If you’ve ever picked up a bag of store-bought granola and gasped at the price (or the sugar content), you’re not alone. But don’t worry, making your own gluten free granola is easier than you think.
The information provided on this site is based on my personal experience living with alpha-gal syndrome. I consistently cite and link to expert sources, but nothing published on this site should be perceived as medical advice.
Alpha-gal sensitivities vary by person. You should understand your dietary restrictions, making any adjustments needed, and directing any questions to your physician.
With just five simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of granola that’s naturally gluten-free and endlessly customizable. Whether you sprinkle it over yogurt, enjoy it with milk, or grab a handful straight from the jar, this homemade gluten free granola recipe puts you in control of the taste and texture.
There are no weird preservatives, no mystery ingredients — just wholesome, real food that comes together in minutes. Plus, it’s easy to customize. Swap the nuts, change up the sweetener, or add spices to make it your own. Ready to make a granola that’s as good as the fancy brands without the steep price tag? Let’s get cooking!
In This Article
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients – No fancy add-ins or hard-to-find items. Use wholesome, pantry staples that come together quickly for the perfect crunch.
- Customizable – Swap the nuts, change up the sweetener, or add mix-ins to make it just the way you like.
- Better Than Store-Bought – No unnecessary preservatives or sky-high sugar content. Just fresh, homemade goodness in every bite.
- Easy to Make – A few minutes of prep, a quick stir, and the oven does the rest. No babysitting required.
Healthy Granola Ingredients
This easy recipe has just five ingredients, all of which are naturally gluten free and alpha-gal friendly. However, as anyone with a food allergy knows, you’ll always want to double check that the ingredients you select are appropriate for your alpha-gal diet or any other dietary restrictions.
Oats
Oats are a primary ingredient in homemade granola, offering a base of wholesome and nutritious crunch. I always use rolled, old-fashioned oats and have not tried this recipe with quick oats, instant oats, Irish oats, or steel-cut oats.
Shredded Coconut
Shredded coconut is available in sweetened and unsweetened varieties. I prefer unsweetened coconut flakes in order to reduce my daily sugar intake and because the honey adds enough sweetness for my taste. If you want your granola to be a little sweeter, you can certainly use sweetened coconut.
Sliced Almonds
Because the nuts will be toasted in the oven, I prefer raw almonds. But if you can’t find them, this crunchy granola turns out just fine with just about any type of sliced almonds.
Vegetable Oil
Choosing the right vegetable oil is important for achieving the desired flavor and texture in your granola. Here are some options to consider:
- Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil adds a subtle savory note to granola, balancing its sweetness. It’s rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, contributing to heart health.
- Avocado Oil: With a high smoke point and neutral taste, avocado oil is another good option for baking granola.
- Grapeseed Oil: This oil has a mild flavor and high smoke point, making it a good choice for granola.
- Canola Oil: Canola oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor.
- Soybean Oil: It has a clean, natural taste that enhances the flavors of other ingredients without overpowering them. Soybean oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-6 fats, and contains no cholesterol or saturated fat.
- Sunflower Oil: Sunflower oil is low in saturated fats and has a neutral taste, allowing the flavors of the granola ingredients to shine.
- Coconut Oil: Unrefined (or virgin) coconut oil adds a mild coconut flavor and aroma, enhancing the granola’s sweetness.
My favorite options for this recipe are olive oil or coconut oil, but you can certainly make any substitution you like here based on what’s in your pantry and your preferences.
Natural Sweetener
While I like to make my granola with honey, you can substitute an equal amount of real maple syrup to make vegan granola. Another plant-based option is agave. However, agave is one and a half times sweeter than sugar, so either use a little less than the recommended 2 tablespoons (about 1-½ tablespoons) or expect your granola to be a little sweeter.
How to Make Granola
This easy recipe has just five ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. And most of that is baking time! Simply combine the three dry ingredients, then pour in a mixture of vegetable oil and sweetener before tossing it together and baking in the oven. Yes, it’s that simple!
