Healthy Granola Recipe (Sugar Free & Easy to Make) • Kath Eats

Who doesn’t love a crunchy granola on top of everything!? Smoothies, yogurt bowls, even ice cream. As a texture person, a little crunch on my softer foods is crucial. I’ve loved granola for years, and I’ve tried too many different kinds to count!

While there are tons of healthier store-bought granolas on the market, once and I while I enjoy making a large batch of granola at home, especially if I’m hosting company. Making it yourself lets you control exactly what goes into it. You can choose your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, adjust flavors, and make it as sweet or salty as you wish!

While I lot of granola recipes call for sugar, honey, or maple syrup, this Healthy Granola Recipe flavored only from peanut butter and vanilla, plus all the goodness of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Simple, wholesome, and incredibly satisfying, it’s packed with nourishing granola ingredients like rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats, creating a crunchy snack that tastes as great on yogurt as it does out of hand.

If you love a sweet granola, try this Caramelized Granola Recipe!

Healthy Granola Recipe

This recipe only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and requires simple pantry staples. The granola comes out perfectly crunchy thanks to rolled oats, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds, while peanut butter and a mild cooking oil help bind everything together.

Swap walnuts for almonds or pecans, and add chia seeds too if you want. You can mix and match different dried fruit like dried cranberries, currants, raisins, or cherries, or even add chocolate chips if you want a sweet addition.

I used Cocomo Peanut Butter, which is quite liquidy and has a coconuty flavor to it (it’s delicious!) But you can use any nut butter you like. The thicker nut butters will require a little longer and perhaps a little more oil to turn all the way into a liquid. If your nut butter is on the liquidy side already, you could probably skip the heating step – just mix it well with the oil first. I also used Algae Cooking Oil, but you can use canola or coconut.

If you enjoy experimenting with granola flavors, you might also like this buckwheat granola recipe or this tahini granola recipe for even more inspiration.

Is Granola Healthy?

Granola can absolutely be a healthy food, especially when you make it at home and choose nutritious ingredients. Traditional granola typically contains rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, all of which provide great nutritional benefits. Granola might have a bad reputation because it’s calorically dense and can come with lots of sugar, but those are just two things to be aware of, not avoid.

Rolled oats are rich in fiber, particularly beta-glucan, which can support heart health and help maintain steady blood sugar levels. Nuts and seeds like walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds provide protein, fiber, and healthy fats that keep you feeling full and energized, plus other vitamins and minerals. I’ve also included shredded coconut, which adds texture and additional healthy fats.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Granola?

Ingredients That Support Heart Health

Ingredients like rolled oats, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are known for supporting heart health. Oats contain soluble fiber, which may help reduce cholesterol levels. Nuts and seeds contribute healthy fats that support cardiovascular wellness.

Provides Long-Lasting Energy

Granola combines complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats, making it a balanced snack or breakfast option, especially when paired with Greek yogurt or whole milk (for more protein + satisfying fats). You can sprinkle it on for a lighter breakfast or have a bowl of it if you’re trying to eat more nutritionally or calorically dense foods.

Rich In Fiber

Fiber is essential for digestion and gut health. Rolled oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit all contribute fiber to this recipe. This helps support regular digestion while keeping you feeling full.

Contains Nutrient-Dense Ingredients

As I mentioned above, homemade granola often includes nutrient-rich ingredients such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, and dried cherries. These foods provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant-based protein.

Easy To Customize For Different Diets

Another benefit of granola is its versatility! (Just like oatmeal 🙂 ) You can easily adjust the granola ingredients to suit dietary needs. For example, swap peanut butter with almond butter, add more seeds for extra protein, or include chocolate chips for a sweeter variation.

How To Make This Healthy Granola Recipe

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• ½ cup pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup sunflower seeds
• ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• ½ cup dried fruit such as blueberries, currants, cherries or cranberries

Wet Ingredients

• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons mild cooking oil such as canola oil or algae cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F

Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients including oats, chopped walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and coconut. Mix well so everything is evenly distributed.

Step 3: Heat the peanut butter and oil

In a small saucepan over low heat, gently warm the peanut butter and mild cooking oil until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and sea salt.

Step 4: Pour the peanut butter mixture into the dry ingredients

Pour the warm mixture over the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir thoroughly so the oats, seeds, and nuts are evenly coated.

Step 5: Spread granola on a baking sheet

Spread the granola mixture evenly across the prepared baking sheet.

Step 6: Bake for 30 minutes

Bake the granola for about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through so it browns evenly.

Step 7: Cool and stir in dried fruit

Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, stir in the dried fruit such as dried cranberries or dried cherries. If desired, add chocolate chips at this stage.

Step 8: Enjoy or store in an airtight contaner

Enjoy the granola immediately or store it in an airtight container for later use.

Tips For The Best Homemade Granola

I used my favorite Cocomo Peanut Butter which is quite runny to start. If you have a very thick peanut butter, you may need to add a bit more oil to get it liquidy.

Let it cool completely. Granola becomes crisp as it cools to room temperature, so be patient and avoid stirring it too much during this stage.

Mix up the fruit. Feel free to experiment with different dried fruit options like dried cherries, raisins, or chopped apricots.

You’ll know it’s almost done when your house smells amazing! If your oven runs hot (mine does!) start checking it in the last 5 minutes to avoid burning.

Let me know if you try it!