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Ingredients for Homemade Granola

With all the amazing health-supporting ingredients in this homemade granola (and no nasty ingredients like added refined sugar or artificial flavors), I truly believe it has to be one of the (if not THE) healthiest granola recipes out there.

See the list of ingredients below along with some of the many health benefits you can enjoy from eating this highly nutritious homemade granola that just so happens to also be incredibly delicious!

Oats & Oat Flour

Oats are a naturally gluten-free whole grain that provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants while also having anti-inflammatory properties (source and source).

They’re an excellent source of fiber as well and offer many health benefits, lowering blood pressure (source), including supporting gut health and improving digestion.

The type of soluble fiber in oats can help reduce blood sugar levels while also increasing the good bacteria in the digestive tract (source).

Oats are also a surprisingly decent source of protein at roughly 5 grams for 1/2 cup dry oats or 1 cup of prepared oatmeal with water (source).

This homemade granola recipe calls for both rolled oats AND oat flour. But if you don’t have oat flour on hand, don’t stress!

You can easily make homemade oat flour with rolled oats and a food processor or blender. Head to the FAQ section below to find out how!

If you follow a gluten-free diet, you’ll want to look for gluten-free rolled oats and gluten-free oat flour. Even though oats are naturally gluten-free, they can be contaminated with gluten during processing.

As for the best type of oats to use, organic is always best to limit pesticides. But even organic oats can contain trace amounts of glyphosate, just much lower levels than non-organic oats.

In case you’re not familiar with glyphosate, it’s a toxic weed killer and the main ingredient in Roundup. So if you want the best of the best, go with glyphosate-free and gluten-free organic sprouted rolled oats.

Cashews

Even though cashews are commonly called nuts, they’re actually a seed from the cashew tree, believe it or not. Who knew?

Cashews are a good source of fiber and plant protein containing nearly the equivalent amount of protein as the same quantity of cooked meat with 1 ounce of cashews providing 5 grams of protein (source).

They’re also rich in healthy, unsaturated fats, protective antioxidants, and important minerals like magnesium and copper.

Pecans

With omega-3 fats, magnesium, calcium, fiber, vitamin E, and zinc, pecans have anti-inflammatory properties and support immune health.

They can also help lower blood pressure since they’re a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. On top of all that, pecans are super high in antioxidants.

In fact, they’re in the top 15 of foods ranked by the USDA for highest antioxidant levels. Coming in at #14, pecans have the highest antioxidant levels for all nuts (source and source)!

Walnuts

Walnuts are considered a superfood and for good reason. They’re full of beneficial nutrients like fiber and healthy omega-3 fats, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), that can help prevent heart disease.

They’re also an antioxidant powerhouse. With antioxidants such as as polyphenols and vitamin E, walnuts help fight inflammation and protect against oxidative stress. They can even help prevent certain cancers (source).

They’re also great for supporting brain function and could possibly lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (source).

Want one more reason to eat walnuts? They support gut health by increasing beneficial gut bacteria. According to Hippocrates, “all disease begins in the gut.” So it’s important to take care of your gut, and walnuts can help!

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Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are an anti-inflammatory food (source) that provide fiber to support gut health. They’re also high in vitamins and minerals like zinc and magnesium.

Zinc helps balance hormones and is critical for male fertility health (source). As such, pumpkin seeds may help improve sperm quality.

As for magnesium, it’s a critical nutrient that’s required for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, a few of which include helping adjust blood glucose levels and aiding in the production of energy (source).

Another surprising fact about pumpkin seeds is that they are high in the amino acid tryptophan, which the body converts into seratonin and melatonin. So they can help you feel good and improve your sleep quality (source)!

Shredded Coconut

The coconut meat shredded coconut comes from is high in insoluble fiber that aids in digestive health. It also includes coconut oil (more on the health benefits of coconut oil below) which contains medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) or medium-chain fatty acids.

The MCTs in coconut meat can improve gut bacteria and metabolic health (source). In addition, the “manganese and antioxidants in coconut may help boost your immune system and reduce inflammation” (source).

And the fatty acids have an anticancer effect as shown by reduced cancer cell viability in this study! Isn’t that crazy?!

Just be sure to use unsweetened shredded coconut. This recipe is sweet enough without added refined sugar that can cause inflammation.

Hemp Hearts

Hemp hearts are a high protein superfood containing essential amino acids and healthy fatty acids that can reduce inflammation and boost the immune system.

One serving of 3 tablespoons contains 10 grams of protein! They’re also high in insoluble and soluble fiber to help support digestive health.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are a tiny but mighty anti-inflammatory superfood seed packed with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants including quercetin, and nutrients such as calcium.

They’re also high in protein with just 1 tablespoon providing 2 grams of protein! This recipe is a great way to incorporate chia seeds into your diet.

Cinnamon

This spice has amazing benefits! With some of the highest antioxidant levels of any spice, cinnamon has long been used in holistic and traditional medicine for its healing properties (source). And for good reason!