Healthy Granola Ingredients
This easy recipe has just five ingredients, all of which are naturally gluten free and alpha-gal friendly. However, as anyone with a food allergy knows, you’ll always want to double check that the ingredients you select are appropriate for your alpha-gal diet or any other dietary restrictions.
Oats
Oats are a primary ingredient in homemade granola, offering a base of wholesome and nutritious crunch. I always use rolled, old-fashioned oats and have not tried this recipe with quick oats, instant oats, Irish oats, or steel-cut oats.
Shredded Coconut
Shredded coconut is available in sweetened and unsweetened varieties. I prefer unsweetened coconut flakes in order to reduce my daily sugar intake and because the honey adds enough sweetness for my taste. If you want your granola to be a little sweeter, you can certainly use sweetened coconut.
Sliced Almonds
Because the nuts will be toasted in the oven, I prefer raw almonds. But if you can’t find them, this crunchy granola turns out just fine with just about any type of sliced almonds.
Vegetable Oil
Choosing the right vegetable oil is important for achieving the desired flavor and texture in your granola. Here are some options to consider:
- Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil adds a subtle savory note to granola, balancing its sweetness. It’s rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, contributing to heart health.
- Avocado Oil: With a high smoke point and neutral taste, avocado oil is another good option for baking granola.
- Grapeseed Oil: This oil has a mild flavor and high smoke point, making it a good choice for granola.
- Canola Oil: Canola oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor.
- Soybean Oil: It has a clean, natural taste that enhances the flavors of other ingredients without overpowering them. Soybean oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-6 fats, and contains no cholesterol or saturated fat.
- Sunflower Oil: Sunflower oil is low in saturated fats and has a neutral taste, allowing the flavors of the granola ingredients to shine.
- Coconut Oil: Unrefined (or virgin) coconut oil adds a mild coconut flavor and aroma, enhancing the granola’s sweetness.
My favorite options for this recipe are olive oil or coconut oil, but you can certainly make any substitution you like here based on what’s in your pantry and your preferences.
Natural Sweetener
While I like to make my granola with honey, you can substitute an equal amount of real maple syrup to make vegan granola. Another plant-based option is agave. However, agave is one and a half times sweeter than sugar, so either use a little less than the recommended 2 tablespoons (about 1-½ tablespoons) or expect your granola to be a little sweeter.
Why You Should Make Your Own Granola
Granola can be a delicious alpha gal friendly food. But store-bought granola often contains added sugars, preservatives, or other ingredients that may not align with your dietary restrictions or health goals.
When you make your own granola, you have full control over its ingredients and preparation. And, you can customize the flavor to your taste buds. Have some shelled pistachios to use up? Substitute them for the sliced almonds. Want sweeter granola? Use sweetened shredded coconut. Mix and match as much as you’d like!
Another benefit of making your own granola is that it is often less expensive than purchasing it pre-made. You can buy ingredients like rolled oats, nuts, and seeds in bulk or Costco-sized containers and then mix them with a few pantry staples to create delicious and healthy granola in less than 30 minutes.
Important Tip for Making This Healthy Granola Recipe
One lesson I’ve learned over the years is to line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Not only does this make cleanup faster and easier, but once the granola is done baking and completely cooled, you can roll up the corners of the parchment paper and easily pour the whole batch into an airtight container.
Substitutions and Variations
This granola recipe is quite flexible, allowing you to mix and match ingredients to match your dietary requirements and taste. Here are a few substitutions and variations to try:
Nuts
You can substitute the almonds and coconut for just about any nut or seed you like; just be sure you use one cup of these ingredients to two cups of oats. I’ve made this recipe with pistachios, cashews, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, and pepitas (pumpkin seeds) – and all were delicious!
Sage Advice: If you use walnuts or pecans, you may want to quarter the halves so that the nut pieces are bite-sized.
Shredded Coconut
Not a fan of coconut? Have everything but this ingredient on hand? No worries! Just replace the ½ cup of coconut with ½ cup of another type of nut. You can double the sliced almonds or add a second type of nut to the mix.
