Chunky Grain Free Granola

Created On: July 25, 2022 | By Debbie | 4 Comments

Switch up your usual granola routine with this tasty chunky grain free granola recipe which is great on top of a smoothie bowl for a healthy breakfast. This grain free granola recipe was born from my craving for granola which happened to hit me at a time when we were out of oats. In their place, you’ll find sunflower seeds, coconut, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

If you haven’t noticed, I am a huge fan of homemade granola! This grain free granola recipe was born from my craving for granola which happened to hit me at a time when we were out of oats. In their place, you’ll find sunflower seeds, coconut, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

Whenever I get the urge to purge some of the bits of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits that we have in the pantry, I turn to homemade granola or these clusters. It’s such an easy way to make sure that none of those scraps get wasted while also making a delicious breakfast option.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

A delicious alternative to oat-based granola.
Great for prepping in advance as it can be stored in an airtight container for over a week.
The perfect sweet and salty snack that is also packed full of healthy fats and fiber.
A quick, one bowl recipe using pantry-friendly ingredients.

grain free granola ingredient shot with seeds, almonds, coconut flakes, and maple syrup

Ingredients You’ll Need

Coconut Flakes: coconut flakes make up the bulk of this grain free granola. Use coconut flakes rather than shredded coconut for this recipe.
Seeds: I like to use a combination of pumpkin, chia, sunflower, and sesame seeds. However, you can switch it up based on what you have on hand in your pantry.
Maple Syrup: naturally sweetens this granola.
Coconut Oil: since coconut oil is solid at room temperature, it helps this granola form large, beautiful clumps. You can use canola or olive oil instead but will have smaller pieces of granola.

Recipe Step-by-Step with Photos

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

stir all the granola ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.

spread granola onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

STEP 2: Add all the ingredients to a bowl and stir well.

STEP 4: transfer to baking sheet, pressing down into a smooth rectangle pancake shape. Make sure everything is smooshed together on the pan so that it forms clusters after baking. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Watch closely for the last couple of minutes of baking as it can burn quickly.

bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown

allow granola to cool completely on the pan before breaking apart for best results.

STEP 5: Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet. Break into large pieces and transfer to an airtight container or ziplock bag to store.

Why This Recipe is Good for You

Almonds are one of my favorite healthy snacks because they provide so many nutrients like vitamin E, calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, and heart healthy fats.

Chia seeds pack a lot of nutrition into their tiny form including heart healthy omega-3 fats, fiber, and protein. Speaking of protein, chia seeds are a complete protein which means they contain all 9 of the essential amino acids.

Even though nuts are higher in calories, research shows that eating nuts regularly does not increase your risk of weight gain. In fact, consuming nuts in place of other unhealthy foods can likely help you regulate your weight.

How to Serve

Feel free to use this recipe as a template for whatever you may have hanging out in your pantry that needs to be used up. I love eating this with some almond milk, on top of yogurt, or even sprinkled on a smoothie bowl. The clusters also make a tasty snack by themselves too! Here are some recipes that would be great topped with some of this granola:

More Delicious Snacks You’ll Love

Created by: Deborah Davis

Switch up your usual granola routine with this delicious vegan chunky grain free granola recipe which is great on top of a smoothie bowl for a healthy breakfast. This recipe was born from my craving for granola which happened to hit me at a time when we were out of oats. In their place, you’ll find sunflower seeds, coconut, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

1 cup coconut flakes
3/4 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
3 tablespoon chia seeds
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9″x11″ baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat.
In a large mixing bowl, add all the rest of your ingredients. Stir in the egg white until everything is mixed well.
Spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat mat. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until it starts to brown. (Start checking on it at minute 17 or 18 as it can brown too quickly.)
Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet. Break into large chunks and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

You can use olive oil or vegetable oil in place of coconut oil, but granola will not crisp/cluster as well.
Store in an air-tight container. Can keep up to 3 weeks after making.
Recipe adapted from this Grain-Free Granola from The Primalist

Nutrition

Ingredients You’ll Need