Easy Vanilla Almond Granola: Award-Winning Homemade Recipe

How to make the best homemade Vanilla Almond granola recipe. This recipe recently won the Golden Recipe award from Pinterest and Food 52.

Every year, David and I make homemade granola for the holidays. Baking granola is a family tradition, and we look forward to making it together every year.

Not only do we love this fantastic recipe, but our family and friends love it too. In fact, many of them look forward to receiving their box as a gift from us every year. Quite honestly, everyone expects it, which is what we love about this tradition. This original recipe tastes like no other granola, and it is gluten-free. I promise you will love it, too.

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I am excited to share our favorite vanilla almond granola recipe with you today! I hope you enjoy this peek into our kitchen and one of our favorite holiday traditions.

If you did not know, David (my husband) is the chef in our home, and I typically am his trusty assistant. However, I do love to bake. We love to spend time together in the kitchen, especially when it comes to making our homemade granola recipe. I can make it look good, but David is the one who makes it taste good. We make a great team together!

 Simple Ingredients for Yummy Almond Vanilla Granola

• 4 cups of old-fashioned oats (be sure to use certified gluten-free oats)
• 1 cup of sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• One teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/3 cup of canola oil
• 1/4 cup of organic honey
• 2 Tablespoons of white sugar
• 4 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• Almond Extract (If you want a tad bit more almond flavor, use two teaspoons of almond extract and 2 teaspoons of vanilla instead of the 4 teaspoons of vanilla)

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Directions to Make the Easy Vanilla Almond Granola

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients of oats, brown sugar, sliced almonds, cinnamon, and salt and set aside.

• Mix the wet ingredients in a small saucepan. Canola oil, honey, and white sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract.
• Combine the oats mixture with the wet mixture and stir well.

• Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Spread the granola mixture in an even layer on the prepared sheet pan. (I like using a large baking sheet so the mixture is thin and not piled on the tray).
• Bake in the oven at 325 degrees for 30 minutes until golden brown, turning every 10 minutes.

• Be sure to turn the granola every ten minutes or your granola may burn on the edges. This is the most important step and why it comes out so fabulous.
• Bring the granola to room temperature and store it in an airtight container. You may even want to hide it!

Delicious Ways to Serve This Great Recipe 

Indulging in this granola daily might be tempting, given its irresistible sweet and salty flavor. To keep things in check, I reserve the pleasure for only a few special occasions each year. Below, I share some of my preferred ways to savor this delightful granola.

• Pour a handful over a smoothie bowl.
• Pour a handful of granola over the top of Greek yogurt.
• Drizzle the granola over a bowl of your favorite ice cream.
• Eat the granola-like cereal with milk and fresh berries. 

How to Package Your Granola for Gifting

One of my favorite parts of our holiday tradition is packaging up this healthy granola recipe to give as gifts. To keep it interesting, I try to come up with a new packaging idea each year, but I think this natural look is one of my favorites so far.

This year, I chose natural brown boxes and gift bags and wrapped them with simple red and white twine. Next, I created and printed custom tags and attached those with a tiny clothespin. Then, I added a fresh sprig of rosemary for a special festive finishing touch.

Custom embellishments are another great way to elevate your gift presentation. They bring a truly unique look and add a personal touch that can’t be matched.

For a final decoration, I made these cute, personalized gift tags made of Crayola Model Magic clay.

To make them, I rolled out the clay and then used a cookie cutter to create the shape. Then, I stamped the individual names on the tags with a custom stamp set.

These need approximately 48 hours to dry before you can attach them to your gifts. So, make them ahead to ensure you have ample time for the drying process.

When attached to the gift packaging with colorful twine, they create a simple yet effective personalized gift tag ornament to make this gluten-free granola recipe even more special.

Watch Wendy and David make Granola on YouTube

Other Packaging Ideas

When presenting granola as a thoughtful gift, the packaging possibilities are endless. Explore options such as tins, boxes, plastic containers, and more to add a personalized touch. While I love the look of natural paper, you can also use festive colors or patterns to capture the holiday spirit in your gift.

For budget-friendly choices, consider checking out Dollar Tree, where you can discover an array of tins, boxes, and creative packaging ideas to elevate the visual appeal of your gf granola gift without breaking the bank. Of course, DIY packaging and embellishments are always a great addition.

Wrapping Up

if you’re looking for a new holiday tradition for your family, this makes a delicious treat for a pajama party or a unique gift idea for neighbors or coworkers, whip up this effortlessly delicious homemade vanilla almond gluten-free granola for a thoughtful and versatile gift.

Whether for a hostess or a friend, its simplicity and delightful taste make it a memorable gesture that adds a personal touch to any occasion. It really is the best granola recipe, and I hope you love it as much as we do. Happy baking!

Other Yummy desserts you will love!

1. Soft Mastro’s gooey butter cake (a real treat that will melt in your mouth)
2. Soft drop-style sprinkles sugar cookies.
3. Air fryer-baked apples are simply delicious.