Make Ahead

Olive Oil & Maple Granola From Nekisia Davis

October 11, 2022
4.7
164 Ratings
Photo by Julia Gartland
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 45 minutes
  • Makes About 7 cups
Author Notes

This recipe, adapted very slightly from Early Bird Foods' best-selling Farmhand's Choice Granola, is like muesli after a vampy makeover. Olive oil, maple, brown sugar, and coarse salt form a rich, shaggy crust on wholesome innards like oats, pecans, and coconut shards.

Helpful tools for this recipe:
- Five Two Wooden Spoons
- Food52 x Rosti Ultimate Melamine Mixing Bowl
- Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Baking Sheets


Genius Recipes

Test Kitchen Notes

Granola might be one of those snacks you tend to buy packaged, which is fine, of course, but once I started making my own granola—specifically, olive oil and maple syrup granola—it’s very hard to go back to the store-bought stuff. This Genius recipe from Nekisia Davis was actually inspired by a brand’s granola with a comparable ingredients list; however, when you make your own granola, there are a few major upsides.

First of all, you have more control over flavor: You can add an extra handful of your favorite nuts and seeds in the ingredients list, or if you want to swap in different nuts (almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts would be amazing), no one’s going to stop you! Regardless, when you’re toasting your own nuts, the flavor is just always going to be better than the packaged alternative. Plus, if you feel like adding a bit of extra seasoning, like ground cinnamon or cardamom, or stirring in some dried fruit after baking, you’re only doing the granola a favor. And did you notice the yield here? Seven whole cups! Take that, 12-ounce bag of packaged granola.

But perhaps the best thing about homemade granola is that you ultimately control the price. While a box or bag of the stuff may run you over $10 a pop at the store, when you’re buying the ingredients, you can shop at the bulk bin for the individual components, which is nearly always the more affordable option at the store already. Plus, you probably already have at least a few of this recipe’s ingredients already in your kitchen. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Watch This Recipe
Olive Oil & Maple Granola From Nekisia Davis
Ingredients
  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 1/4 cups raw pecans, left whole or coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup hulled raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup hulled raw sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut chips
  • 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 300°F. In a large bowl, mix the oats, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, syrup, oil, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of the salt until well combined.
  2. Spread the mixture in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes, for about 45 minutes total, until the granola is toasted.
  3. Remove the granola from the oven; season with salt to taste. Let cool completely before serving.
  4. Do Ahead: The granola can be made 1 month ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and store at room temperature.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • C.Nielsen
    C.Nielsen
  • Irene Seales
    Irene Seales
  • Angela Morales
    Angela Morales
  • Sweet__Kate
    Sweet__Kate
  • Trishington
    Trishington
Genius Recipes

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

283 Reviews

Debra G. March 28, 2024
I have been making this granola for years. I 2X the recipe so we have enough for a few months
 
C.Nielsen March 28, 2024
Probably use this more than any other recipe on this site!
 
Irene S. March 22, 2024
I was inspired to play with the ingredients a bit. I used a lemon olive oil from Sciabica's, and for the nuts, a very generous amount of raw macadamai nuts that I kept saving in my freezer from a trip to Hawaii for a worthy project - toasted before mixing, and raw sunflower seeds+raw sliced almonds. I also used unsweetened, shredded coconut. after the end of the baking, I added 1 cup mixed dry tart cherries and red currants. scrummy delicious results and helped reset my Aloha spirit (I seem to always appreciate the local granola from Anahola Granola when on island but this can make up for it at home).
 
Tamar K. November 8, 2023
This is the best granola recipe. I do cut down on the maple syrup and don’t add the sugar, because I prefer my granola a little less sweet. But it is by far the best granola - no need to buy any once you use this recipe.
 
Cheryl August 31, 2023
I'm never buying granola again. This is so good. Sometimes I've added chopped dates to this and sometimes dried cranberries or cherries to it. All good. I've given this as gifts to people and when I do, everyone wants the recipe. Thanks Food 52!
 
Mary E. August 10, 2023
I've heard that there's a way to make this recipe in the slow cooker, and I'd love instructions on that! I'm really eager to try this.
 
Gabrielle July 27, 2023
Very very very dangerous recipe to have lying around the house.

I threw in a half cup of toffee bits that needed to be used up, plus a sprinkling of maldon salt at the end. The resulting granola was marvelous, but a bit too sweet for me. I’m not sure if that’s because of the toffee bits but I toasted up another cup of oats (frying pan) and threw it in . Problem solved.

That said, in the interests of health, I would probably reduce the sugar and/or maple syrup next time given that pecans are on the sweet side.

