Memorize This Simple Formula for Perfect Granola Every Time

This week on Kitchn, we’re battling off granola recipes in search of the very best one. And where better to start than the top hit on Google? The recipe, which ranks first for the search term “granola,” belongs to the popular food blog Cookie and Kate. And from the looks of the comments section, it’s very well-loved: It has more than 2,000 comments and 900 reviews.

At first glance, the recipe looked pretty standard, written with several helpful ingredient substitutions to make it with things you might already have on hand. Was the mix-and-match style the secret to making the best granola at home? Or would I be craving more specificity? I was eager to find out what the hype was all about it.

Get the recipe: Cookie and Kate’s “The Very Best” Granola

Cookie and Kate’s granola recipe is the perfect blank canvas for using any nut or seed you might have on hand. You’ll start by combining rolled oats, 1 1/2 cups of any nuts or seeds, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add melted coconut oil (or olive oil), maple syrup (or honey), and vanilla extract, and toss to evenly coat the oats. Transfer the mixture to a parchment-lined sheet tray and bake until lightly browned, stirring halfway through baking to make sure it’s cooking evenly. (Cookie and Kate notes that if you want even crunchier granola you can press the granola down with a spatula to create a more even layer as it bakes.) Let the granola cool, then toss it with dried fruit (cranberries are recommended) and a half cup of optional mix-ins such as chocolate chips or coconut flakes. And that’s it!

This recipe is a good, basic granola recipe you can customize with whatever you have on hand. It’s written in a way that makes it super easy to throw together with any nuts and seeds you have, and it even gives two different options for both the oil and sweetener. And the ratios work perfectly! The granola was crisp, just-sweet-enough, and had the perfect amount of salt. The addition of vanilla extract gave it a nice, subtle flavor that was unexpected yet delicious.

If you’re looking for a basic granola formula to keep in your back pocket, this is the perfect recipe for you. You can mix and match the nuts, seeds, oils, and sweetener — and even add things like chocolate chips at the end to bulk it up. Ultimately, however, it didn’t nab the top spot — as great as it was, I wasn’t blown away. While it’s definitely the most practical recipe of the bunch, it wasn’t my all-time favorite.