One of my biggest misconceptions about granola was that it needed lots of fat and sugar to be tasty.
This recipe changed my view of granola. It uses very little fat and sugar yet still delivers great flavor and satisfying crunch.
My goal when developing recipes is to keep added sugar as low as possible. Excess sugar has a negative effect on my energy, immune function, skin, and weight management, so when I make treats I try to make them as low-sugar as I can without sacrificing taste.
I’ve remade many recipes and discovered they often call for more sweetener than necessary. After retraining my palate — I avoided sugar and sweeteners for years due to allergies and illness — I learned to enjoy much less sweetness. Even naturally sweet ingredients like raisins or some apples can feel overly sugary now.
These days I indulge in treats more than I did at my most restrictive period, but I still find overly sweet foods overwhelming. That’s why I appreciate recipes like this granola that balance flavor and nutrition.
I like sprinkling a little on a smoothie bowl, stirring it into yogurt if I tolerate dairy, or enjoying it with a splash of vanilla hemp milk.
If you want to lower sugar and carbs, omit the raisins; that drops the sugar to about 4.7 grams per serving and the carbs to roughly 20.1 grams. You can also swap pumpkin seeds for another nut or seed to suit preferences or allergies.
If you follow a grain-free diet, try the grain-free alternative on the original blog for a similar, grain-free version.
Easy Healthy Breakfast Granola
Ingredients
- 2 cups oats
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup pumpkin seeds
- ⅓ cup raisins
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
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Warm the coconut oil and maple syrup together until combined.
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Stir in oats, sea salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin seeds until evenly coated.
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Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
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Bake for 20–25 minutes, stirring once to ensure even toasting.
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Allow to cool, then stir in the raisins.
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below to let me know how you liked it.