Granola is a food consisting of a mix of rolled oats, nuts, seeds, honey (or other sweeteners such as brown sugar), and sometimes puffed rice that is usually baked with oil until crisp, toasted and golden brown, sometimes forming clumps. The mixture is stirred while baking to avoid burning and to maintain a loose breakfast cereal consistency. Dried fruit, such as raisins and dates, and confections such as chocolate are often added.
Granola is often eaten in combination with yogurt, honey, fresh fruit (such as bananas, strawberries or blueberries), milk, or even with other forms of cereal. It also serves as a topping for various pastries, desserts or ice cream. Granola is similar to muesli, except the latter is traditionally neither sweetened nor baked.
Granola is sometimes taken when hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or backpacking because it is lightweight, high in calories, ready-to-eat, and easy to store (properties that make it similar to trail mix). Manufacturers also add additional honey, corn syrup, or maple syrup to it and compress it into granola bars, which are easy to carry for packed lunches, hiking, or other outdoor activities.
