This homemade Sugar Free Granola recipe uses unsweetened applesauce and raisins to sweeten a delicious mixture of rolled oats, nuts, and seeds.
It’s great for breakfast, snacks, and baked goods.
I know you are going to LOVE this healthy granola because it is seriously THE BEST. I’m certain that it will become a pantry staple because you’re going to want to put it on everything!
While you could just grab a bag of the store-bought stuff, once you see how easy and delicious this homemade granola is, you won’t have any desire to. Not to mention, store-bought granola is usually heavily processed and sweetened with refined sugar.
It is also usually pretty expensive. By making granola from scratch, you get a lot more bang for your buck.
And it is SUPER easy!
All you have to do is mix up the dry ingredients, coat them in applesauce-sweetened coconut oil, bake, cool, and store.
My favorite snack these days is sliced fruit or a cup of berries with some Greek yogurt and a few tablespoons of this tasty sugar-free granola. It’s so good!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here are four reasons why this recipe is a keeper:
- This homemade granola is nutrient-dense. It is packed with fiber, protein, and satiating fats.
- This granola recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and refined sugar free.
- It’s much cheaper than store-bought granola. Make granola from scratch and get way more snacks for way less cost.
- Homemade granola is the perfect sustainable snack for hiking, camping, and gift-giving.
Ingredient Notes
Feel free to play around with the mix-ins and spices and make this granola recipe your own.
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients you will need to make this sugar-free granola:
- Nuts – I used raw, unsalted almonds, cashews, and walnuts. You could also use sliced almonds, macadamia nuts, pistachios, or chopped Brazil nuts.
- Seeds – I used raw, unsalted sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Look for sunflower seed “kernels” and pumpkin seed “pepitas”.
- Dried Fruit – I like using raisins because they are naturally very sweet, so they add bursts of great flavor throughout this granola. If you prefer to munch on something less sweet, you can skip the raisins altogether. You could also use dried mango, bananas, pineapple, blueberries, dates, cranberries, or prunes.
- Oats – Whole-grain old-fashioned oats or rolled oats stay firm during baking and hold their shape. For gluten-free granola, make sure the brand of oats you use is “certified gluten-free.”
- Spices – Ground cinnamon and ground ginger add a warming, comforting flavor. You could also use nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin pie spice blend, or vanilla extract.
- Sweetener – In addition to pops of sweetness from the raisins, this granola gets coated in a mixture of unsweetened applesauce and coconut oil before baking. Instead of applesauce, you can use pumpkin puree, mashed banana, or pureed dried apricots.
How To Make Homemade Sugar-Free Granola from Scratch
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make this granola recipe:
Step 1. Combine the dry ingredients.
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, add the almonds, cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, and oats to a large baking dish.
Toss well to combine. Add ground cinnamon and ginger. Mix until everything is well coated in spices.
Step 2. Combine the wet ingredients.
In a small bowl, mix together melted coconut oil and unsweetened applesauce. Pour the mixture over the nuts, seeds, oats, and raisins and toss well to coat everything evenly.
Step 3. Bake the granola.
Place the baking dish in a preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes to one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven when the moisture from the oil-applesauce mixture has evaporated, and the oats and nuts are golden-brown and toasted.
Step 4. Store.
Let the granola cool completely before storing in sanitized, air-tight containers in a cool dark place for up to 3 months.
Recipe Video
Here is the recipe video to help you make it:
Recipe Tips
The baking dish I used is 14″ x 10″ and 2 inches deep, which is the perfect size for this recipe.
You want the oats to be compacted enough in the pan so they stick together but are not so crowded the moisture isn’t able to cook out evenly. If making more or less granola, adjust the baking dish size accordingly.
Also, keep in mind that the amount of granola you’re making will affect the baking time. If you decide to make a smaller amount, the cooking time will be shorter.
Once the granola is in the oven, be sure to give it a stir every 15 minutes. Otherwise, the moisture will not evaporate evenly and the texture will be off. Set a timer to remind yourself to stir.
How To Serve Unsweetened Granola
This crisp and crunchy granola is great as a topping on breakfast bowls, snacks, etc.
Check out the best ways to serve homemade sugar-free granola below:
- sprinkled on fruit salad for added crunch and to make it more filling;
- as a crispy topping on a yogurt parfait, fresh fruit sorbet, or Acai bowl;
- as breakfast “cereal” with milk and sliced bananas;
- stored in small plastic bags as “trail mix” for school lunches;
- mixed in with chia pudding for some added sweetness and crunch;
- baked into your favorite oatmeal cookies or sprinkled on top of banana bread.
Granola Storing Instructions
This delicious granola has a long shelf-life, making it a great gift during the holidays.
- Storing: Store fresh granola in an air-tight sanitized jar or resealable plastic bag in a cool, dark place away from any heat or humidity for up to 3 months. Refrigeration is not recommended as it can make the granola soggy.
- Freezing: To freeze, make sure granola is cooled COMPLETELY before storing in freezer-safe zip-top bags in the freezer for 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add chia seeds to this granola recipe?
Yes, you can add chia seeds to your granola mix. Just make sure to add them when your granola is already baked and cooled completely.
Can I add flax seeds to this granola?
Yes, absolutely. Flax seeds would be a great addition to this granola. Just make sure to add them when your granola is already baked and cooled completely.
Can I add shredded coconut to this granola?
Yes, shredded coconut would make a great addition to this recipe.
I recommend toasting shredded coconut on the stove top and then mixing it with the baked granola. Otherwise, shredded coconut might burn in the oven.
Can you buy sugar-free granola?
Yes, you can buy granola with no added sugar.
