Sweet vanilla and almond combine with a touch of cinnamon spice and maple flavour in this crunchy homemade granola!
I’m the biggest fan of granola! I love it so much that I’m sure there isn’t a time when I’m not in the kitchen experimenting and coming up with a new granola recipe. The list of my favourite granola recipes is never-ending and I am more than happy to share my latest granola creation with you.
This vanilla almond granola creation is inspired by my basic homemade granola recipe, but this time I replaced some of the oats with flaked/slivered almonds.
Whilst baking the flavour from the cinnamon, maple and vanilla combine and will fill your kitchen with an amazing aroma. Don’t be alarmed as my recipe calls for one full tablespoon of vanilla to be added. The reason for this is nothing more than the fact I just I love vanilla and I really wanted to be able to taste it in this granola. If you’re not so keen you can adjust the amount of vanilla to your own taste by adding a little less than the recipe states.
It’s also optional to add some cinnamon to the granola mix, cinnamon is one of those ingredients that can transform any bake and I love adding it to any bake from cake and cupcakes to cookies and now granola! I wouldn’t say you can even taste the cinnamon that much, I only add half a teaspoon so it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients and acts as a subtle background flavour in this granola.
Vanilla Almond Granola before baking
You can customise this granola to your own taste by adding chia seeds or flaxseed for added goodness. Moving onto toppings, my favourites are sliced banana and strawberries, you could add anything from dried fruit like apricots or dates or simply enjoy it with milk or Greek yoghurt for a protein-packed breakfast that’ll certainly power you through your morning at work!
I don’t just eat this granola for breakfast, I’ve also been enjoying granola parfait for dessert during the summer and it’s my favourite to enjoy when fresh berries like strawberries and raspberries are in season. The layers of fruit, granola and yoghurt work really well paired together!
Whilst the granola was baking the aromas it created in my kitchen were amazing – I knew I was onto a winning recipe!
Ingredients:
200g (2 cups) old-fashioned/rolled oats
100g (1 cup) flaked or slivered almonds
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
75ml (5 tablespoons) honey or maple syrup
75ml (5 tablespoons) vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Method:
- Preheat oven to 150°C / 130°C Fan / 300°F / Gas Mark 2.
- Weigh the oats out into a large mixing bowl along with the almonds and mix together with the cinnamon (if using).
- In a small saucepan gently heat together the maple syrup, oil and vanilla until warmed. Don’t boil this mixture.
- Stir together the maple syrup mixture with the oats until all the oats are moistened. Spread the granola out onto a large baking tray and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, give it a stir and return the granola to the oven for a further 15 minutes. After the second lot of 15 minutes is up, again remove the granola from the oven and give it a stir. Pop the granola back in the oven for another 15 minutes more to finish baking. (Granola will have baked for a total of 45 minutes before it’s ready.)
- Once the granola is baked, take it from the oven and leave it to cool. As it cools it will get crisp. This granola will store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
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I can almost hear the crunch! What a fab breaky idea.
You had me at ‘one whole tablespoon of vanilla’! One can never have too much freshly scraped vanilla beans, or homemade granola, for that matter!
Oh this granola looks perfect, Jess! I loving making my own versions, it’s so easy and tastes wonderful! I love the vanilla flavor, sounds amazing!
I´m the biggest fan of Granola too but I´ve never made it. I´ve wanted to, but just never got around to making it and to be honest I never knew it was so easy! You´ve inspired me 🙂
This granola looks so dreamy!! I love making it at home, it’s so fun to do and always has so much more flavour than store bought. I’m definitely going to have to try your recipe, it looks incredible and I looove vanilla! Yum! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
This looks delicious. Almond an vanilla go so well together, don’t they. I love making my own granola, I really don’t do it enough.
This granola looks incredible, Jess! It helps that vanilla is one of my all-time favorite flavors…and almonds? Well, we all know that almonds go great in granola. I totally want to make a batch of this next time we run out of granola. 🙂
Thanks so much David! Hope you get to try it! 😀
You’re right – I need to ditch the (expensive) store-bought granola and make my own!
This granola looks perfect Jess! This reminds me that I have to make some asap! Pinned!
This looks so good! I really need to make my own granola, and this sounds like the perfect recipe to try! 🙂
I love starting my day with a bowl of homemade granola, and these flavors sound delicious!
Homemade granola is so addictive! Love this vanilla almond version Jess, it looks perfect! I could snack on this all day long!
Never thought of making it myself .. always purchased from stores. Thank for sharing this beautiful recipe.
Homemade granola is the best!! Love this recipe. Pinning.
Thanks Oriana!
I love granola but haven’t made my own yet!! I definitely have to give this a try because it is so much healthier than store bought, and looks delicious. Plus there is a whole tablespoon of vanilla extract so it must taste good 🙂
Yum! I love granola too and yours turned out perfectly!!
Thank you so much for the recipe! I’m running out of my old granola, think I’m gonna make yours! Looks so delicious!
I would love to use maple syrup in my granola, but it is so expensive here. Great recipe Jess 🙂
Granola is my weakness! Love the crunch over fruit or just as a snack straight up. I bet your house smelled amazing while it cooked.
Crunch crunch crunch.. love these crunchy granola.. vanilla and almond awesome flavour!! 😀
Mmmm granola. I love love love granola. The flavors you added in here sound perfect!
I lovee granola! This looks amazing!! Vanilla and almond is a perfect pairing!
In college whenever I came home, I made my mom buy the vanilla-almond granola from trader joe’s and ate it with yogurt and banana. It was my “i’m home” breakfast!
I absolutely love making my own granola!! Thanks for the reminder! This looks so good!!
It’s always great fun!
Yesterday I had the best parfait at Sam’s club! I know can you believe it?! Now all day I have been craving granola and I think this is the one I will be making!
Thanks Ami! I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I love simple granola like this!! I just made some last night using maple syrup . . I usually use honey. . love it and love this!!!
I eat granola on a regular basis so would love to try this new recipe!!
So crunchy and gourmand! It’s perfect for my breakfast!!
Have a lovely weekend!
I am SUCH a granola fan–and this amazing-sounding recipe is just the excuse I need to make another batch!
What a crunchy, delicious and appetizing looking Granola, Jess! Thanks for this lovely recipe! 🙂
It is true how at times the smell of what you are cooking gives away how good/bad the dish is going to be. Glad this was a good one! I am also a massive homemade granola. It is so easy and hardly can go wrong. Thanks
This granola sounds fantastic, Jess! Loooove vanilla as well! And with the almond, maple and cinnamon – I bet this is seriously delish!!! ♡
Just finished making this, so yummy! Love how simple it is.