Homemade Gluten-Free Granola has never been easier to make. Wholesome ingredients and only natural sweeteners make this the best snack ever for the family. Even the kids will love it!
Begin by preheating the oven to 250°F and preparing a baking sheet by covering it with parchment paper that will keep it from sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
Add the maple syrup, nut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk together well. It is best to use natural nut butter that tends to be runnier. If your nut butter is thick, mix it with a few tablespoons of water to get a thinner texture.
Next, pour the rest of the ingredients–oats, nuts, coconut flakes–into the bowl and stir until everything is evenly coated. Be sure to read my note about the type of oats to use in the NOTES section below.
Transfer the granola mixture to the lined baking sheet and spread it into a thin layer with a spatula or spoon. Be sure to spread it all the way to the edges of the pan to give plenty of room for the thinnest layer possible. There are photos of this above.
Place the pan in the oven and bake for 45 minutes on the bottom rack, stirring every 15 minutes. If you’ve ever made a Chex party mix before, this is the same baking/drying process. I always remove the pan from the oven for each stirring cycle to make sure I don’t spill any in my oven and to be able to stir it well.
Once it is done, remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool. It will be perfectly crunchy after cooling.
Video
Notes
Substitutions and variations
Oats- Be sure to use OLD FASHION Oats and not quick-cooking oats. Quick oats are much thinner and won't provide the nice crunch we're looking for in this recipe. For even more crunch, try substituting 1.5 cups of steel-cut oats for some of the old-fashioned oats.
Sweetener- The recipe calls for maple syrup but honey (or bee-free honey) or agave nectar can be substituted.
Nut butter- I like to use Kirkland peanut butter because it is already runny, but if you have a thicker brand, just add a few tablespoons of water to thin it out.
Storing gluten-free granolaOne of the best things about this granola recipe is how long it last. It doesn’t require refrigeration, though you can store it in there to make it last even longer, which makes it a great healthy snack for traveling.
Storage- Keep leftover granola in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Refrigerate- Though refrigeration isn't required, it will prolong the storage time even more.
Freeze- This granola can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight freezer container.