How To Make Simple Granola

Granola is one of my favourite foods to make because it can be customized with the ingredients you love, or even tossed together with whatever you have left in your pantry.  You can fill it with fun toppings like dried blueberries, pistachios or even my new go-to fruit; golden berries, which taste like sour patch kids! That being said, there’s something to say about simple, sweet and crunchy granola that pairs perfectly with any breakfast or snack.

I’ve partnered with Manitoba Harvest and their amazing Hemp Hearts to create this Simple Granola recipe that is light and sweet with added protein and omegas. You can tweak this recipe as much as you want, changing up the dried fruit or nuts and seeds to your liking. For this recipe, I used Thompson raisins which have an amazing taste. Raisins aren’t common in my recipes since they’re not my favourite, but these one’s have changed my ways as they’re WAY better than regular, bland raisins.

Easy Simple Granola recipe thats refined sugar free!

If you want to start using granola in your meals but aren’t sure how, I’ve got 3 fun ways to get you started.
Easy Simple Granola recipe thats refined sugar free!

Option #1- Sprinkled on Smoothie Bowls. Now that the warmer weather has arrived in Toronto, you can switch out that bowl of hot oats for a cooling, antioxidant-rich smoothie bowl and top it with fresh fruit and crunchy granola.

Option #2: Eat it as Cereal. When I was younger (aka 5 years ago) I was a cereal-a-holic! I use to sit down to a salad sized bowl of cereal every morning and was in heaven. You can still find me with a bowl of cereal today, but it’s definitely an upgraded version, using granola as a cereal base and topping it with chopped fruit like apples or pears, chia seeds and nut milk.

Option #3: Make Granola Bars. Did you know that you can turn your granola into granola bars? It seams only logical, but a lot of people wouldn’t think of it. I’m still perfecting my recipe but keep an eye out on my channel for some Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars coming your way soon!
Easy Simple Granola recipe thats refined sugar free!

Now that you know how versatile even simple granola can be, you should definitely bake up a batch or two of this stuff and create your own fun ways to enjoy it.

Recipe

Simple Granola

A simple sweet and crunchy granola recipe thats refined sugar free.

Ingredients:

Ingredients

  • 3 cups gluten free rolled oats
  • 1 cup raw whole almonds
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup Thompson Raisins
  • ½ cup Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
  • 4 tbsp almond butter
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • ¼ cup raw honey
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

Directions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F.
  • In a large bowl mix together, oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, coconut, sea salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Next, in a sauce pan on low-medium heat combine almond butter, coconut oil, and honey, and bring to a slight simmer while stirring constantly until the mixture has thicken slightly (about 30-60 sec). Remember to keep stirring as this prevents the mixture from burning!
  • Take half of the caramel mixture you created in step 2 and fold it into your oat mixture until well combined. Then, fold in the second half of your caramel mixture until fully combined.
  • Spread granola on a parchment lined cookie sheet and pop into the oven to bake for 30-40 minutes until slightly golden, tossing half way through.
  • Allow granola to cool for 10-15 minutes. Then, transfer the granola back into the large bowl, folding in the raisins and Hemp Hearts.

Notes

Note: You can store completely cooled granola in an air tight glass jar for 3-5 days or place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 1 month.

Easy Simple Granola recipe thats refined sugar free!

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    25 comments
  1. 5 stars
    I have made it quite a few times now and it is delicious …I’m never going to buy any granola from the store , Thanks for the wonderful receipe !!

  2. I made this last night, so easy, so delicious! Currently eating the granola with yogurt and fruit.. YUM! Next on my list No-bake S’mores cheesecake bars.. they look amazing!

    • so happy to hear you’re loving this recipe! You will also probably love my simple muesli recipe coming monday 🙂

  3. I tried this recipe and it was burnt to a crisp after 15 minutes in the oven at 350 🙁 What did I do wrong?!

    • sorry to hear! Everyones oven can be different. Try a lower heat and keep an eye on them. Maybe try 300F and toss half way through and see how they look.

  4. I’ve been trying to break my husband away from the over processed, sugar filled breakfast bars he puts on top of his yogurt every morning- and I think this should do it!

    We’re not big honey fans, so can I use pure maple syrup?

    • You could eat it raw I suppose or maybe just toast it on the stove top.. not sure cause Ive only ever made granola in the oven. You could make it into a sort of “muesli” and just not cook it and use let of the syrup mixture.

  5. Looks and sounds so delicious. I was drooling, when I watch your video on this. Can’t wait to make this, especially as a cereal replacement. I don’t remember the last time I had cereal, this is perfect and I’m sure my toddler will live this too!
    Good job Nikki, as always. ????

  6. Hey!
    I made the granola, but was hoping to make it into bars. So far delicious, the bars are just easier to portion and eat too.
    I couldn’t find how you put the bars together?

    Thanks,

    • happy you liked the recipe 🙂 Ah see the bars!! I still need to post that recipe on my channel.. sorry! I just has so many summer treats I want to share but maybe Ill post that recipe around back to school.

  7. Is there something I could substitute for hemp hearts? 🙂 Can’t seem to find it at my local grocery store. xx

  8. I LOVE granola. I am so obsessed with it that I can basically eat an entire jar of granola if someone were to leave me with one. The combination of hemp seeds, almond butter, cinnamon and sunflower seeds would taste really Earthy but also super delicious and versatile for everything!