This Top Secret Granola has a bit of a history. I started making granola back in my university days for a healthy (and cheap, let’s face it) snack, and haven’t really stopped. I’m proud to say that my granola has evolved since my first attempts and remains one of the most popular posts on the blog!
At some point and for some reason, this granola recipe became my ‘secret recipe’, the only one that I didn’t share. I’m not totally sure why, perhaps I thought that one day I would package it up and turn it into a business. Well, I decided that life is too short, and that it would make me happier to spread the love another way.
Now, you can have fun with the ingredients, and I mix it up all of the time with the kinds of nuts, seeds and fruit that I add (sometimes I skip the fruit completely). My favourites include pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts and pecans but you can use whatever combination your heart desires.
The fruit is usually raisins or cranberries but don’t stop there. Dried cherries, figs, apricots and dates also taste incredible! To be honest, I find myself skipping the fruit half of the time anyway as I’ve grown to like sweet things less and less as I get older. I use a neutral oil such as canola oil, but you can also vary this with melted coconut oil or avocado oil. You can also substitute part of the oil with apple juice if you wish.
This makes a HUGE batch, but if you’re like our family and friends, you won’t have a problem finding a home for it. I have to hide it when my brother comes over, and give it out as a gift in a nice package for Christmas every year. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Top Secret Granola
Top Secret Granola
Tori's famous granola recipe - perfect for busy weekdays or makes a sweet gift in a jar wrapped in a bow. I love adding raw whole almonds for texture - you can flex the ratios of oats:nuts depending on your preference! Plus, add dried fruit at the end if you want some added sweetness! If you wish to make this sweeter, start with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and add more as desired!
Ingredients
- 10 cups large flake oats
- 4 cups mixed nuts/seeds roughly chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 cups unsweetened flaked coconut 2 packages or 400 g
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar optional (add more as desired)
- 1 cup neutral oil ie: canola oil or avocado oil
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup wheat germ or hemp hearts
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325 F and line two rimmed cookie sheets with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, mix together the oats, nuts, salt, coconut, cinnamon and brown sugar (If using).
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In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the oil, honey and vanilla.
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Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir well to combine.
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Divide and spread the granola equally between the prepared cookie sheets and bake for approximately 20 minutes, stirring half way through, until it is light golden brown. Stir in the wheat germ or hemp hearts and dried fruit (if using), and allow to cool completely before placing in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
Recipe Notes
*if you want a less sweet granola skip the sugar
Looks delicious!! Have you ever tried using maple syrup instead of honey to sweeten your recipe?
Hi Kate,
I have and it works just fine. I prefer the taste of honey but you can absolutely use maple syrup! Happy baking! Tori
this is the first recipe i have tried from your site (even though i have followed for years…quarantine life allows for lots of fun new recipes LOL) it was soooo easy and delicious! Thank you 🙂
I absolutely love granola, and I have been on the hunt for a good recipe! How long would you say this will last if stored in an airtight container?
I keep it for up to a month on the counter in a closed container!
Absolutely love this recipe.
I love that it makes alot as l often have for a quick lunch LOL.
That is so amazing to hear Linda! Also thank you for rating the recipe, I really appreciate it!
Instead of honey could you substitute for brown rice syrup or vegan Honee?
I haven’t tried it Jannine but I suspect that it will work just great!
Hi can I omit Coconut flakes ?
Will that affect it at all
Thanks
THANKS FOR SHARING !
Hi Zelda! For sure you can, you may just want to add more oats and or nuts to compensate and keep the dry:wet ratio the same. Happy baking! Tori
This looks so yummy!!! Is it very sweet? I’m thinking for people I know trying to eliminate sugar (a pre-diabetic in my family specifically looking for healthy, non-sweet snacks). Also, if I “halved” all the ingredients, would it still be good while not making so much? Thank you – love your blog – found following Jillian!
