There is nothing like making granola yourself; it's far superior to any store-bought granola. I incorporate brown butter into my version, as it lends a rich flavor. This healthy Brown Butter Pecan Granola recipe is chock-full of lots of healthy stuff, minus the preservatives and it's by far, the best granola! And it's an Award winning granola recipe, winning the "Farmer's Almanac's Readers Best Recipes and their Stories-25th Anniversary Edition Cookbook" contest!
This homemade granola recipe doesn't take long to make, is the perfect breakfast food, stores well, and is versatile in that it can be eaten straight up, sprinkled on all kinds of things (most notably yogurt), or simply eaten with some milk. It pairs well with a fresh fruit salad. It was also the inspiration for my Almond Butter Granola Bars. This Brown Butter Pecan Granola is also great for bringing along to a potluck.
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And if you're looking for additional breakfast recipes to take to a potluck, check out these Potluck Breakfast Ideas!
Granola really fell from grace during the era when fat was considered a naughty word. But now that we've realized there is 'good fat' and 'eating clean' (whole foods) is back in food fashion, homemade granola appears to be making a comeback. Yay!
This Award-wining Pecan Brown Butter Granola recipe won the "Farmer's Almanac's Readers Best Recipes and their Stories-25th Anniversary Edition Cookbook" contest. The book was published in September 2016 and this recipe was used in their marketing campaign as well.
You can find more Award-winning recipes HERE.
🥘 Ingredient Notes
Brown butter is pretty old school but has also come back into food vogue over the last couple of years. And rightly so. It's easy to add to recipes and lends a delicious caramel flavor to whatever it's paired with.
If you're not familiar with brown butter, well, it's just that-butter that's been browned. But you need to be careful not to overcook it. There are plenty of video guides online that teach you the proper technique for browning butter. (See video below)
For this brown butter granola recipe, you'll need:
- Rolled oats. Rolled oats and Quick oats are the same thing.
- Unsweetened coconut (finely shredded coconut or coconut flakes). Unsweetened coconut adds sweetness, texture, and flavor complexity.
- Pecans. Give this granola a nutty taste and crunch.
- Dried cranberries. Dried cranberries add a welcome tart flavor and chewy texture.
- Wheat germ. Wheat germ is a great source of fiber and protein.
- Brown butter. Brown butter elevates the taste of this granola with a delicious caramel flavor! * I use unsalted butter
- Honey.* I have used both creamed honey and liquid honey for this recipe, but prefer to use creamed.
- Salt. The salt balances the sweetness of the honey.
*See recipe card for quantities
📖 Variations and Substitutions
Honey: You can use creamed honey, liquid honey, or maple syrup
Nuts: You can substitute slivered blanched almonds for the pecans
Dried fruit: You can substitute chopped dried apricots, dried cherries, or raisins.
Chia seeds: You could substitute flax seeds
- Dairy-free: use dairy-free (soy or almond) milk and vegan butter. Vegan butter doesn't brown like regular butter, so you could add about ¼- ½ teaspoon of caramel or English toffee extract to mimic the brown butter flavor, as well as a little butter extract if you wish.
- WW Friendly: use non-fat milk and light butter. Since light butter doesn't brown like regular butter, so you could add about ¼- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract with caramel or English toffee extract to mimic the brown butter flavor, as well as a little butter extract, if you wish.
- Rolled Oats. If you only have Old Fashioned rolled oats you can use them. Simply place them in a food processor and pulse them a few times to break them down.
- Add-ins - chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, or dried apricots
How to Make Award- winning Granola
Prep: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F/148 degrees C.
- Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, mix oats, chia, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, coconut, pecans and cranberries together.
- Step 2: In a medium saucepan, heat milk, salt and honey to boiling, remove and cool. In a separate small saucepan brown butter in a small pot over medium heat, until it's golden brown (see Video below if you're not sure how to do this)
- Step 3: Add brown butter to honey mixture. Do this SLOWLY and be careful, as it can splatter.
- Step 4: Cool for a minute or so, then pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients (oat mixture) and stir, mixing until completely combined.
- Step 5: Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray and spread mixture on the pan. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven. Let granola cool for 10 minutes before moving to a container, sealed mason jar, or Ziploc bag for storage.
