By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On November 30, 2023

With a few simple ingredients, you'll be enjoying this crunchy gluten-free granola in under 1 hour. Save time and money by making your own homemade dairy-free gf granola, and you don't need to worry about any gluten contamination! Follow my tips and suggested toppings and add-ins for a healthy breakfast.

This gluten-free granola recipe has nuts in it, but don't worry, you can use seeds instead of nuts to make a gluten-free and nut-free granola. This recipe is very versatile, and you can make any and all substitutions you like to make this the perfect gluten-free granola for you and your family. 

If you love granola, you might also like my paleo chocolate granola. For more breakfast ideas, check out my gluten-free breakfast section.

GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA RECIPE

One of my favorite easy breakfasts has been, and probably always will be, gluten-free granola. It's such a versatile gluten-free breakfast food.

You can make this home-baked gluten-free granola recipe anytime you like with a few simple ingredients, saving time and money. Enjoy gluten-free granola with yogurt, granola with milk, mixed with berries, or honestly, just by the handful as a snack.

Finding good gluten-free granola in the stores can be challenging and expensive. Scroll down for some suggested store-bought options I recommend.

WHY YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THIS GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA

Versatile breakfast - Gluten-free granola is such a versatile breakfast as you can add whatever you like to it really (within reason). It's also great for snacking on when you're on the run.

No nasties - I like the fact that I know exactly what is in my gf granola. I sometimes battle to trust the packaging of store-bought granola. Especially as the oats may be produced in a factory with cross-contamination. This is a healthy granola recipe.

Simple to make - It is not a daunting task at all to bake your own gf granola. With a handful of ingredients and your oven, you can enjoy this recipe in under an hour.

INGREDIENTS IN GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA

Light Brown Sugar - This is my preferred sweetener for this recipe. I love the extra warm flavor that brown sugar has and how it caramelizes when it's cooked. 

Coconut Oil - I use coconut oil for its health benefits, and the light flavor it has. Butter also works well in its place. 

Maple Syrup- For a bit more sweetness, maple syrup is a winner. 

Pecans - Chop your pecans into pieces that will fit on your spoon. You can use other nuts and seeds.

Shredded Coconut - Buy raw or untoasted coconut for this recipe. Since we'll be baking the granola, it will get toasted at that point, along with everything else. 

Cinnamon - Cinnamon, brown sugar, and maple syrup together create the perfect sweet breakfast flavor. 

Gluten-free rolled oats - Ensure that your oats are gluten-free. I'll give more tips on this below. Use old-fashioned gluten-free rolled oats for the best texture. 

Salt - Just a bit brings out the sweetness and flavors of the other ingredients. 

Add-Ins - Optional inclusions are up to you! Try mini gluten-free dairy-free chocolate chips or your favorite dried fruit. 

If you have any questions about making gluten-free granola, please leave a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA

Large saucepan - Use a large saucepan to make the granola mixture. 

Baking tray - You need a fairly large baking tray to spread the gf granola evenly on the baking tray.

If you have any questions about making gluten-free granola, please leave a comment, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat brown sugar, coconut oil, and maple syrup, stirring constantly.
2. Bring it to a boil.
3. Add pecans, coconut, and cinnamon.
4. Stir until combined.
5. Add in the oats. Stir until combined.
6. Remove from the heat and spread the granola lightly onto a prepared baking sheet. Bake as directed in the recipe below, until golden brown. Don't stir, this will help it stay clumped together.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions in gluten-free granola, please see the complete recipe below.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA

Line baking sheet - Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. 

Even layer - Make sure the gf granola is pressed evenly on the baking sheet. If it is evenly spread, it will bake better.

Bake at the recommended temperature - Don't be tempted to bake the gf granola at a higher temperature as it will burn. This helps it to crisp and dry out. 

Allow granola to cool - Let the gf granola cool completely. Once the gf granola has cooled, break the granola into clusters.

IS GRANOLA GLUTEN-FREE?

I often get asked if granola is gluten-free. Yes and no if you buy your granola from the store. Just like any processed and packaged food, it may be made with products that contain gluten, and it may also be processed in a facility that processes wheat.

Always check labels before you purchase gluten-free granola. Additionally, the fact is that not all oats used in gluten-free granola are actually gluten-free.

While oats are naturally gluten-free, they can become contaminated any time between planting and processing. It's best to use certified gluten-free oats or purity protocol oats.

CAN GRANOLA BE GLUTEN-FREE?

Yes, granola can be gluten-free. Always check the ingredients of your store-bought gf granola. I also like to purchase a gf granola that is made in a factory that is certified gluten-free. This means that the factory doesn't make any other products with wheat in it.

WHAT IS GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA MADE OF?

Gf granola's main ingredient is oats. Oats are naturally gluten-free. The concern comes when the oats are manufactured in a factory that has cross-contamination.

ARE OATS GLUTEN-FREE?

Oats are naturally gluten-free. Try purchasing certified gluten-free oats so there is no cross-contamination from the factory.

CAN I MAKE THIS GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA RECIPE WITH HONEY?

Yes, you can replace the maple syrup with honey.

HOW DO I KNOW IF GF GRANOLA IS DONE?

Gf granola crisps up as it cools. If it is dry when you touch it and is golden brown, the gf granola is generally done.

WHY SHOULD I MAKE MY OWN GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA?

