Dehydrator Granola
Delicious and easy dehydrator granola with hints of vanilla, almond, and cinnamon. You’ll love the taste as well as the simplicity.
I’ve been making granola from scratch for a very long time. It’s relatively quick to make, way more nutritious than most of the store-bought granolas, and it can be used in lots of different ways. It’s a summertime staple for our family because it pairs so well with fresh blueberries. Try topping a bowl of yogurt with fresh blueberries and homemade granola, or just eat a bowl of granola topped with milk and blueberries.
My typical cooking method for granola has been to bake it in the oven, but I’m looking for more ways to utilize my food dehydrator and avoid using the oven in the hot summer months. What’s great about this dehydrator granola is that it cooks low and slow, so you don’t need to worry about it burning because your friend called to talk and you forgot about it.
My favorite thing about this recipe has got to be the addition of almond extract, vanilla, and ground cinnamon. It is so addicting, and I think you’ll agree!
Tips for Dehydrator Granola:
- My simple homemade granola recipe features nuts, which I didn’t include in this dehydrator granola recipe. If you want nuts, just make sure you toast them separately on the stovetop and then add them once the granola has finished baking. If you add the nuts beforehand and bake them in the dehydrator, they will burn. The addition of peanuts and chocolate chips after cooking is a delicious combination.
- If the granola isn’t sticking together by the time it has cooked for 18 hours, continue to cook up to 6 more hours, checking it every hour or so.
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FAQ:
What binds granola together?
Granola is bound together by both a fat and a sweetener. This works because the fat moisturizes and saturates the oats and the sweetener helps it stick together.
Why is my homemade granola not crunchy?
If your granola isn’t crunchy, it most likely needs to cook longer. If you remove it too soon, it will be chewy but not crunchy. As granola cools, it will also become crunchier.
How long does dehydrated granola last?
Dehydrated granola should last 2-4 weeks in an airtight container if you bake it long enough to remove moisture and create a crunchy granola.
How do you store granola so it stays crunchy?
To keep your granola crunchy during storage, first ensure that you cool it completely before moving it to a container. If you put the granola in a container while warm, moisture will collect and cause the granola to become soggy and possibly even mold. Store granola in an airtight container to keep it crunchy and fresh.
Can I store granola in mason jars?
Granola stores very well in glass containers, including mason jars.
Ingredients
Rolled oats
Honey or pure maple syrup
Melted butter or coconut oil
Vanilla extract
Almond extract
Ground cinnamon
Nuts, chocolate chips, coconut (optional)
Tools You May Need
Large mixing bowl
Mixing spoon or spatula
Food dehydrator – I just upgraded to this one from a very basic round one I’ve had for years and I love it!
Fruit leather trays or parchment paper
How To Make Dehydrator Granola
To a large mixing bowl, add honey or pure maple syrup. If your honey is crystallized, make sure to warm it up enough that it will be easy to mix with the other ingredients.
Next, add the melted butter or coconut oil, vanilla and almond extracts, and ground cinnamon. Mix everything with a large spoon.
Add the oats to the honey butter mixture and stir until oats are well coated.
If you have fruit leather trays for the food dehydrator, fill three of them evenly with the wet oat mixture. Alternatively, line three wire racks with parchment paper and carefully spread the oats on the parchment paper. You want the oats to be close together in a single layer, not stacked on top of each other or it will be too thick to dehydrate.
Place filled trays into the food dehydrator, spacing them out evenly so there is one in the middle, one on top, and one near the bottom to maximize air flow. Set temperature to 145 F and set timer for 18 hours. Cook for additional time up to 24 hours until granola is sticking together and most of the moisture has cooked out.
Add additional ingredients such as nuts, chocolate chips, or coconut chips after granola has cooled.
Find More Breakfast Recipes:
- Chocolate Cherry Smoothie Bowl
- Classic Sourdough Waffles or Pancakes
- Simple Homemade Granola
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Sourdough Muffins
If you make this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars!
Dehydrator Granola
Delicious and easy dehydrator granola with hints of vanilla, almond, and cinnamon. You'll love the taste as well as the simplicity.
Ingredients
- 7 cups oats
- ¾ cup honey or pure maple syrup
- ¾ cup melted butter or coconut oil
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- nuts, chocolate chips, coconut (optional)
Instructions
1. To a large mixing bowl, add honey or pure maple syrup. If your honey is crystallized, make sure to warm it up enough that it will be easy to mix with the other ingredients.
2. Next, add the melted butter or coconut oil, vanilla and almond extracts, and ground cinnamon. Mix everything with a large spoon. Add the oats to the honey butter mixture and stir until oats are well coated.
3. If you have fruit leather trays for the food dehydrator, fill three of them evenly with the wet oat mixture. Alternatively, line three wire racks with parchment paper and carefully spread the oats on the parchment paper. You want the oats to be close together in a single layer, not stacked on top of each other or it will be too thick to dehydrate.
4. Place filled trays into the food dehydrator, spacing them out evenly so there is one in the middle, one on top, and one near the bottom to maximize air flow. Set temperature to 145 F and set timer for 18 hours. Cook for additional time up to 24 hours until granola is sticking together and most of the moisture has cooked out.
5. Add additional ingredients such as nuts, chocolate chips, or coconut chips after granola has cooled.
Notes
- My simple homemade granola recipe features nuts, which I didn't include in this dehydrator granola recipe. If you want nuts, just make sure you toast them separately on the stovetop and then add them once the granola has finished baking. If you add the nuts beforehand and bake them in the dehydrator, they will burn.
- If the granola isn't sticking together by the time it has cooked for 18 hours, continue to cook up to 6 more hours, checking it every hour or so.
