This grain free granola recipe is sweet, crunchy, and full of healthy fats & protein. It’s gluten-free, vegan, and easy to make!

granola in a white ramekin
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I love granola but sometimes I feel like I could eat an entire bowl of granola and still feel hungry. A lot of storebought granola is loaded with sugar and not much else. But this grain free granola is made with nuts and seeds for a recipe that is filled with healthy fats and protein. This granola will actually keep you full for hours!

Why I Love This Grain Free Granola

Granola is typically made with oats, which make it high in carbohydrates. While I love traditional granola, I know some of you are looking for lower-carb, grain-free granola options. This nutty granola is a great way to get the satisfying crunch of granola, but without the oats! This recipe using walnuts, sliced almonds, and coconut flakes as the base to create a nutty granola that is high in protein and healthy fats, rather than carbs.

What is Grain Gree Granola Made Of?

Traditional granola is usually made with oats, nuts, and dried fruit. For this grain free granola, we’re sticking to nuts, coconut, and a little oil and sweetener.

  • Walnuts– The base of this granola is walnuts, making this a heart healthy granola!
  • Almonds– I also added alnonds for a little extra crunch. I like using sliced almonds for this recipe.
  • Coconut Flakes– The coconut flakes add a little hint of sweetness and a unique texture to the granola.
  • Coconut Oil– A little coconut oil helps this granola bake to golden brown perfection!
  • Maple Syrup– I wanted to keep this recipe vegan and paleo, so I used maple syrup as a sweetener. But you could also use honey!
  • Chia Seeds– This helps create delicious granola clumps and also adds a little protein and fiber.
granola in a mason jar

My favorite of the bunch was this grain-free walnut granola mixture of walnuts, coconuts, and almonds. I just loved the crunchy texture and since this granola is full of nuts, it’ll actually keep you satisfied!

Substitution Ideas

  • If you don’t have sliced almonds, look for slivered almonds or you can chop almonds into smaller pieces. Whole almonds are a little too chunky for this granola and will alter the texture.
  • If you don’t have chia seeds, you can use hemp seeds or just skip the chia seeds all together.
  • Feel free to use honey or agave in place of maple syrup.

How to Make Grain Free Granola

Combine the nuts and coconut flakes in a small bowl.

Stir in the coconut oil, maple syrup, and chia seeds. Be sure the nuts are evenly coated with the oil and sweetener.

Bake at 300 degrees, stirring every 10 minutes to ensure the granola bakes evenly. Cooking at a lower temperature helps ensure this granola gets golden brown but not burnt.

walnuts

4 Ways to Enjoy Grain-Free Granola

  • Sprinkled on top of your favorite yogurt. I love how it adds a nice crunch!
  • As a trail mix or on-the-go snack. Sometimes I’ll pre-portion it into mini bags or jars so it’s easy to grab on my way out the door.
  • Served with almond milk (or your favorite milk) and eaten like cereal! This granola will fill you up a lot more than traditional cereal!
  • Try it as an ice cream topping! Whether you enjoy it on top of your favorite traditional ice cream or a cup of “nice” cream, it’s a delicious addition!
coconut walnut granola in a ramekin

Grain Free Granola Add-Ins

You could also customize this grain-free granola by adding chocolate chips, dried cranberries, dried cherries, or pecans! Just make sure you add the chocolate chips or dried fruit after you bake it, otherwise, the chocolate can burn and the fruit will get hard and dry.

How to Store Granola

Keep this granola in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay fresh and crispy for about 5 days, but I have to admit that it doesn’t usually last that long in my house! We usually eat a batch in just a few days!

Is Grain Free Granola Healthy?

If you’re noticing the fat content of this granola is rather high, that’s because of the coconut oil and nuts. Walnuts and almonds provide a lot of Omega-3 fats, which are the good ones! While everything should be enjoyed in moderation, I think this granola can be a great healthy snack! If you’re looking for a lower fat option, try this Oil Free Granola recipe.

More Granola Ideas

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Grain Free Walnut Granola

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 7 reviews
  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This grain free walnut granola is sweet, crunchy, and full of healthy fats & protein. It’s gluten free, vegan, and easy to make!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup coconut flakes (unsweetened)
  • 1/2 cup almond slices
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or sweetener of choice (see note)
  • 2 teaspoons chia seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees
  2. In a small bowl, combine all nuts and stir to mix.
  3. Stir in the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and chia seeds.
  4. Make sure all the nuts are evenly coated with the oil and syrup.
  5. Spread on a baking sheet lined with foil. I kept it in a fairly thick layer, so it would be a little clumpier. If you spread it out in a thinner layer, it won’t be as clumpy but it’ll cook a little faster.
  6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 7 minutes.

Notes

For a lower carb/keto option, substitute monkfruit or stevia in place of the maple syrup.

Looking for more granola recipes? Here are a few of my favorites:

What’s your favorite way to enjoy granola?