These homemade granola clusters are crunchy, buttery, lightly sweet, and packed with BIG bakery-style clusters that are perfect for snacking. If you love chunky granola for yogurt parfaits, breakfast bowls, or grabbing by the handful straight from the jar, this easy granola recipe is for you.
Why You’ll Love This Granola Recipe
The secret? A simple baking method plus one special ingredient that helps create those irresistible crunchy granola clusters everyone fights over!
- Much cheaper than store-bought granola. We eat granola almost everyday with our yogurt, so it can get a little pricey.
- BIG crunchy granola clusters. I LOVE a granola cluster! This recipe shows you how to achieve with a few simple tricks.
- Great for meal prep and snacking. This recipe makes a large amount, so it’s great to last you throughout the next few weeks!
- Easy to customize with nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate
- Stays crunchy! AND you can even freeze granola! Who knew?
What Makes Granola Cluster Together?
If you’ve ever made homemade granola that turned into loose crumbs instead of crunchy clusters, this recipe fixes that. There are 3 tricks that help create chunky granola clusters:
- 1. Egg White: The beaten egg white acts like glue and helps bind the oats together while baking. This is the KEY to crunchy clusters.
- 2. Don’t Stir the Granola: Most granola recipes have you stir while baking. Not this one! Leaving it undisturbed helps large clusters form.
- 3. Let It Cool Completely: This is the hardest part. The granola crisps up and hardens as it cools, so don’t break it apart too early. I usually let mine sit in the oven for hours or even overnight!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Make sure to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the full ingredient list and directions! This granola recipe makes a large portion, so you can even cut it in half if you would prefer.
Dry Ingredients
- Old-fashioned oats + Quick Oats. The combo of the two oats really gives you the oat texture with the old fashioned oats, while the quick oats are cut smaller help in binding everything together to create the clusters! ALSO! I LOVE using “protein oats” to really up the protein in this recipe! It works great!
- Corn flakes. This is an ingredient I started using so many years ago in my granola that adds the crunchy texture. You’ll never know it’s in there!
- Coconut. You can use sweetened flaked coconut OR unsweetened! Up to you!
- Raisins. I love raisins in granola, but you can absolutely leave them out. OR swap in another dried fruit.
- Cashews. I will admit I don’t normally use nuts in my granola, but when I do, cashews are my choice. But you can for sure leave them out. Sub them with almonds if you prefer!
- Kosher salt. This is great adding a bit of balance to the sugars you add!
Wet Ingredients
- Butter. You can also use coconut oil!
- Light brown sugar. This is an ingredient I’ve worked on swapping out, but can never seem to get the clusters without it!
- Honey. You can also use maple syrup or agave syrup!
- Egg whites. This is a protein addition, while also aiding in binding together those clusters! A secret ingredient that just works!
Mix-Ins
- Chocolate chips. You can use white chocolate, semi-sweet, or even mini M&Ms if you want a colorful addition.
- Nuts. The recipe is written with cashews, but add whatever nut you prefer!
- Dried Fruits. Raisins are always a go-to in my house, but you can use any dried fruit, like Craisins, Sour cherries, dried strawberries, apricots, or blueberries!
How to Make Granola Clusters
Step 1. Mix the Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except the white chocolate chips until evenly coated.
Step 2. Add the Egg White: Fold in the beaten egg white last. This helps bind everything together.
Step 3. Bake Without Stirring: Spread the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake without touching it.
Step 4. Cool Completely: Turn the oven off and leave the granola inside as it cools. This helps create extra crunchy clusters.
Step 5:. Break Into Clusters: Once fully cooled, break into chunks and stir in the white chocolate chips.
Tips for the BEST Granola Clusters
- Use Parchment Paper: This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
- Press the Mixture Down: Compact granola = bigger clusters.
- Don’t Rush Cooling: Warm granola feels soft. Cool granola gets crunchy.
- Add Chocolate After Cooling: Otherwise you’ll end up with melted chocolate puddles instead of chips. (Still delicious, honestly.)
