Make this easy homemade honey granola recipe with rolled oats, honey, and olive oil. It's quick, pantry-friendly, and softer than crunchy granola-perfect for breakfast, yogurt bowls, or school snacks.
If you're searching for a honey granola recipe that's simple, pantry-friendly, and softer than extra-crunchy versions, you're in the right place. Made with rolled oats, honey, and olive oil, this recipe bakes up soft, gently sweet, and easy to enjoy every day.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
🫘 Flavor & Texture: Soft, lightly sweet, and tender-not overly crunchy.
⏱️ Prep Time: 5 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 20-25 minutes
📦 Batch Size: Makes about 6 cups (double the recipe for about 12 cups).
👩👧👦 Yield: About 12 (½ cup) servings.
🔪 Tools: Large mixing bowl, slotted spoon, and a rimmed baking sheet.
❄️ Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Not freezer-friendly.
👩👧👦 Inspired by: This Honey Granola Recipe is my mom's original recipe-she'd make big batches and store them in Ziplocs. I loved sneaking a bag into my backpack for an after-school snack.
👩🍳 Tip: Coat oats evenly to prevent scorching, stir once while baking, and pull it out when the raisins look soft so they don't harden.
This is my go-to granola-soft, lightly sweet, and forever linked to memories of my mom making it when I was a kid. I've been baking it ever since, and it's the recipe I always come back to.
✨At Seanna's Kitchen, you'll find tested recipes and real-life baking tips-trusted by home bakers across the Midwest and beyond.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
When I was a kid, I always asked my mom to make this oats and honey granola recipe because I loved to snack on it. The flavor was simple but rich, the texture soft but never mushy. She always made extra so we'd have it on hand for breakfast or snacks. It made the house smell amazing-warm, toasty, and just sweet enough. And tastes way better than store-bought granola.
Looking for more cozy breakfast bakes? Try our Banana Muffins with Streusel Topping or Easy Blueberry Muffins Recipe next. Or explore more of our Brunch Recipes.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredient Notes and Easy Swaps
- Which Oats to Use & Why
- Substitutions
- Variations & Add-Ins
- Overnight Oats Twist
- How to Make Honey Granola
- Tips for Getting It Just Right
- Ways to Serve It
- Troubleshooting & FAQs
- More Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Community
Ingredient Notes and Easy Swaps
- honey - Not all honey tastes the same. Choose a honey you love the taste of-its flavor really shines in this recipe, so a floral or light wildflower honey will make the granola extra delicious.
- Use Fresh Ingredients - Fresh, good-quality oats, seeds, and dried fruit make all the difference here. Fresher ingredients mean better flavor and texture in every bite.
Which Oats to Use & Why
- Rolled oats: The best choice for this recipe. They bake up tender with a sturdy bite-not mushy or overly firm.
- Instant oats: Bake faster and absorb more liquid, so the texture ends up much softer and more blended.
- Steel-cut oats: Stay too hard and won't bake evenly. Best to skip them here.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions
- Dried Fruits: Raisins add softness, but you can swap in cranberries, apples, apricots, or dates. Dried fruit helps balance the texture so it doesn't get too dry.
- Seeds & Nuts: Sesame seeds are classic here, but pumpkin seeds (pepitas), chia, flax, or almond slices add great crunch and nutrition.
- Sweeteners: I use honey now, but my mom often used maple syrup. Agave nectar, date syrup, or coconut nectar are also delicious, trending alternatives.
Variations & Add-Ins
- Extra sweet bits: chocolate chips, white chocolate, or M&Ms (stir in after baking and cooled).
- Tropical variation: dried pineapple, mango, and coconut flakes.
- Spiced variation: cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice.
Overnight Oats Twist
Layer this granola in a jar with milk or yogurt and refrigerate overnight. By morning, it softens just enough to make a creamy, spoonable breakfast. Unlike traditional overnight oats-where raw oats soak in liquid-this version has that lightly toasted flavor in every bite.