Hi Linda! You can absolutely reduce the amount of sugar – I don’t find it very sweet and use less sugar than other recipes I’ve found, but I would simply cut back or eliminate the brown sugar. The brown sugar gives it a rich flavour, but if you are trying to cut back on the sweetness I think that is the best bet so that you don’t change the texture (you need a certain amount of ‘moisture’ which the honey helps provide). Thanks so much for the follow and let me know how it turns out! Tori
Random question: Where did you get the metal scoop? I have been looking for some, but can’t find them. Thank you! This granola looks so good, can’t wait to try!
This one is vintage but I got a few great ones at a local industrial kitchen (restaurant) supply store in Kelowna. Do you live here?
Yes, I am in Kelowna. Thank you 🙂
I bought a number of them at the restaurant supply store on Enterprise behind Home Depot!
Hi Tori,
I’m a type one diabetic. Do you think it would be ok to substitute the brown sugar with Splenda brown sugar? Or would it be better to just decrease the amount of brown sugar? To what would you decrease it to to maintain the recipe and optimal taste? Thanks.
Hi Andrea. Thanks for your comment and question. Perhaps you can try omitting the brown sugar and see how you like it, and adjust from there. The honey may be enough sweetness for you, but you can try adding some Splenda to it if you want it sweeter. I absolutely appreciate that you want to keep the sugar content as low as possible. I haven’t tried it with Splenda but would love to hear how it goes if you do give it a whirl.
I would love to hear how this works as searching for a low sugar recipe that is gluten free I could make brought me here. I am diabetic, and have gluten and lactose intorance
Hi Kimberly you can just use certified gluten free oats and reduce the sugar as much as you want – simply substitute apple juice for the honey or maple syrup!
This was my first time attempting granola so thought I would do a half batch recipe. Used some hemp seeds instead of wheat germ, otherwise followed pretty closely. Turned out wonderfully! Next time will make a full batch and do some sharing 🙂 As a fellow RD, your website and recipes are always great inspiration – thank you!
Thanks so much Natalie! I will have to add the hemp option in as well, I’ve done that a number of times and loved it! I appreciate the feedback, especially from a fellow dietitian, means so much to me:) Thanks for the follow and feedback! Tori
Oh my goodness – this is sooooo good! I want to eat this everyday. Thanks for sharing! And a huge congratulations on the safe arrival of Mini Max! Wishing you lots of love and happiness and three becomes four!
Thank you so much Jane! I’m thrilled that you love it and truly appreciate the sweet wishes for our family! xx Tori
I saw some comments on the use of brown sugar. When I make mine I use coconut sugar. No one notices the difference. It has a lower glycemic index which would be better for a diabetic.
Thanks Lyndsay, yes it does have lower glycemic index which is a good option!
Veg. oil? I don’t really like add that oil… I want to be healthy food and suggest abt oil?
Hi Monique, you can use melted coconut oil if you prefer! Tori
Have you tried making this into a bar?
Hi Sherry! It is too dry as it is, but I have two granola bar recipes on the way!
Thank you so much for sharing!! I just made a batch last night and it is unreal. So delicious!!
Thanks so much Leisha I’m happy you love it! Tori
I made this and love it! Thank you! I am 9 weeks post partum with my 3rd baby, who I am breastfeeding, so a healthy, wholesome, filling snack is awesome to have around. Do you happen to have the nutritional information?
Love this! Made it with coconut oil. We are devouring it.
Hi Tori, I just made it tonight for my kids. I used flaxseed meal instead of the wheat germ. It turned out great.
Awesome thanks Laurie!
Hi Tori, have you ever used quinoa flakes instead of the oat? Wondering how that might turn out!
Are the coconut flakes sweetened or unsweetened?
I’ve used both but prefer unsweetened!
Hi Tori. Just made this for the first time this morning. Love it. So delicious!! Lots of flavour. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Lorraine! I’m really happy you loved it!
Yum!!! I just made a batch this afternoon!
It’s delicious 🙂
I ran out of veg oil so I just used coconut oil. For the dried fruit I used figs, apricots, and cranberries. I’ve got granola for DAYS 🙂
Thank you Tori for all the GREAT and healthy recipes!
Thanks for making this recipe not a secret! So great, and you’re right, it does make a big batch. I’ve used it as a hostess gift. Thanks again!