Spice
To spice things up, add a teaspoon or two to the oil and sweetener mixture before pouring it over the dry ingredients. Some great options to try are ground cinnamon, chai spice, pumpkin spice, and even a dash of cayenne.
Sweetener
You can make several plant-based substitutions for the honey to create a vegan version of this granola recipe. Try maple syrup, corn syrup, coconut nectar, and brown rice syrup.
Add Ins
Although I tend to stick to the basics with my granola and add fresh fruit when I’m ready to eat it, you can mix a cup of dried fruit or mini chocolate chips into the cooled granola to zhuzh it up a bit. Great options include dried cranberries, dried blueberries, and raisins.
Important Note: If you’re an alpha gal who is sensitive to dairy products, be sure to choose vegan chocolate chips.
Related Article: The Truth About Alpha-Gal and Chocolate
How to Store Homemade Granola
Although this delicious gluten-free granola is sure to be gobbled up quickly, it keeps for up to six months when stored properly. Once it is fully cooled, move the granola to an airtight glass container (like a mason jar) or plastic container with a tightly fitting lid.
Store the granola in a cool, dry place such as the pantry. Just be sure to keep it away from strong-smelling foods like onions and garlic so it doesn’t absorb those flavors. Yuck! You’ll also want to avoid storing your granola in humid spots, like in the refrigerator or near the stove, as that can cause it to lose its crunch or even become soggy. You can also freeze this granola for up to one year.
Related Article: Frugal Food Storage Ideas
Ways to Enjoy This Homemade Gluten-Free Granola
One of my favorite ways to enjoy homemade granola is in easy granola parfaits that pair it with Greek yogurt and fresh berries. (If you are an alpha gal who avoids dairy, simply substitute a vegan Greek-style yogurt.) But it’s also delicious as a cold cereal in a bowl with milk. Incorporate this granola into snack time by adding it to banana slices dotted with peanut or almond butter. It also adds a delicious crunch to fruit salad, smoothie bowls, and a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Sage Advice: If you like the flavors of oats, yogurt, fruit, and nuts, then you’ll also love this Bircher muesli recipe.
Related Article: The Ultimate Alpha-Gal Friendly Snack List
Easy Gluten Free Granola
Ingredients
- 2 cups oatmeal
- ½ cup shredded coconut (I prefer unsweetened)
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (I like olive oil)
- 2 tbsp honey (substitute maple syrup for vegan recipe)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss oats, coconut, and almonds together in a mixing bowl and then spread out evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, stir vegetable oil and honey together until well combined.
- Pour the blended wet ingredients over the granola mixture on the baking sheet and toss lightly.
- Slide the baking pan into the preheated oven and bake in five-minute intervals for about 15-20 minutes, lightly stirring the mixture each time, until golden brown.
- Let the granola cool to room temperature. Then, carefully lift the parchment sheet, roll one end, and pour the granola into an air tight container. Store in a cool, dry place (like a pantry) for up to six months.
Notes
- To make this homemade granola recipe vegan substitute maple syrup for the honey.
Nutrition
Please Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated. It should only be used as an approximation.
Great simple granola recipe. I much prefer making my own so I can adjust things how I like (and it’s way cheaper!). This was a great straightforward recipe!
I’m glad you liked it! We always have a jar of it in the pantry ready to go!
I love a good homemade granola recipe – less expensive and healthier! This recipe was delicious. Loved the coconut! Just the perfect amount of sweetness
Oh, I’m glad you liked it! We always have a batch ready to eat in the pantry.
So delicious! We used a little honey and some maple syrup. Perfectly sweet! Had it for breakfast with some coffee and we loved it.
Ooooh, that sounds good! We’ve been eating them with a little orange marmalade or strawberry jam. We’ll have to try honey and maple syrup next batch!
I love how simple this gluten-free granola recipe is! It is delicious, and I would definitely add this to my breakfast routine! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
It’s really good as a yogurt topping!
This was simple, yet delicious! Such a great healthy snack that’s better than store bought.
So yummy! Can’t wait to make it again.
My family loved this!
So yummy! Can’t wait to make it again.
This is a perfect for a healthy breakfast or snack.