easy Homemade Blueberry Granola
Equipment
- 2 Mixing bowls (one bowl for dry ingredients and the other for wet)
- 1 sheet pan (I used a 10x15, but you can use the size of your choice)
- Parchment paper or baking mat (I recommend the If You Care brand)
- 1 large spoon or spatula (a medium-large size will work well for mixing and pressing into the pan for baking)
- 1 cutting board (for chopping pecans, optional if using pre-chopped nuts or a nut grinder)
- 1 knife (for chopping pecans, optional if using pre-chopped nuts or a nut grinder)
- measuring spoons (for salt, vanilla extract, and cinnamon)
- measuring cups (for oats, pecans, extra virgin olive oil, and pure maple syrup)
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats choose a gluten-free label if sensitive to gluten as some facilities may cross-contaminate
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- ½ cup dried blueberries or fruit of your choice
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300ºF.
- Combine rolled oats, pecans, and salt in a medium bowl and stir to combine.3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup pecans, chopped, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- In a separate bowl, add extra virgin olive oil, pure maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Stir or whisk to thoroughly combine.⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Add the dry ingredients (oats mixture) to the liquid mixture and stir until the oats are lightly coated.
- Pour onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. If you desire chunks of granola, use the back of a spoon or spatula to pack the granola together.
- Bake for 10 - 15 minutes before removing from oven and gently stirring.
- Return to oven for the remaining baking time, about 15 minutes or until the oats turn a light golden brown.
- At the completion of baking, remove from oven. Sprinkle dried blueberries over the granola and pat into the mixture using a spoon. Allow to rest before breaking apart and enjoying. Store in an airtight container.½ cup dried blueberries
Nutrition
Tips for the best granola
Note these tips to give your granola a little extra edge:
- Follow the 6:1 granola ratio of 6 parts dry : 1 part wet.
- Stir the granola halfway through baking for a more even result.
- The granola will still seem moist when you remove it from the oven, but don't forget that the granola will dry and harden while it cools. As with most baked goods, it will also continue to cook for a few minutes post-oven.
- Fruit and chocolate - or other delicate ingredients - should be added at the end of the baking process, once the granola is set aside to cool. Add immediately and let it mold to the warm oat mixture.
- There is no need to toast nuts before adding to the recipe because they will bake in the oven.
- For larger granola chunks, pat the oats together before baking, after stirring halfway through, and once you add final ingredients during the cooling process. After it hardens, you can then break it into chunks to your desired size.
How long does homemade granola last?
Store your granola in an airtight container for enjoyment up to two weeks. Freeze for longer storage - up to 3 months.
I can't wait for you to give this a try and enjoy the delicious aromas while this bakes. How do you enjoy granola? Snack? Breakfast addition? Leave a comment below with your preferred granola vehicle. 😉
Personally, I love sneaking a post-breakfast snack while enjoying a good cup (ok, multiple cups) of coffee. Here are a few coffee hacks to upgrade your next cup 'o joe!
🫐 favorite blueberry recipes
Bjha says
Nice recipe and healthy too. Perfect for my kids and my family.....easy steps too
hearthhealthhappiness says
Thank you so much, Bjha! I hope you enjoy!
Ryan says
My family and I love granola and are always looking for new recipes to try out. This is definitely one we will be tasting soon!
hearthhealthhappiness says
Isn't it a great snack? Let me know if you do give this a try - enjoy! Hope both you and your family are well!
Lauren says
Could you use butter instead of oil? Also, can you dry frozen blueberries?
Melanie Lorick says
Hi, Lauren - thanks for your message! I have not tried those variations, but you shouldn't experience any issues drying the blueberries from frozen. I would just break them apart on the parchment paper (if drying in the oven) and check them occasionally for consistency. They may need a little more time given their starting temperature.
Regarding the butter, you will need to melt and allow it to cool to room temperature before using. Given the fact I haven't tried it with this recipe, I can't speak to any changes with the taste and consistency of the finished product, BUT melted and cooled butter is usually a fine replacement for EVOO in a 1:1 ratio.
If you try these, I'd love to hear how they turn out...may need to break out the vegan butter to test with this version and compare notes!
Christine says
Really enjoy the texture of this granola. The smell of the baking granola is delicious! Will keep this in my rotation. Thank you for a great and easy recipe.
Melanie Lorick says
Hi, Christine! I'm thrilled to hear you like it, and aren't those aromas so nice?! Actually planning to start testing some new flavor variations soon, so stay tuned! 😀 Thanks so much for your review and have a great weekend!