Easy Microwave Granola Recipe

a mug tipped on its side with crunchy granola spilling out.

Easy Microwave Granola Recipe

When you wake up craving granola but don't have time to make a full batch, single-serving microwave granola to the rescue! Only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare. It's crunchy, sweetened with maple syrup, and lightly spiced. Vegan and can be made without oil (see Notes).

Adapted from Bigger Bolder Baking's microwave granola.

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 2

Total Time 5

Servings serving

Author Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen

Ingredients
US Customary - Metric

scant ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats (40 grams)
1 tablespoon chopped raw nuts, optional
1 tablespoon raw pumpkin seeds, optional
¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice
scant ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons neutral oil (I used avocado oil; for oil-free sub 1 Tbsp nut butter.)
4 teaspoons maple syrup (the granola is fairly sweet; you may prefer 3 teaspoons.)

Instructions

In a large, microwave-safe mug or regular-size cereal bowl, stir together the oats, nuts, seeds, pumpkin spice, and salt.
scant ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats (40 grams), 1 tablespoon chopped raw nuts, optional, 1 tablespoon raw pumpkin seeds, optional, ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice, scant ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
Drizzle in the oil and maple syrup, and stir everything very well so that the dry ingredients are fully coated.
2 teaspoons neutral oil, 4 teaspoons maple syrup
Note: You may find that you need more or less time depending on your microwave (mine is 1100 watts).
Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Microwave for 20 seconds and stir again. Microwave for another 20 to 30 seconds, stir, then place on the counter to cool.
Tip: The granola can burn quickly during the final few seconds of cooking. It should be barely soft/chewy, but after you let it rest for 1 minute it should become crunchy. It it's still chewy after resting you'll want to experiment with adding more time.

Notes

Variations

Dried fruit - the only rule with dried fruit is that it needs to be added after microwaving. Try raisins, cranberries, currants, or goji berries. Or get creative with chopped apricots, dates, apple, or mango.
Coconut - if you're a coconut fan, add a tablespoon of shredded coconut.
Other spices - instead of pumpkin spice, try cinnamon, ginger, chai spice, or garam masala.
Oil-free - this recipe can be made without oil, but the result is a chewier granola. To do it, replace the oil with 1 tablespoon of smooth nut butter or tahini. The texture is actually really nice, like a chewy granola bar (except not in bar form).

Storage

If you happen to have some granola leftover, or you just want to make it in advance, the microwaved granola will keep for several days (up to a week). I prefer to store it in the fridge.

Nutrition