🎥 Video
Video: How to make brown butter
Recipe Tips
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup and storage. You can just pick up the whole thing, form a funnel with the parchment paper, and pour into a mason jar, container, or Ziploc freezer bag.
- The granola will not 'look baked'. Resist the temptation to put it back in the oven because if you do, it will be overcooked.
- Cool completely. Once the granola is finished baking, let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. This will help it to stay crispy and fresh for longer.
👪 Serving Size
This homemade butter pecan granola recipe serves 10. However, you can also cut this recipe in half by adjusting the serving size on the recipe card. Just click on the serving size and select the number of servings you’d like, and then the ingredient quantities will adjust accordingly.
But you'll probably want to double this easy granola recipe because it's seriously that good! Then you can freeze this recipe for quick, busy morning breakfasts or snacks. My kids cannot get enough of this granola!
🌡️Storage
- Store this healthy granola recipe in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze for longer storage
- This recipe freezes well, in a sealed container or Ziplock bag, for up to 3 months. * I put it right into the freezer in a Ziploc bag and use it as needed
❔Recipe FAQs
Honey is one ingredient that makes granola stick together. Mixtures that have more sweetener will generally stick together better than drier ones, forming a "clumpier" granola.
Granola that is overcooked can taste bitter. This recipe is deceiving because it doesn't 'look cooked' when it comes out of the oven, but trust me, it is! The key is to cook it at a lower temperature (350 degrees F) for no more than 15 minutes.
Spread it out on a large sheet pan when you're baking it and let it cool completely before storing it. Store in an airtight container.
If you're looking for an award winning granola or the best homemade granola recipe with honey and nuts, you'll love this one! And I hope it becomes your new favorite granola recipe!
And if you love granola, you're going to want to try my Watermelon Granola Trifle too!
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📋 Brown Butter Pecan Granola Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats * I use quick oats
- ½ cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ cup sesame seeds
- ⅓ cup finely shredded coconut * I use unsweetened
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup wheat germ
- ⅓ cup brown butter (see video in NOTES) * I use unsalted butter to make this
- 2 tablespoon milk
- ½ cup honey * I have used both liquid and creamed honey
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F148 degrees C.
- In a large bowl, mix oats, wheat germ, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, coconut, pecans and cranberries together.2 cups rolled oats, ½ cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds, 2 tablespoon chia seeds, ½ cup sesame seeds, ⅓ cup finely shredded coconut, ½ cup dried cranberries, ½ cup wheat germ, ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- Brown butter in a small pot over medium heat, until it's golden brown (see Video)⅓ cup brown butter (see video in NOTES)
- In a separate saucepan, heat milk, salt and honey to boiling, remove and cool.2 tablespoon milk, ½ cup honey, ¼ teaspoon salt
- When butter is brown (see video on how to brown butter in post), add to honey mixture. Cool for a minute or so, then pour over dry ingredients (oat mixture) and stir.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray and spread mixture on sheet.
- Bake for about 15 minutes. Cool.
Notes
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup and storage. You can just pick up the whole thing, form a funnel with the parchment paper, and pour into a mason jar, container, or Ziploc freezer bag.
- The granola will not 'look baked'. Resist the temptation to put it back in the oven because if you do, it will be overcooked.
- Cool completely. Once the granola is finished baking, let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. This will help it to stay crispy and fresh for longer.
Becky K
Is the milk necessary, could you sub maple syrup?
Terri Gilson
Hi Becky: If you have a dairy allergy or aversion, I'd try a non dairy drink like almond milk. I don't think maple syrup would be a good substitute. Hope you enjoy it!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron
I love brown butter! This granola looks like the most delicious way to start the day 🙂
Food Meanderings
Thanks- hope you enjoy!
Sue Slaght
Looks so easy and never would have thought of the brown butter!
Food Meanderings
Thanks- yes, I was sort of going through a brown butter obsession. But it pairs so deliciously with so many ingredients!
chef mimi
Brilliant recipe! You must love browned butter as much as I do!!!
Food Meanderings
Thanks! Yes, I do love it-am putting it in all kinds of dishes the last couple of years. So versatile!