Healthy Homemade Granola Recipe – Gluten Free, Crunchy Goodness

  My Gluten Free Homemade Granola Recipe is a fantastic alternative to sugary cereals. It’s full of protein-packed oatmeal and wholesome sweeteners! Life gets busy, and it’s important to have healthy options for on-the-go days. We love having this snack in the car for road trips!

This recipe is fantastic because you can change it up, so you never get bored. It pairs well with dairy-free yogurt or our homemade almond milk.

Homemade Granola Recipe Additions

Kitchens are the perfect place to get creative! This easy recipe is full of endless possibilities. Experiment until you find your family’s favorite combination. Here are a few suggestions.

• Are you a fan of crunch? Be sure to add chia seeds! Bonus: They’re full of health benefits. 
• Add your favorite nuts. Almonds, pecans, and walnuts are all beautiful options that give your body a boost of omega-3s!
• If you want an extra hint of sweetness, sprinkle in raisins or dried fruit! Dried cranberries, pineapple, mango, or chopped apricots taste superb. Be sure to purchase varieties without added sugars.
• Organic, unsweetened coconut flakes add a little sparkle to this recipe!
• Switch up the sweeteners! Use just honey or Grade A Dark Amber maple syrup.
• After the granola has cooled, add some vegan, dairy-free, stevia-sweetened chocolate chips!
• Add a sprinkle of Pumpkin Pie Spice for a Fall-inspired twist!
• Mix in ¼ cup of raw cacao powder. Chocolate heaven!

How to Use This Recipe

You can serve your homemade granola recipe with dairy-free milk, but it’s good for so much more! Need inspiration? Here are a few ideas.

• Use it to top our Essential Yogurt! Add some blueberries, and you have a parfait.
• Add a handful to your favorite gluten-free pancake batter. It gives your breakfast a lovely texture!
• This gluten free granola can double as a trail mix! Add Sweet and Spicy Nuts, hemp hearts, and be sure to sprinkle in some cacao nibs. 
• Use gluten-free granola to top your favorite fruit crisp recipe before baking. You’ll have a healthy dessert in no time!
• Garnish your Chocolate Smoothie Bowl with gluten-free granola and an extra drizzle of honey. Yum!
• Make ice cream night even better by topping your dessert with fresh berries, chocolate chips, and granola.

Healthy Cereal Ingredients 101

You wouldn’t believe how much sugar is in store-bought granola! My recipe uses simple, whole ingredients that will nourish your body. You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry! Here’s what you need.

Organic Oats: Oatmeal is a wonderful healthy carbohydrate! It’s anti-inflammatory, and some people use it in their baths to relieve itchy skin. (1) You can use rolled oats or quick oats in this recipe.

If you prefer crunchier granola, use quick oats, but be sure to watch them closely as they burn easier. Rolled oats create chewier granola that contains more clusters.

Healthy Fat: This recipe needs healthy fat to crisp up! I love using coconut oil because it’s full of medium-chain triglycerides that give your body a boost of energy. (2) Raw coconut oil is a great dairy-free option that adds fantastic flavor.

If you don’t mind a little dairy, you can use grass-fed organic butter.

Raw Honey: Honey and granola are a match made in heaven! This ingredient is one of my favorite sweeteners. When purchasing honey, raw is best! This honey is minimally processed to remove stray pieces of debris. Otherwise, it’s as God intended it.

You can usually find someone local who is more than happy to sell you their liquid gold.

Grade A Dark Amber Maple Syrup: One of my best cooking hacks is adding multiple healthy sweeteners to a recipe. These ingredients give the dish a full-bodied flavor, even without sugar.

Grade A Dark Amber syrup has the most robust flavor and is a favorite of chefs everywhere.

If you’re having trouble finding this ingredient at your local store, you can always find it online.

Sea Salt: Traditional table salt undergoes a rigorous harvesting process that strips it of trace minerals. Your body needs those nutrients to thrive! We recommend using Colima sea salt because it’s hand-harvested. This process leaves the good stuff intact!

Plus, it tastes great and adds a gourmet flair to any recipe. If you don’t have sea salt you can also use pink Himalayan salt.

How to Make Healthy Cereal

This recipe is so simple. I love letting the kids help mix the ingredients! You should note that it does take a couple of hours to bake the granola. Baking it at a low temperature helps it crisp perfectly and not scorch!

Step One: Mix the Ingredients

Preheat the oven to 225°F. In a large bowl, mix the oats, coconut oil, honey, maple syrup, sea salt, chia seeds, and vanilla.

Step Two: Bake the Granola

Distribute the granola evenly between 2-3 baking dishes or cookie sheets. If you want your granola extra crispy, use more pans to create thinner layers. Bake for 2 hours or until lightly golden, but not brown. Stir every 30 minutes to ensure the mixture roasts evenly.

Step Three: Add Optional Ingredients

If using coconut or nuts: Take the granola out of the oven a few minutes before it appears done. Add coconut flakes and nuts of choice and let toast for 5-10 minutes, or until granola is lightly golden.

If using dried fruit or chocolate chips: Remove granola from the oven when it’s lightly browned and cool completely. Add the dried fruit or chocolate.

Store your granola in an air-tight container for 2-3 weeks. You can freeze this recipe for up to 6 months in the freezer; just omit the dried fruit until ready to eat.

Swapping unhealthy cereal for a nourishing DIY version is just one of many things you can do to improve your health. In Dr. Z and Mama Z’s Toxic-Free Home Makeover, you’ll get an inside look at the changes we’ve made to create a non-toxic haven.

We give you a tour of our bathroom, laundry room, pantry, kitchen, and garden. By the end, you’ll have an abundance of practical tips and tricks to help you live your healthiest life. We hope to see you there!

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