Healthy Granola Recipes

March 03, 2017
Credit: Jan Smith
A little crunchy, a little chewy, granola is a versatile food that deserves a spot in your week. Granola is perfect for breakfast either served alone, sprinkled over Greek yogurt, or eaten in a bowl with a splash of milk. It also makes a great snack as-is, or mixed with other foods like nuts and dried fruit to create a custom trail mix. If you really want to change things up, try a savory granola recipe. It is best used to top soups, salads, and casseroles. By making your own granola, you avoid the high-calorie and high-sugar store-bought versions. Plus being in control of the sweeteners and spices makes for a fun customizing opportunity. 
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Coconut-Buckwheat Granola

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Coconut-Buckwheat Granola

We change up the classic oat and nut combo with coconut flakes and starchy buckwheat groats. Look for pale-green groats; the toasted, dark-brown buckwheat can have a bitter flavor. You can also skip the buckwheat and add another 1/2 cup rolled oats.

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Blackberry-Citrus Granola Bowl

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Blackberry-Citrus Granola Bowl

The best way to cook steel-cut oats during the week? Don't cook them at all. Soak the oats overnight in your milk of choice: The oats will soften and plump in the liquid but remain slightly chewy. Enjoy cold, or heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Cocoa nibs add a little extra crunch and a wake-up jolt similar to coffee.

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Savory Granola

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Savory Granola

Who says desserts have to be heavy and sugar-laden? Meet your new granola, which has two-thirds less sugar than most store-bought varieties. Pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and quinoa lend 4g of protein, while honey and ground cinnamon add a touch of sweetness. We like it with a little extra kick, but knock the red pepper back for less heat. Stir into yogurt or sprinkle over fresh fruit for an unexpected—and unexpectedly delicious—end to the big feast.

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Gingerbread Granola

Credit: Photo: Hannah Burkhalter
View Recipe: Gingerbread Granola

When the temps are cool outside and the fire is roaring inside, cozy up with a bowl of yogurt topped with this gingerbread granola. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger add warm notes of holiday flavor. Walnuts and almonds add crunch, but you can use your favorite nut combo if you prefer something else. Dried cranberries are the perfect sweet-tart hit of flavor, but we also love dried cherries or even blueberries for this granola. Make a batch, divide it up for gifts, or enjoy it all yourself with yogurt, fruit, or just on its own.

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Campfire Coconut Ginger Granola

Credit: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Campfire Coconut Ginger Granola

Toasted in the oven, homemade granola is full of flavor without the crazy amount of added sugar and calories from store-bought brands. This particular recipe uses fresh orange juice, minced crystallized ginger and dried coconut to add zest, spice and sweetness.

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Granola Cups with Yogurt and Berries

Credit: Photo: Teresa Sabga
View Recipe: Granola Cups with Yogurt and Berries

Try these for your morning meal, or as a cute addition to your next brunch. We fill simple whole-grain granola cups with protein-packed yogurt, then top with fresh fruit—a fun and tasty solution to sugar-loaded granola bars.

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DIY Big Batch Clean Eating Granola

Credit: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: DIY Big Batch Clean Eating Granola

Skip store-bought granola, which are often high in calories, fat, and sugar, and instead create a homemade version that can last for weeks. DIY granola is so easy and will fill your home with the wonderful scent of spices and citrus. This clean eating granola is naturally sweetened with a touch of honey and fresh orange juice. With bold flavor from a variety of chopped nuts, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, we kept this big batch recipe simple so you can add any stir-ins you prefer. Some of our favorite combinations include crystallized ginger and toasted coconut, dried cherries and dark chocolate, and fresh lavender and dried apricots.

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Christmas Granola

Credit: Photo: Jamie Vespa
View Recipe: Christmas Granola

Our homemade granola is infused with a wealth of holiday flavor and hits every note on the salty-sweet-chewy-crunchy spectrum. Use any combination of nuts you like – though we love the pop of green from the pistachios. Fresh rosemary adds a rustic edge and earthiness, while silky molasses adds depth of flavor and a subtle sweetness reminiscent of gingerbread. This festive granola is the perfect edible gift when wrapped in a holiday bag or piled high in a mason jar. One serving boasts a hearty 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of plant-powered protein. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving!

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Chewy Oat and Fruit Granola Bars

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chewy Oat and Fruit Granola Bars
Toasting the oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed adds a rich, nutty taste to these granola bars. A much healthier and gluten-free alternative to store-bought bars, these homemade treats are a wonderful addition to any lunch box. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Wrap individually in parchment paper and tie with twine for a nice touch.
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Crunchy Maple Granola

Credit: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Crunchy Maple Granola

Think of this granola as a topping rather than a cereal. Instead of getting your kids all hopped-up on a full bowl (it’s loaded with delicious maple syrup), sprinkle it over yogurt with fresh blueberries or raspberries on top. You’ll still get the wonderful taste of the granola and the health benefits of the oats without too much sugar.

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Blueberry and Maple-Pecan Granola Parfaits

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Blueberry and Maple-Pecan Granola Parfaits

Blueberries and maple-pecan granola make this a sweet morning treat. Whether enjoying at home, in the carpool line, or at the office, you won’t regret making time for our breakfast parfait.

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Sunflower Granola Breakfast Parfaits

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Sunflower Granola Breakfast Parfaits

To make this portable breakfast a snap, prepare the granola in advance and store it in an airtight container. Be sure to keep a close eye on the broiler so the granola doesn't burn. You can also sub pitted fresh cherries or any ripe berry for the raspberries.

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Orange, Pumpkin Seed, and Smoked Almond Granola

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Orange, Pumpkin Seed, and Smoked Almond Granola

Make a double batch and divide it in two. Serve with yogurt, and you have a super easy breakfast for Sunday. Even better, Monday morning breakfast is good to go.

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Quinoa-Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Quinoa-Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies

Use an already-made batch of our Nutty Whole-Grain Granola to whip up these scrumptious cookies.

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Granola with Honey-Scented Yogurt and Baked Figs

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Honey-Scented Yogurt and Baked Figs

The granola itself is a star player, but the yogurt and figs take it to a whole new level of delicious.

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Nutty Whole-Grain Granola

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Nutty Whole-Grain Granola

This granola is fantastic on its own, but also lends that perfect bite to our Quinoa-Granola Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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Toasted Barley and Berry Granola

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Toasted Barley and Berry Granola

Though rolled barley flakes look nearly identical to rolled oats, they pack more fiber. Look for them in whole-foods shops or supermarket bulk food bins. Serve over plain low-fat yogurt.

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Homemade Granola

View Recipe: Homemade Granola

Prepare the granola up to two days ahead, and store in an airtight container. Serve with low-fat yogurt and fruit. If you like your granola super-crunchy, pack the yogurt and fruit in a plastic container and pack your granola in a zip-top bag. Mix when you are ready to dig in.

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Wholesome Morning Granola

View Recipe: Wholesome Morning Granola

"I use fruit juices and other natural sweeteners to sweeten this cereal. On cold mornings, it's wonderful with warm milk."
--Meg Wilson, Anderson, SC

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Power Granola

Credit: Jan Smith
View Recipe: Power Granola

This recipe has plenty of room for creativity. Other reviewers suggest pairing it with yogurt, substituting dried blueberries for cranberries, or adding wheat germ and dried currents.

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