Oh I’m so happy you love it! Yes it makes a great gift, I give it to my family at Christmas time and they are obsessed now!
Hi there. What would be a good substitute for the flaked oats
You could use another flaked grain like wheat or another type, just check out your local health food store like Nature’s Fare if you have one around!
This is such a great recipe! My house smelled so good while I was cooking it. I got distracted with a phone call and added the fruit before cooking Oops! Still turned out delicious. Thank you for sharing!
I’ve done the same thing the fruit just gets a bit chewy! So happy you love it!
This recipe is insanely good!
As the summer sadly draws to a close, I’m thinking ahead to all things pumpkin. I’m assuming pumpkin pie and other spices could be added, just not sure of the quantity. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!
I finally got around to making this recipe and it is so delicious! Thank you for sharing it! This will definitely be a staple in our house from now on. I’ve already gifted it to family and they love it too! I love that it makes such a big batch!
Thank you for this recipe Tori!! It’s so delicious, healthy and clean eating. I also like how you can change it up with the nuts, seeds, maple syrup/honey, veg oil/coconut oil. So fun. So long purchased granola, Top Secret is where it’s at! Hopefully this will be in your and Jills cookbook too!
Thanks so much Becky I’m happy you love it! Yes I think this one will make it into the book:)
I made your granola recipe last night, and the result is total success; we absolutely love it!! I did use coconut oil and did not use any other sugar(the honey is sweet enough for us), also cut the recipe in half.. I’m glad I did because this will last us months! Thank you Tori for sharing your recipe !!
Hi Tori,
I made this granola for Christmas and it was a hit! I am going to make it again this year, can I ask you what type of nuts/seeds you use in your recipe?
Thanks!
Hi Tori, I love your post and insta stories! I love homemade granola taste so great on Greek yogurt. I have added instead of the vanilla pure orange extract and it’s amazing. With the nuts, seeds and coconut and I usually add cramberrries for the fruit .The orange extract it just the right amount of citrus and smells amazing.
Oh what a great idea with the orange extract Jen! Love it!
Wondering what kind of vegetable oil you use for a recipe like this? (Tasty and healthy?). Thanks!
Perfecto! I did use hazelnut infused honey as that is what I had.
I made a half batch last month and LOVED it, so last night I made the full recipe! I really like that this granola isn’t too sweet and is packed full of nutrients. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe…I’ll never buy store bought granola again!
Hello Tori,
I discover recently your web site and I’m in love whit your different recipies. I want to try this one but I don’t like cinnamon. I can substitute for… (do you have and idea) or just skip spices.
Thanks! 🙂
Hi Kathleen,
You can just leave it out or add a dash of nutmeg or cardamom in it’s place (I wouldn’t add the full amount of these). Thanks for following along! Tori
I recently discovered your blog and recipes. This granola is the third recipe I have tried. It is absolutely delicious. It is the best!!! Your orange and hemp heart and sneaky mommy muffins also get a 5 star from me. I’m looking forward to trying more of your delicious recipes. Thanks for sharing!!!
Oh this makes me so happy to hear MaryJane! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!
Hi Tori!
This sounds amazing! Just wondering is there a way to make this oil free? Could I use Tahini in place of the oil? Otherwise I can’t wait to make this! I have loved every single recipe I have made from your website!! Cheers!
xx
I think I am going to have to start making granola myself…..we are going through so many store bought bags of it! My kids prefer the big cluster pieces….any ideas of how to get those instead of a loose granola?
What types of nuts and seeds do you like to use?
Hi Laura, I love pecans, almonds and pumpkin seeds the most!
Can I use raw almonds or do they need to be roasted?
Hi Ravi you can use raw almonds that is what I use!
Thank you! Looking forward to making it tomorrow!
