Easy Homemade Maple Granola (Gluten-Free and Refined Sugar Free)

This easy homemade Maple Granola is perfectly crunchy, naturally sweetened with maple syrup, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and loaded with pecans and chocolate chips. Perfect for breakfast or snacking. Are you a granola fan? You may enjoy this grain-free Cinnamon Granola.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Better-for-you ingredients: You control what goes in the mix. It’s naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup and packed with heart-healthy whole-grain oats and nutrient-rich nuts.

Cost-effective: Making it in large batches at home is significantly cheaper than buying premium bags at the grocery store.

Amazing scent throughout your home: Baking this easy homemade maple granola with maple syrup and cinnamon will make your kitchen smell incredible.

Ingredients You Will Need

Optional (but highly recommended)

Organic rolled oats: are made from oats which have been cleaned, de-hulled, lightly roasted, steamed, and flaked making them perfect for this easy homemade maple granola.

Raw pecans: are pecans that have not been roasted, oiled, salted or sweetened. Offering a rich, buttery flavor packed with healthy fats.

Raw sunflower seeds: are a small seed with a tender texture and a mild nutty flavor. They come from the flower heads of the sunflower plant.

Almond slices: are roasted, unsalted, and un-blanched having a mild nutty flavor with a crunchy texture.

Pure maple syrup: lends natural sweetness to this granola without the addition of more highly processed refined sugars. We love Simply Organic Maple from Vermont!

Vanilla extract: brings out a rich subtle flavor in foods, both sweet and savory. We like Primal Palate.

Coconut sugar: is a natural sweetener derived from the sap of the coconut palm tree.

Cinnamon: has a warm, sweet flavor and aroma. It is perfect in both sweet and savory dishes.

Salt: always salt in moderation in accordance with your dietary preferences.

Dark chocolate chips: have a higher cocoa content with a more intense flavor than milk chocolate. Opt for dairy-free and refined sugar-free chocolate chips such as Hu Chocolate.

Instructions

Preheat oven: to 325˚ and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl: whisk together the maple syrup, coconut sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.

Add the oats: pecans, almonds, sunflower seeds and stir until the mixture is evenly coated.

Spread the mixture: onto the baking sheet and press it down firmly and evenly.

Bake: for 30-35 minutes or until the granola looks golden brown.

Allow the granola to cool completely: on the pan. It will crisp up as it cools.

Break into clusters: and add in chocolate chips

Enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Press it flat: After pouring your granola onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, use a spatula to press the mixture down into a tight, even layer. This allows the oats and nuts to bind together which will result in larger clusters.

Cool completely: Resist the urge to touch the granola while it is cooling. It will seem soft when it first comes out of the oven, but it will crisp up and harden into large clumps as it sits undisturbed.

Protect the pan: Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper. The sticky maple syrup can be difficult to scrub off if it bakes directly onto the pan.

Recipe Variations

Walnuts: you can swap walnuts for the pecans or any other nut you enjoy.

Chia seeds: try adding 1/4 cup of chia seeds for extra protein.

Dried cranberries or raisins: are a delicious, chewy addition to the granola. Opt for sugar free when you can.

Storage Tips

You can store this easy homemade maple granola in a glass ball jar for up to a month, if it lasts that long!

FAQ’s About Easy Homemade Maple Granola

When should I add dried fruit and mix-ins?

Always add dried fruit (like cranberries, raisins, or cherries) after the granola has finished baking. If you bake the fruit with the oats, it will become tough, dry, and prone to burning. Mix in your dried fruit in once it has completely cooled.

What kind of oats should I use?

Always use traditional rolled oats (also known as old-fashioned oats) for the best texture. Be sure to opt for gluten-free oats as well.

How do I get those big, crunchy granola clusters?

The secret to big, chunky clusters is spreading your oat mixture onto a baking sheet and then use a spatula to press the granola down into a firm, even layer before baking. Second, let the granola cool completely on the pan without stirring it after you take it out of the oven. Once it is completely cool, you can break it into the desired cluster sizes.