Gluten-free oats can be kind of finicky, and I honestly sometimes have a hard time trusting packaged gluten-free granola.

Despite their convenience, I feel a lot better about the integrity of my granola if I've cooked it myself using certified gluten-free oats.

And while homemade granola can seem like a daunting task, it's incredibly simple to bake at home.

HOW DO I STORE GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA?

Store your homemade granola clusters in an airtight container in a cool, dry place like a cupboard. It should last from 1-2 weeks this way. 

You can also freeze granola in zipper bags or freezer containers for up to three months. 

CAN I FREEZE GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA?

Yes, you can freeze gluten-free granola. It can be frozen for up to three months. Store it in an airtight container or zip-lock bags. I like to make a double batch, so I always have homemade gf granola on hand. If you are using freezer bags, try to remove as much air out of the bag as possible.

CAN I MAKE THIS GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes, you can. It lasts about 1-2 weeks in an airtight container. Alternatively, freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag.

WHY ISN'T MY HOMEMADE GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA STICKING TOGETHER?

Sugars - Did you substitute any of the sugars? Low-calorie sugars don't melt down the same as normal sugars.

Enough time - You may not have melted the sugars for long enough.

Oven temperature - Make sure the oven temperature is correct. If it is too low, it will not work.

WHAT TO DO IF GF GRANOLA IS NOT CRUNCHY?

So, bear in mind oats and pecans have different moisture contents. You may need to bake your gf granola for longer. I like to bake it on a low heat in 20-minute increments. Remember it will still crisp up further when it cools. You want crunchy granola clusters.

WHAT GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA VARIATIONS CAN I MAKE?

Coconut oil substitute - You can use butter in place of coconut oil in this gluten-free granola.

Nut substitute - If you can't have nuts, you can use seeds. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are favorites among many.

Honey substitute - You can use honey or sugar-free maple syrup in place of the maple syrup in this gluten-free granola recipe.

WHAT ADD-INS CAN I MAKE TO THE GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA?

After the granola is cooked and cooled, you can add chocolate chips, coca nibs, dried cranberries, raisins, sesame seeds, craisins, dried blueberries, or any other dried fruit. Some lemon or orange zest is delicious too.

One thing that I really love about homemade gluten-free granola is that you can really do anything with this recipe. You can try a simple recipe for maple granola. I just love that I know exactly what is going into my homemade granola and I can trust that it's gluten-free.

If you want to make some other breakfast options, try gluten-free-cereal, or this easy recipe for overnight oats!

STORE-BOUGHT GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA

While I do make this homemade granola recipe often, here are some of the gluten-free granola brands that we've tried. Please always check the packaging, as ingredients can change.

• Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Granola - while Bob's Red Mill isn't "certified" gluten-free, they do their own in-house testing, and we trust them. You do what's best for you.
• Udi's - Udi's is certified gluten-free oats. It is almond butter and almonds combined to create mouthwatering granola clusters. 100% whole grains and contains no dairy or egg ingredients.
• Kind - Kind is made up of five super grains, namely oats, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and quinoa. The flavor combination of vanilla and flax seeds is in each bite. Made without genetically engineered ingredients.
• Bear Naked - Bear Naked is a blend of whole-grain oats, maple syrup, praline pecans, and cinnamon. It is non-GMO project verified, and kosher dairy.

If you are looking for more granola recipes that are gluten-free you might like this Gluten-Free Almond Granola Recipe. You can also create homemade granola yogurt parfaits using this granola or your own variation. If you have any questions about this gluten-free granola recipe, please leave a comment below.

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Yield: 10 servings

Gluten-Free Granola

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With a few simple ingredients, you'll be enjoying this crunchy gluten-free granola in under 1 hour. Save time and money by making your own homemade dairy-free gf granola.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

• ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• ½ cup shredded coconut (not toasted, it will toast in the oven with the other ingredients)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups gluten-free oats
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Optional: ½ cup mini gluten-free dairy-free chocolate chips or dried fruit, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 275°F (135°C). Line a 15"X10" jellyroll pan with foil; set aside.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat the first 3 ingredients stirring constantly, until the brown sugar melts.
3. Stir in pecans, coconut, cinnamon, and oats.
4. Remove from the heat and spread the granola lightly onto the foil lined jellyroll pan.
5. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown. Don't stir, it will help it stay clumped together.
6. Remove from oven and sprinkle salt over granola.
7. Cool completely.
8. If desired, stir in mini chocolate chips or dried fruit.
9. Store in a glass quart jar or a sealed container for up to two weeks.

Notes

• Always make sure all of your ingredients are gluten-free before you start.
• You can use butter in place of coconut oil in this gluten-free granola.
• If you can't have nuts, you can use seeds. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are a favorite among many.
• You can use honey or sugar free maple syrup in place of the maple syrup in this gluten-free granola recipe.
• Feel free to add your own favorite ingredients to make this recipe your own. Try adding chocolate chips or dried fruit to the mix after it's been baked and cooled.

Recommended Products

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  Nordic Ware 3 Piece Baker's Delight Set, 1 Pack, Aluminum
• 
  Farberware Glide Ceramic Nonstick Saute Pan / Frying Pan / Fry Pan with Lid and Helper Handle - 4 Quart, Black

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

½ cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 249Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 123mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 3gSugar: 23gProtein: 2g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used a the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.