Best No Added Sugar Classic Granola Recipe

Today I am going to show you the BEST no sugar added classic granola recipe that is easy to make and seriously good. Use it for topping your yogurt, to have with milk, or on its own.

Make Granola With Me

It is a rainy day in our area. Stormy in fact. The wind is howling away and I can hear the rain rapidly draining from the gutters as I type this. It is the perfect scene for making up a batch of homemade granola.

For years now, I have been making my own granola as opposed to buying storebought. Honestly, it is about the easiest thing you can make from scratch and it keeps extremely well without having to add anything special to it. The key to great granola I feel, is a good oil and a few tasty add-ins that give it the perfect crunch. There is no need for refined sugar or artificial sweeteners as the natural sugar in honey does the job well. I like to use raw honey over filtered for the added health benefits.  

But If you are careful about your sugar consumption or have blood sugar sensitivity you can opt to make a completely sugar-free granola recipe like this one here.

This is my favorite granola recipe that I use to top fresh fruit, or my go-to ripe bananas with yogurt in the mornings. 

No Sugar Classic Granola Is…

• Filled with healthy fats and whole grains minus any artificial sugars.
• A great crunchy granola made with coconut flakes and pecans.
• A healthy breakfast option that is much better than commercial granolas.
• The best way to get low-sugar granola is to make your own granola.
• A healthy granola recipe and my favorite way to get whole grains into our diet.
• A granola made without cane sugar, brown sugar, or sugar alcohols. 

Ingredients

Oil- I like to use coconut oil for this, preferably raw organic coconut oil. I get mine here. Coconut oil gives a nice light flavoring while helping to crisp up the rolled oats when baking. You can also use extra virgin olive oil if you like. 

Honey- I use raw unfiltered honey but any honey is fine. Honey is a much healthier alternative to sugar and gives a beautiful rich taste. 

Oats- use old-fashioned rolled oats not quick oats for this. Use organic oats and clean ingredients for the healthiest granola. 

Salt- a little sea salt gives a nice balance to the granola. I use sea salt or pink Himalayan salt but any standard salt will do. 

Coconut- shredded coconut adds flavor and texture to the granola. I prefer unsweetened but you can use sweetened if you like. 

Nuts- you can use a variety of nuts for this. I like pecans, walnuts, or almonds best. Pumpkin seeds are also a great alternative to tree nuts if you have an allergy.

Cinnamon- I use ground cinnamon for added warmth of flavor. 

Directions

Set your oven to 300℉.

In a stock pot begin heating the oats, honey and coconut oil.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.

Add the cinnamon, salt, nuts and coconut. Stir well to combine.

Pour mixture onto the baking sheet and spread out as shown. Bake for 20 minutes.

Then turn the baking sheet around and bake for an additional 5 minutes. The mixture should be golden brown and smell amazing.

Store in an air-tight container in your pantry. I find that mason jars work perfectly and love this Le Parfait flip-top jar for my granola.

Baking Tips

• Be sure to heat the ingredients first on the stovetop instead of just mixing the ingredients into a bowl. This helps ensure the oats are properly coated with the oil and honey. Having heated the honey, allows it to mix into the oats much easier. 
• Use old-fashioned oats for the best results
• I use raw honey for this recipe
• A Dutch oven works well for mixing all the ingredients on the stovetop. 
• Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper will make for less cleanup. 

Ways to Enjoy this Classic Granola

• Enjoy this Classic Granola Recipe poured over homemade yogurt or your favorite store-bought kind.
• Pour milk into a bowl and eat classic granola as a cereal.
• Use as a topping on your ice cream, parfait, or as a snack in itself.
• Use it to provide a crunchy topping to your muffins.
• Use it to top sliced apples with nut butter and honey drizzled over.

FAQ’s

Why coconut oil?

Coconut oil is a very healthy good fat to add to this Classic Granola Recipe. I also love that it gives a slight coconut base flavor to the overall granola. You can sub it out for olive oil or avocado oil as well. This will create a slightly different taste but still good granola.

What type of oats are best?

I use the standard old-fashioned oats when making any of my granola recipes. I like that they are sturdier and can stand up to anything I add to my granola.

What other sweetener would work for this recipe?

Maple syrup would be a good alternative to raw honey. If doing so, I would use real maple syrup. Please note, that the granola will of course have a bit of a taste difference but still delicious granola nonetheless.

Is granola healthy?

Of course, this all just depends on what is in the granola you are consuming. We have all seen those dessert-style granolas loaded with sugar in the grocery store. That is one of the benefits of making your granola. You can decide the quality of ingredients and control the amount of sugar that goes into your recipe.

This Classic Granola Recipe generally has a relatively lower sugar content when compared to other store-bought granolas. As such consuming good quality granola with low sugar content can have many suggested health benefits. Including having soluble fiber that is known for its ability to help lower HDL cholesterol. It can boost energy without overloading your body with sugars. It is also a good source of plant-based protein among other health benefits.

How To Store

Store the granola in an airtight container or a convenient resealable pouch or bag. The granola will keep well for several weeks if stored out of direct sunlight and in room temperature conditions. 

Other Recipes You May Like…

• Easy Overnight Oats
• No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars
• Oatmeal Peach Muffins

Pin For Later

*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through the links I provide (at no cost to you).

Shop This Post

Le Parfait Jar

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Baking Sheets Set

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you would come back and give it 5 stars!