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How to Make Honey Granola
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 1. Combine Dry Ingredients. Place all dry ingredients in a large baking pan and mix to combine.
Step 2. Add Dried Fruit. Stir in raisins.
Step 3. Mix in Wet Ingredients. Drizzle olive oil and honey over the top in a thin stream, not just in one spot.
💡Tip: I usually drizzle back and forth over the top. Then use a big slotted spoon to gently stir so every grain gets coated.
Step 4. Spread the granola out evenly on the baking sheet.
💡Tip: Baking sheet doesn't need to be lined or greased.
Step 5. Bake. Bake 15-20 minutes, stirring once midway.
💡Tip: Keep an eye on the raisins-they should soften slightly but not puff up or burst.
Step 6. Cool & Store. Let cool completely before storing, so steam doesn't soften the granola.
Tips for Getting It Just Right
A few practical reminders to help your granola bake evenly:
- Mix the dry ingredients really well first so you don't end up with clumps of sesame seeds or bran.
- Drizzle oil and honey evenly over the top-don't dump them all in one spot.
- Stir with a slotted spoon so the oats fall through and get coated thoroughly.
- Uneven coating leaves oats exposed and prone to scorching.
- Bake low and stir occasionally to prevent over-toasting.
- Watch the raisins closely-once they start to swell, it's time to pull the pan. If you let them go too long, they'll harden.
Ways to Serve It
This honey granola is so versatile. Pour it into a bowl with milk, sprinkle over a yogurt parfait, or scoop it into bags for lunch boxes. It makes a great road trip or hiking snack, and it's also right at home on a brunch board with fruit and baked goods.
Pair it with our Banana Muffins with Streusel Topping or Easy Blueberry Muffins Recipe next. Or explore more of our Brunch Recipes.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Bake at a lower temp (300°F) for longer and don't stir-just press it flat on the pan. Adding more honey or an egg white also helps it clump.
It usually happens from uneven coating. Make sure the olive oil and honey are mixed in well so every flake is protected.
Yes, but the texture will be much softer and blend more into the milk-great for overnight oats, but not ideal for snacking.
Yes! Layer granola with milk or yogurt in a jar and refrigerate overnight. By morning, it softens into a creamy, spoonable breakfast. For a more traditional overnight oats feel, add a spoonful of raw rolled oats along with the granola before chilling.
Yes, you can cut back slightly on honey, but less sweetener may mean fewer clumps and a shorter shelf life.
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📖 Recipe
Honey and Oats Granola
Equipment
- large baking pan
Ingredients
- 4 cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup oat bran
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- 1 cup raisins
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients. Place all dry ingredients in a large baking pan and mix to combine.4 cups rolled oats, ¼ cup oat bran, ¼ cup sesame seeds
- Add Dried Fruit. Stir in raisins.1 cup raisins
- Mix in Wet Ingredients. Drizzle olive oil and honey over the top in a thin stream, not just in one spot.💡Tip: I usually drizzle back and forth over the top. Then use a big slotted spoon to gently stir so every grain gets coated.¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup honey
- Bake. Bake 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.💡Tip: Keep an eye on the raisins-they should soften slightly but not puff up or burst
- Bake. Cool & Store. Let cool completely before storing, so steam doesn't soften the granola.
Notes
- Doneness: The granola should smell toasty and look golden. It won't crisp fully in the oven but will firm up as it cools.
- Raisins: Pull the pan when raisins look soft. If they puff or burst, they'll harden as they cool.
- Cooling & Storage: Let granola cool completely before storing so steam doesn't soften it. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Serving Ideas: Enjoy with milk, layered into yogurt parfaits, or packed into lunch boxes. Great for road trips or brunch boards.
Seanna Borrows says
This Honey Granola recipe has been updated with clearer instructions, fresh photos, and extra tips so it’s even easier to make at home. It’s the same family recipe I grew up with, just polished to help you get perfect results every time.
Russ B says
Love this for breakfast!
Seanna Borrows says
Thanks Russ. It's my mom's recipe. I love it, too.