Homemade Sugar Free Granola
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw unsalted almonds
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 1 cup raw unsalted walnuts
- 1 cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds
- 1 cup raw unsalted pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup raisins
- 3 cups regular slow-cooking rolled oats
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground dried ginger
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Place the almonds, cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, raisins and oats in a large baking dish (mine is 14 by 10 inches, 2 inches deep). Add the cinnamon and ground ginger and mix to combine.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted coconut oil with applesauce and pour the mixture over the nuts. Mix well to coat.
- Place the baking dish into a preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes to one hour or until the liquid has evaporated and the nuts and oats are golden. Make sure to stir the granola every 15 minutes to ensure that it cooks evenly. Also, keep in mind that if you reduce the amount of ingredients, the granola will bake faster.
- Take the baking dish out of the oven and let the granola cool completely.
- Store in a glass container with a tight lid in a cool dark place.
Video
The nutrition facts are an estimate. Variations in ingredient brands, portion sizes, or substitutions can affect the final nutritional values. For the most accurate information, please use a nutrition calculator or consult with a healthcare provider. Always ensure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet.
Meet Maria
Maria Ushakova is a holistic nutritionist and food blogger. She focuses on developing easy recipes using real food ingredients. She believes that healthy food is delicious and anyone can learn how to cook it. Maria’s work has appeared on numerous popular websites as well as in print.
Do you think it would taste weird doing some unsweetened apple sauce and some pumpkin? Would you recommend using a full cup or whatever other option you use instead of the apple sauce? Trying to keep things as low on sugar (even natural) as I can for insulin resistance.
@Emily, I think it would work. You could do 1/2 cup apple sauce and 1/2 cup pumpkin puree. Or just do 1 cup pumpkin puree. You can also skip raisins. I don’t think it would taste weird. It would be less sweet but you could always add something sweet if you wanted to.
Hi Maria,
Can I use honey instead of coconut oil?
@Linda, No. Coconut oil adds fat and honey is a sweetener.
I’ve tried using applesauce in granola recipes before and failed. This granola has the right proportions of ingredients and oven temp, and it’s delicious. So happy I gave it a try!
What can I substitute for the coconut oil?
I would like to use just 1 or 2 types of note. Do I need to decrease the applesauce and oil?
@Linda, That would be nuts, not note.
@Linda, you can scale this recipe by volume. So, if you use 1/2 of nuts, you have to use 1/2 of everything. You also have to reduce the baking time, otherwise the granola will burn.
This is so good!!!! I only used the nuts I had at the time. I think I added double the cinnamon. You can really roughly follow the recipe and it’s still delicious!
Is there a way to make this without applesauce? I’m allergic to apples but I want to try this recipe.
You will need something to replace it. You can try pumpkin puree. Or make a banana puree from a soft banana.
I will never buy granola again!! I used sliced almonds & walnuts & raisins.
So good! I’ve eaten it plain, in yogurt, and as a topping on my homemade Acai bowl. Going to try dried cranberries & pecans next.
Thanks for the recipe. I also cut down the coconut oil to 2 tablespoons after reading other’s comments. I added chopped dates, dried apricots and cacao nibs to the finished product. Yum 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it!
This granola is fantastic! The husband loves it, and regularly requests that I make it when he’ll be needing a little something extra for his training and running pursuits. Yum!
Hi Ronda! I am so glad you like the recipe 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment.
This is the best sugar free granola recipe I have ever tried.
Best granola recipe I’ve ever come across. I prefer pecans over walnuts and have tried it with dried cranberries (was okay, like the raisins better). I sprinkle it over plain yogurt, banana slices and some hemp seeds every morning. Thank you!
Best granola recipe I’ve ever come across. I prefer pecans over walnuts and have tried it with dried cranberries (was okay, like the raisins better). I sprinkle it over plain yogurt, banana slices and some hemp seeds every morning. Thank you!
Great recipe! It’s not very sweet which I like. It was very easy to make and came out perfectly golden.
Great recipe! It’s not very sweet which I like. It was very easy to make and came out perfectly golden.
Does anyone know the syns in this if on slimming world? Or can it be a healthy extra?
Thank you
Just tried this wonderful granola with macadamia nuts and toasted the coconut separately as you suggested. By far the best granola Maria!
Thank you so much!
Can I also sub unsweetened coconut instead of cashews and add some macadamia nuts?
Made it with chopped dates instead of raisins and is so very good. I can eat this all day.
Thank you Maria for the recipe! It’s a keeper.
This is by far the best granola recipe I’ve seen! Was wondering if I could use chopped dates instead of raisins to sweeten this up a bit? Can’t wait to make it.
Yes, chopped dates should be fine.
Can I also sub unsweetened coconut instead of cashews and add some macadamia nuts?
Made it with chopped dates instead of raisins and is so very good. I can eat this all day.
Thank you Maria for the recipe! It’s a keeper.
I am so glad you like the recipe! Macadamia nuts should be fine. What size of coconut pieces do you want to add? If it’s shredded, I would worry that it might start burning before everything else has baked properly. I would make the granola without the coconut and just toast the coconut separately on a stove top. It’s very easy and takes about 5 minutes. Once granola is ready I would mix it with the toasted coconut.
Just tried this wonderful granola with macadamia nuts and toasted the coconut separately as you suggested. By far the best granola Maria!
Thank you so much!
I am so glad you like it!
I’m excited to make this. Would it work with gluten free quick oats?
Hi Clair, this recipe will work with regular gluten-free oats. Most likely a few adjustments will be needed for it to work with quick oats as they are more processed than regular rolled oats. I’ve never tested this recipe with quick oats but I think the amount of liquid and the baking time will be slightly different.
Just made your recipe for the SF Granola. Yum! Thanks for posting!!
Yummy oats are my favorite. This granola is perfect for breakfast, snack or dessert.