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This is the master recipe for homemade gluten free granola that you've been looking for! Endlessly customizable, with the perfect crispy granola clusters everyone loves.

It's made with plenty of good olive oil, raw nuts and seeds, coconut chips, maple syrup and certified gluten free oatsโ€”or with many potential substitutions to suit any diet!

Milk pouring from glass jar into gluten free granola in small green bowl with spoons and pink bowl
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my take

Nicole's Recipe Notes

The best granola is always crisp, can be served alone, as a topping for yogurt, or even as cereal with milk.

  • There's no high fructose corn syrup, excessive sugar, or preservatives
  • It's more affordable than store-bought granola
  • It's so easy to make: just mix, spread, bake, cool, and eat!
  • You can use up leftover pantry ingredients โ€” swap in and out as needed
  • It's naturally gluten free, dairy free, and vegan โ€” and you can skip the nuts!
overhead image of ingredients to make gluten free granola in small round glass bowls with names of ingredients in black bold type

ingredients

Recipe ingredients

  • Almonds – Raw nuts that are solid like almonds bake slowly in the oven with all the other granola ingredients. They get coated with sugar, and come out crisp, but never hard. If you use softer raw nuts like walnuts, pecans, or cashews, watch them carefully in the oven because they burn more easily.
  • Raw seeds – Try pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds. Or just use more nuts.
  • Coconut chips – This recipe calls for wide, flat crunchy coconut flakes or chips that don't burn and add lots of texture and flavor.
  • Old fashioned rolled oats – The most classic ingredient that adds bulk and chewy texture.
  • Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
  • Sugar – The three types of sugars (brown sugar, maple syrup, and Lyleโ€™s Golden syrup or honey) add lots of complex flavor and help coat everything in a thin, crackly, browned layer.
  • Extra virgin olive oil – adds a lot of flavor and helps everything brown, but you can use any oil you like.
  • Dried fruit – Make it sweet, sour, or tart, all based on the fruit you use. Dice larger dried fruit like apricots or dates, but add dried cranberries or raisins whole.

How to make gluten free granola

Mix the ingredients

  • Place the oats, almonds, seeds, coconut, salt, and brown sugar in a large bowl, and mix fully.
  • Add the oil, maple syrup, and honey or Lyle's Golden Syrup, and mix until everything is moistened by the wet ingredients.
  • Leave out the dried fruit, which we add after baking so it doesn't get hard in the oven.

Bake, stir, mix, and break up

  • Transfer the mixture to a half sheet pan, lined with parchment, and spread into an even layer.
  • Bake at 300ยฐF for 10 minutes, then stir. Bake twice more for 10 minutes each, stirring after each time.
  • Let the granola cool for a few minutes, stir in the dried fruit, and spread it out evenly again.
  • Let the mixture sit, undisturbed, until completely cool so the sugars become solid again. Break it into chunks and clusters, and enjoy!

My Pro Tip

Recipe Tips

Bake and stir

You might be tempted to bake the granola for 20 or 30 minutes at a time, rather than in 10 minute intervals. Resist the temptation!

If you don't stop the baking and stir the granola fully, the sugars melt to the bottom. You want to redistribute all that flavor to every beautiful, delicious cluster.

Bake low and slow

Homemade granola is best made in a low, low (300ยฐF) oven in 10 minute intervals, stirring in between, until itโ€™s golden brown and caramelized. That way, it will never, ever burn.

Your granola is done baking when you say it is! I like to let mine bake until it becomes really fragrant, which signals that the nuts, seeds, oats, and coconut have browned.

After baking, let it cool

Your granola is done baking, and you've mixed in your choice of dried fruit. It's ready to eat, right?

Not just yet! You want to let the granola cool completely right there in the pan. The sugars solidify and the granola clumps in the most lovely way.

Once it's cool to the touch, you'll break it up into irregular clumps. This is the step that separates okay granola from the best gluten free granola!

Overhead image of brown clusters of oats, nuts, seeds, and coconut chips on nonstick metal half sheet pan

substitutions

Ingredient substitutions

Oat-free

If youโ€™re avoiding oats for any reason, there are actually ways to find a substitute for oats in gluten free baking. Here, youโ€™d likely use beaten rice in place of oats, since it holds its shape very well. If you can find buckwheat flakes, you can try replacing the oats with that too.

