Forego the sheet pan and long bake times! This Crazy Simple 15 Minute Skillet Granola will have you snacking in a few short minutes. Lightly sweetened, spiced oats and nuts are toasted in a skillet and tossed with dried fruit to finish.
This homemade granola is delicious sprinkled over yogurt, ice cream, fresh fruit or enjoyed straight out of the container. It’s a great foundation recipe, and because this granola comes together so quickly and is easily customizable, you may never buy granola from the store again.
Jump to RecipeTable of Contents
The fascinating history of granola and our love affair with this breakfast food
By now you know I love all things Michigan – including tall tales, folklore and a touch of truthful history. We have this little company in Battle Creek, Michigan named Kellogg’s. Perhaps you’ve seen a product or two in the cereal aisle of your local grocery store?
There’s some debate as to who first invented the healthy, crunchy breakfast food now commonly known as granola. However, according to an article in The Nibble, Dr. James Caleb Jackson first produced a crumbled, baked graham flour mixture in 1863, which he named granula.
William Kellogg, founder of the Kellogg cereal company, began mass producing and selling a similar version of this exciting, new breakfast food under the same name until Jackson sued. The Kellogg’s company changed the name to granola and continued manufacturing, sparking a breakfast cereal health trend.
And the rest is history. Although granola fell out of breakfast food favor for a number of years, it has experienced a steady comeback as both a favorite cereal and snack since the late 1960s, and continues to grow in popularity today.
No oven needed for this granola recipe
Unlike muesli, which is traditionally comprised of uncooked oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruits, granola is typically baked until the grains and seeds are crunchy and golden. Baking times are as varied as granola recipes themselves and can range from 20 minutes to over an hour in the oven. As a result, textures can also vary from soft, to slightly crispy to diamond-hard clusters.
This recipe falls somewhere in the realm of lightly crispy. I used a stove top method of toasting the oats, nuts and seeds in a pan with a touch of salted butter over medium heat until golden brown.
Adding the cinnamon at the beginning of the cooking cycle helps to bloom and deepen the flavor of the spice. At the end, maple syrup is added to the toasted grains before the dried fruits are incorporated. The mixture is lightly tossed before being transferred to a sheet of parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat to cool.
Once the granola mixture is completely cooled, white chocolate chips may be added for an extra boost of sweetness.
Completely customizable crazy simple 15 minute skillet granola
I believe in having a number of “go-to” recipes in my kitchen quiver – recipes that can be used in multiple ways. For example, the dough that I use in my Tempting Pumpkin and Pepita Empanadas (a fall favorite) is also the same dough used in my recipe for Salted Mixed Nut Pie (another fall favorite, especially during the holidays).
One of the reasons I love this healthy granola recipe is because it is completely customizable. The ratios remain constant, but all other ingredients can be changed up. If you don’t want to use butter, coconut oil and a pinch of salt make a nice, flavorful substitute. This foundation recipe calls for walnuts, but I also tested it with pecans, which worked just as well.
You could also substitute cashews or another nut of choice if desired, and feel free to switch up the dried fruits as well. Dried blueberries, mango, coconut shavings are all good options. And sunflower seeds are a delicious substitute for the pepitas. Even the sweetener can be altered. Although a good quality maple syrup remains my favorite, honey works well, too.
I hope you give this healthy granola recipe a try. As with all recipes though, make it your own.
Crazy Simple 15 Minute Skillet Granola
Course: SidesCuisine: American BreakfastDifficulty: Easy2.5
cups10
minutes5
minutes30
minutesIngredients
2 Tbsp. salted European-style butter
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup or honey
1/3 cup roughly chopped walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup pepitas
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried apricots, 1/4-inch dice
1/4 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Directions
- Melt the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the cinnamon, oats, nuts and pepitas and stir constantly to ensure they are evenly covered by the butter. Add the honey and toast for approximately 5 minutes until golden brown. Stir constantly to ensure they do not burn.
- Add the dried cranberries and apricots and stir to incorporate.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a piece of parchment paper to cool. Spread out and break up any large clusters.
- Once completely cool, add the white chocolate chips if desired. Don’t add the chocolate chips too early or they will melt.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one month.