Easy Granola Variations
This homemade granola recipe is super adaptable. Try adding:
- Dried cranberries
- Pecans or almonds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Cinnamon
- Mini chocolate chips
- Maple syrup instead of honey
- Chopped dried apricots
- Dark chocolate chunks
How to Serve Granola Clusters
These crunchy granola clusters are perfect for:
- Yogurt parfaits
- Breakfast bowls
- Ice cream topping
- Lunchbox snacks
- Smoothie bowls
- Road trip snacks
- Afternoon snacking straight from the container
How to Store Homemade Granola
Store granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For maximum crunch, let the granola cool completely before storing.
Can You Freeze Granola?
Yes! Homemade granola freezes beautifully. Store it in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or airtight container for up to 2 months. Let it thaw at room temperature before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn’t my granola crunchy?
Usually it just needs more cooling time. Granola crisps as it cools.
Can I make this gluten free?
Yes! Just use certified gluten free oats and gluten free corn flakes.
Can I skip the egg white?
You can, but you’ll lose the chunky clusters. The granola will be looser and more crumbly.
Can I use different nuts?
Absolutely. Pecans, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, or peanuts all work great.
More Homemade Snack Recipes You’ll Love
Snacking Granola Clusters
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 10 cups granola clusters 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This granola recipe is amazing when you want to make a big batch for the week. Of course you can make a smaller portion, but with all those clusters it’s sure to get eaten!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 2 1/2 cups quick oats
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cups raisins
- 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
- 4 cups corn flakes, crushed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 beaten egg whites
- optional – 1 cup salted cashews or any kind of nut
- optional – 1 cup white or dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a large (15×11) baking sheet with sides with parchment paper.
- Mix together the oats, butter, brown sugar, honey, raisins, coconut, corn flakes, and salt until evenly combined. Lastly, stir in the egg whites until mixed in evenly.
- Spread the mixture onto baking sheet evenly and pack lightly.
- Bake for 30 minutes without stirring. Turn the oven off and allow granola to stay in oven until cooled completely. I sometime leave it in the oven overnight.
- Break into pieces.
Notes
Store airtight for up to 2 weeks.
If you prefer not-clustered granola, stir the granola every 10 minutes while baking and remove from oven when done baking. Also, omit the egg white form the ingredients. UP the bake-time to 35 – 40 minutes.
I’ve been searching for the perfect granola recipe and here it is!!! I love crunchy clusters. I’ve made your recipe a half dozen times and have wanted to add the white chocolate chips but I’m not sure when to toss em in (I don’t want to end up with white puddle toppings). Would you please add an instruction for the chocolate chips. 5 all day long!
Made this yesterday and it turned out great!! I will start with how unbelievable the whole house smelled! I used coconut oil instead of butter. I was fresh out which is the ultimate sin of a British gal! I used bran flakes and put a whole bag of trail mix in which was all kinds of nuts and seeds and raisins. And yes there is no shame in loving clusters!!
Can you add spices to this recipe? If so, what would you recommend?
Sure! Cinnamon would, of course, be great! Pumpkin Pie Spice… a little nutmeg…
Really want to try this, but don’t want to add the coconut… what will I be missing? Should I add anything to sub for it?
You can omit it 🙂
I’ve got this in the oven now! I didn’t have any corn flakes, but I DID have Honey Bunches of Oats ! Let’s see how this turns out.
I love the simplicity of this recipe, with room to alter it with add-ins. Thanks!
OHHHHHH! GREAT IDEA! I bet Honey Bunches of Oats is fantastic in this!!
This is the recipe I was looking for a long time. I was hesitated to make homemade granola because I didn’t want to bake it for one hour and stir it every 10 minutes as most of the granola recipes call for. This is brilliant! I only put half of the sugar and honey and it the perfect sweet for me. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
So glad you liked it!! It’s a favorite of mine for sure!
I know this is an old recipe, but I hope you see this comment!! I want to make this for my daughter-in-law’s birthday as part of a “breakfast in bed” care package. Does the granola stay crunchy in a sealed container (like Tupperware)? Thank you! I love your blog!!
yes it does!!!