Oats may be gluten free when sourced properly, but they are a grain. If youโ€™d like to make grain-free granola recipe, youโ€™ll love our recipe for Paleo granola, which is entirely grain-free.

Coconut-free

Coconut chips are so nice, especially toasted. You can replace them with more raw nuts and seeds, whatever kind you like.

Lyleโ€™s Golden Syrup substitute

Lyleโ€™s golden syrup is a much more neutral syrup than honey, and is similar in consistency. Replace Lyleโ€™s with honey or agave nectar.

Pure maple syrup substitute

Pure maple syrup is ideal, since it has that rich, deep flavor everyone loves. Itโ€™s also thin enough to easily coat all the tasty morsels.

Maple syrup is expensive, though. You can replace it, too, with agave nectar, which should be much cheaper.

Light brown sugar substitute

If youโ€™d prefer to make refined-sugar-free granola, try using coconut palm sugar. Coconut palm sugar has similar depth of flavor to the molasses in brown sugar.

Itโ€™s a coarse, granulated sugar, so grind it in a blender a bit first, or it wonโ€™t dissolve completely in the oven.

Olive oil

You can use a neutral oil thatโ€™s liquid at room temperature, like grapeseed oil or even canola or vegetable oil. You can also use unrefined coconut oil, which is solid at cool room temperature, if you melt it first.

Nut-free

Try replacing the almonds with more seeds (sunflower seeds are a good choice). Youโ€™ll want some more bulk, so also try adding more coconut chips.

Seed-free

You can replace them, by weight, with more oats or nuts.

Close up of brown clusters of oats, seeds, coconut chips, and dark pieces of dried fruit in white bowl with metal spoon

Gluten Free Granola Recipe

4.94 from 16 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Resting time: 10 minutes
Yield: 8 cups
Use this master gluten free granola recipe as a base to make it with your favorite ingredients. It even has those big clusters everyone loves!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 ยผ cups (140 g) raw almonds, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup (112 g) raw seeds , (like pumpkin, hemp, chia)
  • 1 cup (80 g) unsweetened raw coconut chips
  • 3 cups (300 g) certified gluten free old fashioned rolled oats
  • ยพ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ยฝ cup (109 g) packed light brown sugar
  • ยผ cup (84 g) Lyleโ€™s Golden Syrup, (honey, or Agave nectar work, too)
  • ยฝ cup (168 g) pure maple syrup
  • ยฝ cup (112 g) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ยฝ cups dried fruit, raisins, dried blueberries, chopped dried apricots, etc.

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 300ยฐF. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper, and set it aside. You can use a nonstick half sheet baking sheet.
  • In a large bowl, place chopped almonds, seeds, coconut chips, oats, salt and light brown sugar and mix to combine (working out any lumps in the brown sugar).
  • Add the Lyleโ€™s golden syrup (or honey or Agave), maple syrup and olive oil, and mix to combine well, coating all the dry ingredients with the wet.
  • Scrape the granola onto the prepared baking sheet, and spread into a single layer, but a bit thinner toward the center as the center bakes last.
  • Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir with a large mixing spoon until everything is rearranged.
  • Spread back into an even layer. Return the granola to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the oven and stir once more. Spread again into an even layer.
  • Return the baking sheet to the oven once again and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven.
  • If the granola looks golden brown all over, and is strongly fragrant, it should be done baking. You can always stir it once more and bake for another 5 minutes if you like.
  • Remove the pan from the oven. While the granola is still on the baking sheet, add the dried fruit, and stir to distribute the fruit evenly throughout the granola.
  • Allow the granola to cool on the sheet pan for at least 10 minutes before breaking it into chunks and smaller pieces.
  • Transfer the granola to a glass container with a lid. That will keep it crunchy until you are ready to serve it. Store at room temperature.

Video

Notes

Originally published on the blog in 2012. Updated in 2016, and again in 2021; more text content and resources added in 2022 (recipe unchanged).

Nutrition

Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 231mg | Potassium: 511mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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FAQs

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

Yes, you can use quick oats in this recipe. Just keep in mind that the texture will be slightly different. I think the old-fashioned gluten free rolled oats offer more bite and crispiness.

When is granola gluten free?

Some granola is made with oats that are contaminated with gluten in the growing and/or manufacturing process. Other granola is not gluten free because it is made with wheat flour, wheat starch, or another contaminated or gluten-containing ingredient, making the granola not gluten free.

