For the past year I have been consistently using the crock-pot to make my granola. I have found that making crock-pot granola saves me time since I don’t have to clean as many dishes (I mix the granola ingredients right in the crock-pot and don’t have to use a baking sheet), I make huge batches so I make the granola about once every 3 weeks, and it saves me money since store-bought granola costs A LOT of money! Plus I get to control the ingredients.
Slow Cooker Saturdays
The original granola recipe I use is here which I have adapted for the crock-pot. In most of my menu plans I talk about making a quadruple batch of granola using two different crock-pots at the same time. So I thought it’s time to explain exactly what I do.
Crock-pot Granola
I always use a 6 quart crock-pot to cook the granola, and then I use either a 7 quart or a 4.5 quart crock-pot, depending which crock-pot I have out and/or available. I think the 6 quart works best for making granola because it gives enough room to stir, yet it’s a little less to clean then the 7 quart.
I am sharing the recipe I cook in one big crock-pot (4.5 quart or larger), so feel free to double it if you are going to use 2 big crock-pots, or halve it if you are using a 2-4 quart crock-pot.
Crock-pot Granola
Ingredients
- 8 cups organic rolled oats
- 3 cups chopped walnuts almonds or pecans (I use 1 cup of each)
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup honey maple syrup for vegan
- 1-2 cups unsweetened large flake coconut
- 1-2 cups dried cranberries or dried fruit of choice
- optional 3 T TriMix 1 T Wheat Germ, 1 T Wheat Bran, 1 T Oat Bran
Instructions
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Grease bottom and side of crock-pot with coconut oil.
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Place oats and nuts in the crock-pot, and stir.
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Heat coconut oil until melted (about 1 minute in the microwave).
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Pour coconut oil and honey over the oat mixture, and stir.
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Cover and cook on high with the lid slightly cracked (I use a popsicle stick).
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Stir every 15 minutes well, making sure you stir the granola off the bottom of the crock-pot well.
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Cook until desired (I usually cook it for 45 minutes to 1 hour, but you could go longer to get a more dried, golden brown look, about 2-2 1/2 hours).
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Stir in coconut flakes and dried fruit.
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Cool, and store in airtight containers for up to a month. **12/13 update: If you want an even crunchier granola, after cooking the granola, cool for about 3 hours in the crock-pot in the "off" position, stirring every hour or so before placing it in an airtight container.
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Where do you get your pumpkin seeds? The only non-imported seeds I can find are from Bob’s Red Mill and they are super expensive! I can’t find them local and order them from Amazon. Any suggestions?
Hi Vieve, We have gotten our pumpkin seeds in the bulk section at WinCo (our local grocery store), and in the bulk section at our local co-op in Everett, WA: Sno-Isle Co-op. I feel like I’ve paid about $4.50/lb., but it’s been awhile. At the co-op they were organic, too! Hope you can find some!
Hi! I’ve sure been enjoying your writing, and your heart for home. I tried the crock pot granola, and found it just kinda went mushy. Do you think I should have cooked it longer? I did it for an hour, and it didn’t get crunchy…I haven’t given up yet, because stirring was certainly easier than pulling my 9 x 13’s out of the oven! Thanks!
Hi Nancy, Thanks for your encouragement! Yes, I would totally cook the granola longer. It may take 2 1/2 hours to get the consistency you want. If you want it more toasted, you could also stir it every 30 minutes instead of 15 minutes. I don’t get a mushy consistency, but I bet those two things combined will help you get a less mushy consistency. Thank you for visiting and for your kind words!
thank you! I have been looking for a recipe like this! This looks perfect and delicious, Jenna
Thanks, Jenna, and thank you for visiting!
Thank you for a great recipe! Love making granola, but did not know I could do it in the crockpot! Hope to try it this week. Thank you for sharing. Holly
Hi Holly. You can do almost anything in the crock-pot, oh yes! Thanks for visiting.
Great idea! Never thought of using the crockpot and I love your recipe! Found via the 36th ave. 😉
Thanks so much, and thanks for visiting!
This looks great Sonja! I think I have everything on hand! We’ve been buying organic cereals – we can find some cheap yummy ones at Winco, but still…with 5 kids, you know a box won’t last long! I use cereal as my “breakfast fast food” I decided this year I would spend a bit more thought on breakfast and lunches, in terms of prior prep to make things flow a bit better. This is PERFECT! Again, thank you! Hope you are having a great summer and getting ready for back to school!
Hi Raechelle, You are welcome! I hope you find this works in the groove of your family! Enjoy the rest of this beautiful summer we are having!