Grain Free Granola Clusters {Lower Sugar}

These grain free granola clusters are better than anything you can buy at the store! Perfect for breakfast or a nutritious snack. With no refined sugars, this low sugar granola recipe is perfect to meal prep for kids or adults. It’s paleo, vegan, and coconut-free, too!

Dear Becca, you request has been granted! A coconut free and grain free granola recipe for you to enjoy! Thank you for challenging me in the best possible way!

Do you know anyone with a coconut allergy? They are rare, but it must be frustrating for people who have one, simply because coconut (or forms of it) are in SO many things. Aside from the actual coconut meat, there’s coconut oil, flour, water… the list goes on. And it isn’t just in foods, but also in things like hair products and soap.

When you think about it, the sad fact about the allergy is that coconut is so healthy!

So anyway, this grain free granola is a recipe for a friend with a coconut allergy. She asked me to make low sugar granola clusters without coconut. She isn’t celiac but I made grain free granola because it’s healthier, and I know YOU all prefer it that way.

Do you remember my Toasted Coconut and Berry Grain Free Granola recipe? It is a SUPER popular recipe with everyone – well, except for with Becca and her dang allergy. Haha.

Grain Free Granola Clusters

Grain free, lower sugar, and no coconut needed to make this grain free granola recipe. Think of it like a Kind bar, but in cereal form, and way more budget friendly. It takes all of 30 minutes to make. I kinda went crazy and made 2 batches. OMG, dangerous.

But it’s very filling and is great with yogurt, non dairy milk, or by the handful. Paleo, vegan, and can be made low carb with the right syrups.

Here’s whatcha need to know about the low sugar granola ingredients:

• To replace coconut, I use almond silvers. They have a similar texture.
• Maple syrup or honey both work well to bind everything together. Obviously, maple syrup is the only option if you need a vegan recipe.

Both maple syrup and honey add nutritional value (minerals and antioxidants) without adding refined sugar. Plus, a little goes a long way in this recipe.

BONUS BRAIN POWER and IMMUNITY BOOSTING INGREDIENT!

The key to boosting mood, immunity, and brain power – Mix in a handful of brazil nuts for this recipe. Brazil nuts are rich in fiber and selenium. Selenium helps lower oxidative stress in the body, which reduces inflammation and enhances immunity. The healthy fats in these nuts help to feed the brain, really!

My nutty nutrition facts –

• 1 ounce of brazil nuts contains Selenium: 988% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
• Elevated levels of selenium have been linked to increasing immune function in response to cancer, infections, infertility, pregnancy, heart disease, and mood disorders. (source)

How to make grain free granola recipe:

To make this granola, simply mix the nuts, spices, and dark chocolate in a large bowl. Add in your honey and dash of sea salt. Flax or chia seed and vanilla extract are optional. Spread the coated nuts onto a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place in oven for 10-15 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven and allow the granola to cool right on the pan. Do not touch! The chocolate and the maple syrup should have melted with the nuts. As a result, everything should be bound together. See picture below.

Once the pan has cooled, the nuts/granola should be ready to break into large pieces. Aka, grain free granola clusters. You can break them apart by hand or place pieces of the baked granola in a large ziplock bag and gently smash it into smaller pieces. Kinda fun, right? 😉

Other grain free snacks and sweets:

• Sticky Date Cake Yogurt Bowls {Grain Free, Paleo Option}
• Dark Chocolate Peppermint Muffins with Soothing Peppermint oil {Grain Free}
• Flourless Banana Bread Bars (Dairy Free Option)

Oh, by the way, you can totally mix in any other favorite ingredients to this granola; such as dried fruit, seeds, etc. Even puffed rice or oats if you prefer gluten free grains!

Grain Free Granola Clusters

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★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews

• Author: Lindsay Cotter
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x

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Description

1. This grain free granola recipe makes low sugar granola clusters that are perfect for breakfast or snacking, NO refined sugars – paleo and vegan friendly!

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1 cup raw mixed nuts (see notes).
• 1/3 cup semi sweet or dark chocolate chocolate chips (vegan) or sugar free chocolate chips.
• optional 1–2 tbsp of chia or flaxseed
• optional 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or raw honey

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl in the order listed. Stir to combine.
4. Spread mixture evenly onto prepared baking sheet and place in oven.
5. Bake at 325 F for 25-30 minutes. Mine took 28 minutes. You will know when it’s done when nuts are golden and chocolate is slightly melted with nuts. See picture in blog post.
6. Then remove pan from the oven and allow the granola to cool on the pan. Do not touch! The chocolate and the maple syrup should have melted with the nuts, binding it all together.
7. Once the pan has cooled, the granola should be ready to break into large pieces. Aka, granola clusters.
8. Store in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

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Notes

• Look for mixed nuts that include in larger nuts ,i.e brazil nuts. The larger nuts help to better form granola clusters during baking.

• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: grain free granola, low sugar granola clusters

Have you ever made your own granola?

Are you a granola cluster fan or more of the oats and berries mix in kind of person?

Cheers,

LC