A pre-workout snack of Greek yogurt, half a banana and this granola is amazing.

 
Julia S. July 24, 2023
I love this recipe so much, I usually add some pistachios and after it’s baked I add apricots and dryed blueberries in. I cut the sugar and only use the maple syrup and I sprinkle some maldon salt as well.
 
Harv681 July 16, 2023
This granola has become a staple!! It is amazing stirred into yogurt, or sprinkled on ice cream, in a bowl with milk, or just by the handful as a snack! The only change I have made to this glorious recipe is to substitute chopped craisins for the coconut.
 
Harv681 July 23, 2023
Add the craisins during the last 5 minutes of baking!!
 
Kjkennedy70 July 11, 2023
Super easy and the taste?? I was skeptical of the olive oil at first but O to the MG! It's transformational!! The brown sugar and maple syrup combine with the olive oil richness to create eye-roll inducing euphoria! 'Nuff said - get the ingredients - jump in and enjoy the fruits (oats?) of your labor!
 
Annie July 9, 2023
My husband loves granola. He really really LOVES this granola. This recipe is lovely as it is written but also wonderfully flexible – so many variations with whatever is in the pantry.
 
brushjl June 13, 2023
I see there already a ton of reviews here. Just to say, it's great delicious granola.
 
scamm619 April 30, 2023
I've been making variations on this recipe for a few years now and I still can't get enough. It's so easy and so adaptable - from variations of the add ins to the sugar content. I haven't bought granola from the store since I found this recipe and I'm proud enough to give jars of mine as gifts at the holidays!! :D

I've landed on an oven temp of 325 F for around 35-40 minutes that gets the oats toasty enough and keeps pecans/walnuts/coconut flakes from burning. I also don't bother with stirring the mixture throughout the bake and it turns out perfectly delicious. I do make sure to mix/transfer the granola as soon as it comes hot out of the oven - if I wait too long to transfer to a storage container the maple syrup & brown sugar really keep the granola stuck to the pan. 10/10 would recommend
 
Angela M. April 25, 2023
So delicious. I’ve been eating it with pomegranate seeds and soy milk. Next time I might try cutting a small amount of the brown sugar, maybe a couple tbsps but not much. It’s perfect as is and I’d hate to mess it up. The olive oil maple combo is delightful.
 
BFrank24 February 1, 2023
I can’t believe how good this granola is and how easy it is to make. I add cinnamon. Delete the sugar. And add almonds and cashews. It’s fantastic. )and I can’t cook!)
 
Sweet__Kate January 29, 2023
I've tried a lot of granola recipes, and this one is fabulous! It doesn't hold up too well in milk as a cereal, but it is perfect with yogurt or just plain. I can't wait to play around with different ingredients. This is a keeper.
 
Trishington December 20, 2022
Holy moly! This is sensational and so incredibly easy. I did find it needed a bit longer than the 45 minutes to bake. I made it to give away as Christmas gifts but I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping most of this first batch for myself. #SoFreakinYummy
 
Sweet__Kate January 29, 2023
I agree! I baked for 45 min, and then I had to head out the door, so I turned off the oven and let it sit in there. When I got home it was perfect.
 
Beryl December 19, 2022
I have made this granola several times. I will change it up every time I make it. Sometimes I add dried fruit like raisins or cranberries and hazelnuts. I will also use Monk fruit maple syrup and Monk fruit sugar to make it healthier. I added vanilla to it this time. Can’t tell the difference. I’m tripling the batch to share it with my husband‘s employees and also my customers. I will sprinkle cinnamon on top when it’s done. I will never buy store-bought granola again.
 
Anonymous November 7, 2022
Fabulous! We like nuts but not seeds, so we used walnuts, almonds and pecans plus the coconut. The only thing I would change is to use more oats. As the recipe stands, there are more nuts/seeds than oats. Not a really a problem with that - its delish, but I might prefer more oats. I was worried about an “olive oil” flavor that might throw it off, but with the sweetener, salt, and the 1 tsp cinnamon I used, no olive oil flavor at all - just the beautiful health benefits!
 
Dale M. October 29, 2022
I made this today and its absolutely delicious! I omitted the sugar as the maple syrup gave it enough sweetness. I added cinnamon before baking it. I'm a diabetic and I plan on eating this on top of Greek Yogurt for Breakfast. After it was cooked I added some chopped dates. Its addictive. Thank you for this.
 
Sweet__Kate January 29, 2023
I'm glad to know that the sugar can be omitted. I didn't want to mess around with changes the first time, and I thought it had a little more sugar than I would need. Thanks for sharing!