I don’t know how this recipe doesn’t have thousands of 5 star reviews! Must really be top secret! My first attempt at homemade granola was a huge win with this one. I’ve made it about 4 times in the last 3 weeks already because friends and family keep clearing me out. I use walnut pieces, roasted almonds chopped, pecan pieces, pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts, maple syrup. I’ve left out the coconut sometimes and just added more of other things to keep volume and its delish either way!
this is the first recipe i have tried from your site (even though i have followed for years…quarantine life allows for lots of fun new recipes LOL) it was soooo easy and delicious! Thank you 🙂
Absolutely delicious and my kids are devouring it. Thanks Tori.
My whole family loves this granola. I adapted the recipe to accommodate a coconut allergy and make it school friendly. So I use extra oatmeal in place of the coconut, omit the nuts and add more hemp seed. Simple, delicious and nutritious! The best.
Thanks Katie those are great tweaks – so glad your family loves it!
A big hit with the family! I’ve made it many times now and always have requests to refill 🙂
I’m wondering if you can freeze the granola? I was thinking about making a batch now to give as a Christmas gift.
Hi Sheelagh, yes you can, but I find that it keeps just fine in a sealed container if you make it now for Christmas!
Take care, Tori
This is a great granola recipe! I accidentally bought salted pepitas to add instead of unsalted but they ended up being a nice addition ☺️
Perfect level of sweeteness. I had shredded coconut and used that instead, used hemp hearts, maple syrup, almonds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds. It was even a hit with my kids.
I think this will be a regular at my house. Thank you for the recipe.
Hey Ravi! I really appreciate your review of this recipe! Your granola sounds amazing. So happy to hear it was a hit! Tori
I skipped the extra sugar and it’s still delicious! Especially since I eat it with sweetened almond milk. Also, I’m not a huge dried fruit fan, but I do add a handful of raisins into my bowl with it, and it definitely adds something extra to the texture and flavor, so if you’re like me and thinking of skipping the dried fruit – I recommend picking one you like best and adding it in sparingly as it makes it extra delish. My only issue was Tori must have much larger “large” bowls than me and also larger cookie pans and oven. I had to use two large bowls, and to rounds on two pans to make this. It’s a huge portion – which is great, I have granola for longgg time now but I would recommend budgeting for double the cook time if you have a regular sized oven and pans.
Absolutely delicious! My family and myself are obsessed! I was wondering if you would consider including the calories as well? Just as a general idea! Thank you! <3
This turned out so great! I used half steel cut oats and half quick oats because that’s what I had. I chose to add pecans, cashews, raisins and apricots. Delicious over fruit and Greek yogurt. Thanks for the reliable recipes!
So happy you liked it Melanie! Thanks for taking the time to rate it! Tori
I would like to know how many calories are in one servibg or in a one half cup
Hey Flora! If you add this recipe to Whisk it should help you 🙂
Just made your granola, and cut the recipe in half. 1st attempt so didn’t want a large quantity. Your recipe states cook for 20 minutes until golden. But at the beginning you state cooking time 30 minutes. Should I have cooked it for the 30 or up to 30 minutes.
So easy and tasty!
What a great gift idea in a jar, thank you for this fabulous idea!
Hi there! I’ve made this recipe lots, I love it! There used to be sugar added though, I think 1/4 cup? It seems like it’s been removed off ingredient list but is in instructions???
Hi Amy! We removed the sugar so that it could be a bit healthier and to allow for adjustment of sugar to each person. Start with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and try that then go up from there! xx Tori
Hi! Love this recipe! Thank you! I too have been making it for awhile and was confused by the mention of sugar in the instructions but not in the ingredient list. It might be helpful to put this note at the top of the recipe ☺️
Thanks so much Sarah we have fixed it!
Absolutely delicious, I’ve made it a couple of times, however I find it loose and doesn’t cluster. Any idea how to get it to cluster?
Hey Emma! It isn’t supposed to cluster, but if you would like it to, consider adding more honey/syrup so it binds a bit more together?! Then baking in small clumps you form with your hand could help too!
HI Tori, I FINALLY made this … has been on my to-do list for so long. And this really is the perfect recipe!! Absolutely delicious – have been eating it every day for breakfast since I made it, lol. Thanks for sharing it!
Hi Tori
Yet another great recipe! What are your thoughts on freezing this?