It’s nuts how many nuts are in this homemade Chewy Nut Loaded Granola recipe. It’s easy to make with old fashioned oats and nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews – plus honey, maple syrup, and lots of your favorite dried fruit for just the right touch of sweetness and extra chew.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This homemade chewy granola recipe is better than anything you find at the store! Not only is it a more wholesome and budget-friendly option, here you get to completely control the amount and type of nuts and fruits that go into the granola. We include suggestions for what goodies we like most, but feel free to customize the recipe to your liking.
I love any breakfast or snack that includes raw nuts: They contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals, and are delicious – the ultimate good and good for you food! Also, there is no refined sugar in this recipe. All of the sweetness in the granola comes from honey, maple syrup, and your choice of dried fruits like cranberries and blueberries.
Packed with fiber-rich whole oats and wheat germ for an extra kick of carbs, this granola is guaranteed to add some pep to your step!
Recipe Ingredients
- Uncooked Old Fashioned Oats – These can be steel-cut or rolled oats, but not quick oats.
- Nuts, Chopped or Sliced – We use a combination of almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and cashews.
- Wheat Germ – The germ is a piece from the wheat kernel. It adds a nice taste and texture, but you can omit if you like.
- Unsweetened Coconut – Shredded.
- Avocado Oil – The natural oil pressed from the pulp of an avocado. It has a mellow taste and lovely rich consistency.
- Honey and Maple Syrup – This combination makes the granola nice and sticky, and adds just the right touch of sweetness.
- Sea Salt – A generous pinch helps to balance the sweet and nutty flavors.
- Dried Fruit – We love blends of dried fruits like cranberries, blueberries, and chopped dried apricots in this granola recipe.
How to Make Chewy Loaded Granola with Nuts and Dried Fruit
- Preheat oven to 325℉. In a roasting pan, add oats, nuts, coconut, and wheat germ. A 9 x 13 pan isn’t large enough, a large baking sheet is too shallow, a roasting pan is just right. Stir the mixture to combine the ingredients evenly.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, add avocado oil, honey, maple syrup, and salt. Heat until bubbles begin to form around the edges of the pan. Whisk until the oil combines with honey and maple syrup.
- Pour mixture over oats and nuts.
- Stir well to evenly coat all of the ingredients. Place in preheated oven and stir well every 10 minutes making sure to pull the mixture from the corners into the center because they cook the fastest and will brown too much.
- Remove from oven and add dried fruits. Stir well.
Recipe Variations
- Use 5 cups of any nuts you have on hand or that are your favorite.
- Mix up the nuts with seeds of your choice, like sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
- Mix up the dried fruits with chopped dates, raisins or sultanas (not my first choice, but this is your granola).
- Coconut oil is a great substitute for avocado oil.
- Desiccated shredded coconut works just as well as ribbon or flaked coconut.
- Add spices like cinnamon to change up the flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
The maple syrup acts as a binder, while also keeping the granola chewy.
Bake the oats and nut mixture before adding dried fruit to the granola.
Store the cool granola in a large container with a lid. Keep in the pantry, or freeze!
Chewy nut loaded granola will keep well for up to 2 weeks at room temperature. Or store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
More Recipes to Try:
- Chocolate Coconut Almond Granola
- Golden Chai Spiced Granola
- Double Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti
- No-Knead Breakfast Bread
- Apple Pecan Bircher Muesli
- Pumpkin Almond Butter Smoothie Bowl
- Blended Berry Beet Breakfast Smoothie
Chewy Nut Loaded Granola
It's nuts how many nuts are in this homemade Chewy Nut Loaded Granola recipe. It's easy to make with old fashioned oats and nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans and cashews – plus honey, maple syrup, and lots of your favorite dried fruit for just the right touch of sweetness and extra chew.
Ingredients
- 6 cups uncooked old fashioned Oats
- 1 cup almonds roughly chopped or slivered
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup pistachio nuts
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup wheat germ
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut
- 2/3 cup avocado oil
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 – 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup dried blueberries
- 1 cup chopped dried apricots
Instructions
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In a large roasting pan mix the oats, nuts, wheat germ, coconut.
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In a medium saucepan heat the oil, honey, maple syrup, and salt until blended and beginning to bubble around the edges. Pour the warm syrup over the oats and nuts. Stir until the oats and nuts and completely coated.
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Bake in a 325℉ oven for 30 minutes, turning and stirring every 10 minutes.
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Remove from oven and stir in dried fruit. Store in an airtight container. Can also be frozen. Makes at least 2 quarts or more.
Recipe Notes
TIps:
- A 9 x 13 pan isn’t large enough, a large baking sheet is too shallow, a roasting pan is just right.
- Stir well every 10 minutes making sure to pull the mixture from the corners into the center because they cook the fastest and will brown too much.
- Salt is optional but really brings out great flavor.
- Store in an airtight container or two. This will make over 2 quarts of granola. Enough to freeze or share.
Make this granola your own
- Use 5 cups of any nuts you have on hand or that are your favorite.
- Mix up the nuts with seeds of your choice, like sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
- Mix up the dried fruits with chopped dates, raisins or sultanas (not my first choice, but this is your granola)
- Coconut oil is a great substitute for avocado oil. Did you know this granola is Vegan? Using oil over butter keeps it Vegan.
- Desiccated shredded coconut works just as well as ribbon or flaked coconut.
- Add spices like cinnamon to change up the flavor.
This is not vegan because it has honey. Fortunately, I am not vegan. Too bad for my vegan friends.
Thank you for reminding me about the honey. Pure maple syrup is a great substitute for the honey.
TONIGHT is the 4th or 5th time i have made this wonderful granola. My husband was looking for a chewy granola with lots of nuts. He loves this. I only cook it for 20 minutes. Thank you for a great recipe.
Thank you so much for commenting. I’m thrilled you and your husband enjoy this nutty granola. It’s a favorite in our house!
thIS LOOKS DELICIOUS – HOW LONG DOES THIS GRANOLA STAY FRESH IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER BEFORE HAVING TO PUT IN THE REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER?
The granola will stay fresh for at least 2 weeks in an airtight container. I have actually had a jar in my pantry for 1 month that was still soft and chewy. It will keep in the freezer for months.
This was seriously SO easy to make, and tastes So good! the entire family LOVED it!!! Definite keeper!! 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you so much. You’re the best.
This is my favorite granola and one of the best things you make.
This granola is amazing!!! Best recipe ever!!!