“In addition to being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, lipid-lowering, and cardiovascular-disease-lowering compound, cinnamon has also been reported to have activities against neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases (source).”

Wow! Is that impressive or what?!

Sea Salt

Yes, even the fine grain sea salt in this homemade granola has health benefits. I told you this recipe is healthy! 😉

With sodium playing an important role in fluid balance, salt can help maintain adequate hydration and blood pressure levels (source).

In addition to sodium, sea salt also contains trace minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium unlike traditional table salt (source).

These minerals double as electrolytes which “regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and help rebuild damaged tissue” (source).

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

This oil can help improve gut health, reduce inflammation, and create ketones which have been associated with reducing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Use extra virgin cold-pressed and unrefined coconut oil for the purest form with the highest nutritional content.

Maple Syrup

Pure maple syrup offers many health benefits unlike fake syrup that usually contains nasty ingredients like high fructose corn syrup (AND corn syrup), artificial color, artificial flavor, and artificial preservatives.

With 24 different antioxidants in the form of phenolic compounds (source) that can reduce inflammation and ultimately fight inflammatory diseases by protecting cells from DNA damage and mutation (source), pure maple syrup is a powerful ingredient in the world of antioxidants.

It also contains lots of highly beneficial minerals like manganese, zinc, calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium. You can probably see now why pure maple syrup is one of my favorite natural sweeteners to use in lieu of refined sugar.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract adds a hint of rich creamy sweetness. And it also offers health benefits, believe it or not! There’s a phenolic plant compound found in vanilla extract called Vanillin.

Vanillin is anti-inflammatory, may help brain health by protecting against neurodegenerative diseases, and has powerful antioxidant properties along with anticancer properties (source).

Again, be sure to use a pure vanilla extract with no artificial flavoring and no added sugar. And just a heads-up in case you’re not aware, traditional vanilla extract uses alcohol.

So if you’re alcohol-free, you might want to use a non-alcoholic vanilla extract. That’s what I’ve used while preparing to get pregnant and during my pregnancy.

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How To Make Homemade Granola

With just a few easy steps, you’ll be cranking out batches of homemade granola in no time!

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Then line a large 16″ x 12″ stainless steel baking sheet with unbleached, chlorine-free parchment paper.

Step 2

In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients: oats, oat flour, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, salt, cashews, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and coconut flakes. Set aside.

Step 3

To a small saucepan, add the wet ingredients: coconut oil, maple syrup or raw honey, and vanilla extract. Heat on low, stirring frequently until coconut oil is completely melted.

Step 4

Pour the melted wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Use a silicone spoon to scrape all the wet ingredients from the pot. Mix well until the dry ingredients are completely coated.

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Step 5

Next, spread the granola on the baking sheet in an even layer and press down using a spatula so it clumps together.

Step 6

Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Once done, remove from the oven and allow the granola to cool on the baking sheet for 15-30 minutes.

Step 7

Once cooled, break the granola sheet into large clumps. Transfer to an airtight glass container or three of the 32oz wide-mouth Mason Jars with reusable silicone lids.

Equipment To Make Homemade Granola

There are a few basic pieces of equipment you’ll need to make this easy homemade granola recipe.

Baking Sheet

A 16″ x 12″ stainless steel baking sheet is the perfect size to spread the granola out on and bake it.

Parchment Paper

To line the baking sheet, I recommend using unbleached, chlorine-free parchment paper.

Large Bowl

You’ll need a large glass bowl or stainless steel bowl to mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.

For glass, I love Anchor Hocking. They’re good quality and lead-free, which is important for glass.

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Saucepan

I use Caraway pots and pans because they’re about as non-toxic as you can get for non-stick pots and pans. Plus, they’re super easy to clean!

Silicone Spoon

This silicone spoon is perfect for scraping the wet ingredients out of the pan to get every last drop.

And it works great for scooping the granola out of the bowl, spreading it onto the baking sheet, and pressing it down. It’s honestly one of my favorite kitchen tools for its versatility.

Mason Jar or Glass Container

I use three of the 32oz wide-mouth Mason Jars with these reusable silicone lids that I adore. This holds all the granola perfectly around the 24oz mark of each jar, and they’re easy to pour the granola from.

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What To Eat Homemade Granola With

One of my favorite ways to eat this homemade granola is with yogurt. I mix plain Greek yogurt with maple syrup, add frozen blueberries that have been thawed, then top it with the granola. So good! 😋

This homemade granola is also delicious with just milk as a cereal. Or you could try it as a topping for overnight oats or steel cut oats to add some texture.

You could also simply eat it plain. It’s perfect for a hiking or road trip snack! Bring some of this homemade granola along on the trail or on the road in a reusable silicone bag.

FAQs About Homemade Granola

Recipe for Homemade Granola

Wrapping Up the Easy Homemade Granola Recipe

Did you make this homemade granola recipe? Share it on Instagram with the tag #wlmcleaneatingrecipes.

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If you do make this recipe and enjoy it, please be sure to leave a review! And don’t forget to follow @WellLifeMama on the ‘Gram for more clean eating recipes!

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