Why isn't my granola clumping into clusters?

Double-check your oven temperature โ€” you want it low, but not too low. And be sure to bake in several batches, stirring in between, so the gooey sugar gets all over each ingredient. If the baking sheet is too large, the granola may be spread too far apart. Finally, the clusters form when the baked granola is left to sit, undisturbed, on the baking sheet to cool so don't skip that step.

Why isn't my gf granola crunchy?

It depends on the stage of the cooking process:
Straight of out the oven โ€” the sugar needs to time to cool and re-solidify
After cooling down โ€” you may have used high-moisture ingredients; lower the heat and cook a bit longer
After a few days โ€” moisture from your home is affecting the granola; dry it out again on low heat for 10 to 20 minutes and store in an air tight container

Can I use this recipe to make granola bars?

No, this granola won't hold together properly if you bake it into bars. You need a separate recipe, like our recipe for gluten free granola bars, with added ingredients and different methods to make a proper, delicious chewy granola bar.

Overhead image of granola in rimmed baking sheet with wooden mixing spoon and individual wooden spoons on black surface

Make ahead/leftovers

Storage instructions

As with anything youโ€™ve baked until crisp (and youโ€™d like to keep that way), store leftover granola in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid.

Don't use a plastic container or any type of bowl without a lid โ€” they'll allow your granola to absorb moisture and lose crispness.

So long as you keep your granola in an airtight glass container, you can store it on your kitchen countertop for up to two weeks (though I highly doubt a batch or even two will last nearly that long!)

Should you make more granola than you can finish in a couple of weeks, you can store the excess in the freezer. Put it in a heavy-duty, freezer-safe bag with all the air pushed out, and it will last up to three months on ice.

My Pro Tip

Serving suggestions

Dessert: Granola is excellent sprinkled over ice cream. Add some mini chocolate chips, too, either on top or in place of all or some of the dried fruit.

Breakfast: Add some milk, and you've got gluten free granola cereal, or sprinkle it on top of your smoothie.

Lunch: Sprinkle granola clusters over yogurt, and add some fresh fruit for a hearty, protein-packed meal

large round metal mixing bowl with light brown chunky oat mixture with mixing spoon, raw mixture on metal rimmed baking sheet, baked mixture on same baking sheet, and mixture with dried berries added and large metal mixing spoon

About Nicole Hunn

Hi, Iโ€™m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that arenโ€™t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, โ€œgood, for gluten freeโ€ just isnโ€™t good enough!

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25 Comments

  1. Lee says:

    4 stars
    Good but a bit too sweet for me even after cutting it back a bit. I also added a little cinnamon..

  2. Susan says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe and have made it about 8 times so far. My husband and I love it on top of vanilla yogurt and one of my sons is actually making it today! I’ve always used Bob’s Gluten Free Oats and a mix of Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans and Sunflower Seeds to make 2.5 cups and skip the coconut chips. I use the Lt Brown Sugar and then mix the Honey, Maple Syrup and Olive Oil to which I add 1 tsp of Pure Vanilla Extract. I add dried Dates and Cranberries cut small. I like that just about everything has Fiber so it helps keep me healthy!

    1. Nicole Hunn says:

      So glad you enjoy this granola so much, Susan! Thank you for sharing the types of variations you have made and loved.

  3. Ramola says:

    Hi Nicole
    Can I make this without oats? Gluten free oats donโ€™t agree with me either. Add more nuts and seeds perhaps?
    Look forward to hearing from you Ramola

    1. Nicole Hunn says:

      Hi, Ramola, please see the text of the post under the heading “Gluten free, oat free granola” for that answer. You can also try this recipe for Paleo granola, which is already oat-free.

  4. Shelley Sherman says:

    I love that this is โ€œstickierโ€ than a lot of granola recipes so it stays together in chunks. I usually end up with a bag of what is more like oatmeal trail mix!! I used flaked coconut, hemp seeds, almonds, craisins, and chopped dates. I even found a few glass jars to store it in.

    1. Nicole Hunn says:

      If it’s not sticky, it’s just not granola, Shelley! That’s what all that sugar does. Your granola sounds lovely, and I’m so glad you have the glass jars for storage. That will keep it crispy like the day you made it!