Nut-free Apple Cinnamon Granola

{Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free}

This Nut-free Apple Cinnamon Granola is so easy to make and tastes so good that you won’t miss spending the extra money for that boring, store-bought version. Not only is it nut-free but we’ve added some special ingredients that we know you’ll LOVE! Adding sunflower seeds, pepitas, coconut, dried apples, and currants gives this granola extra crunch and is a good source of proteins and minerals.

We love making our own granola!

“Mom, you two should package this!”

That is what our son said after I gave him some of our Nut-free Apple Cinnamon Granola.  We agree! The flavor is so good with hints of apple pie in its taste and the right amount of crunch you are looking for in a good granola.

NUT-FREE – If you have a nut allergy you know how hard it is to find a nut-free granola version. This recipe uses sunflower seeds and pepitas instead of nuts to give it that great crunch you want in your granola. You won’t even miss them!

EASY TO MAKE – Making granola is so easy and only requires one bowl. Just add the ingredients together, spread on the pan, and bake. It only takes 10 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to bake.

HEALTHIER – The biggest problem with store-bought granola is that many of them are full of sugar and add sunflower seeds and pepitas. I love pepitas and add them to my salads, top them on my soups and even add them to the top of my mac n’ cheese.

GRANOLA INGREDIENTS:

Oats (old fashioned)– Oats are the heavy lifter in this recipe because they are the base of this recipe. We suggest using the old-fashioned oats because they will give your granola the best consistency. Steel-cut oats are also not recommended. We use Bob’s Red Mill Glute-free Oats.

Sunflower Seeds – These seeds are high in protein, rich in healthy fats, and are a good source of Vitamin E and B1. Make sure you are using raw seeds and not roasted seeds.

Pepitas – Pepitas are small pumpkin seeds that are rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and minerals. They add a nice crunch to the granola.

Coconut Flakes – We used plain, shredded coconut but you can substitute coconut chips if you would like. Just make sure you put the coconut chips in earlier. If you have roasted coconut chips just add them at the end since they are already baked.

Dried Apple Chips – Apples and cinnamon are the perfect pair. You can use store-bought apple chips or make your own. It’s easy to make your own apple chips and there are some good recipes from Well Plated from Erin and Plant Based on a Budget.

Dried Fruit – While apple chips and cinnamon are the primary flavors, we like to add another dried fruit to our granola to give it that extra boost of flavor. We used dried currants but any dried fruit such as blueberries, raisins or goji berries can be used.

Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is very versatile and healthy for you and is a good alternative to baking with regular oil. Coconut oil comes in a solid form and only needs a quick pop in the microwave to melt it so you can add it to the granola. We use the Spectrum Organics brand but any organic coconut oil will do.

Maple Syrup (honey) – Maple syrup is added for sweetness, but it also makes the granola crisper and gives it a more robust taste. Honey or agave syrup can be used instead of maple syrup.

Turbinado Sugar or Coconut Sugar – You could omit this, but we like the texture this extra sugar gives our granola.

Vanilla – Pure vanilla makes everything taste better. We used the Whole Foods 365 vanilla.

Cinnamon – Cinnamon is the perfect pairing for apple and works well in this granola recipe as well.

Salt – Just a teaspoon of kosher salt is all you need for this recipe.

HOW TO MAKE NUT-FREE APPLE CINNAMON GRANOLA

Prepare the Baking Pan – Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Melt the Coconut Oil – Melt the coconut oil and pour it into a large bowl.

Combine Wet Ingredients – Using the same large bowl, add the maple syrup, vanilla, sugar, and salt and mix until combined.

Mix the Ingredients Together – Add the oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas, and cinnamon to the wet ingredients and mix until all ingredients are evenly coated.

Spread the Mixture – Spread the granola mixture into the prepared pan and place in the oven.

Bake the Granola – Bake the granola in a preheated oven for 10 minutes. Add the shredded coconut, stir, and continue to bake for another 10 minutes. The granola is done when it is golden brown and dry to the touch.

Add the Fruit – Remove the granola from the oven and stir in the dried apple chips and currants. Stir mixture until completely combined. Let it cool completely.

Storing – Place the granola in an air-tight container and it will keep for 2-3 weeks. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Other Granola Recipes:

Nut-free Pumpkin Granola

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