This healthy Apple Cinnamon Granola is made with healthy ingredients and sweetened with maple syrup. Perfect for breakfast or a snack! Gluten-free and vegan.
A delicious granola with the essence of cinnamon is the perfect addition to breakfast or healthy snacking.
With only a handful of ingredients and many of them pantry staples, this recipe might be one of your new favorite things.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Easy recipe
- Simple ingredients
- Healthy recipe
Ingredients and substitutions
Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients in this recipe. You can see a complete ingredient list and instructions in the recipe card below.
Oats - Buy certified gluten-free oats to rule out wheat cross-contamination.
Use rolled old-fashioned oats for the best texture. I don't recommend using quick oats.
Maple syrup - The perfect natural sweetener. When you combine pure maple syrup with oats, the outcome is a perfectly clumpy, crunchy granola.
Coconut oil - To avoid a hint of coconut, use refined coconut oil. Olive oil is a great substitute.
Ground cinnamon - The star of this homemade cinnamon granola! Cinnamon adds sweetness without added sugar.
Pepitas - Also known as pumpkin seeds, they add texture, flavor, healthy fats, and nutrients.
Walnuts - Swap in your favorite nuts if desired.
Hempseeds - The recipe calls for hempseeds as they are a great source of protein and fatty acids, but mix and match hemp, sunflower seeds, sesame, flax, or chia seeds instead if desired.
Dried apples - Store-bought dried apples or apple chips work well. You can also make your own dried apples in the oven!
Step-by-step instructions
Before you start: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, walnuts, pepitas, hemp hearts, salt, and cinnamon.
In a small bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients—coconut oil, ⅓ cup maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Pour over dry ingredients and stir until the oat mixture is evenly coated.
Step 2: Pour mixture onto the large baking sheet, spread, and pack down flat.
Step 3: Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir about halfway through, pack back down, and bake for the remaining time or until golden brown.
Step 4: When done, granola should look golden brown. Place the baking sheet on a wire rack and let the baked oats cool completely.
When cool, break up the granola into pieces and stir in dried apples. Store in an airtight container.
Tips
- If it looks like the walnuts are browning up quickly, tent a piece of foil over the pan for the remaining baking minutes.
Storage
Allow the gluten-free baked cereal to come to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container or mason jar.
Optional mix-ins
If you want additional mix-ins, here are a few ideas!
- Coconut flakes
- Banana chips
- Chocolate chips (delicious in this pumpkin spice granola)
- Dried fruit
Serving suggestions
There are so many ways to eat this apple cinnamon granola for breakfast and beyond. Here are some delicious ways to enjoy it:
- In a bowl with almond milk or choice of milk
- Layered in yogurt parfaits
- As a trail mix
- On ice cream or pancakes
- Topping for a smoothie bowl
FAQs
In many granola recipes, egg whites are used to help the oats and other ingredients stick together. In this vegan recipe, coconut oil and maple syrup are used to bind the ingredients.
To ensure this homemade granola is gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats.
Want a quick and easy way to make apple chips? Check out this air fryer apple chips recipe!
More granola recipes
Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!
📖 Recipe
Healthy Apple Cinnamon Granola
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free oats
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
- ¼ cup pepitas
- ¼ cup hemp hearts optional
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon maple syrup grade b preferred
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup dried apples (or more if desired) for homemade dried apples, see below
For homemade dried apples:
- 4 cups water
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 apples sliced about ⅛th of an inch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, walnuts, pepitas, hemp hearts, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a smaill bowl, whisk together coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Pour over dry ingredients and stir until the oat mixture is evenly coated.
- Pour mixture onto baking sheet, spread, and pack down flat (using a piece of parchment or plastic wrap is an easy, mess-free way to do this).
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir about halfway through, pack back down, and bake for the remaining time or until granola is golden brown. If it looks like the walnuts are browning up quickly, tent a piece of foil over the pan for the remaining baking minutes.
- When done, granola should look golden brown. Place baking sheet on wire rack and let granola cool completely. When cool, break up granola into pieces and stir in dried apples. Store in an airtight container.
To make homemade dried apples:
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine water and lemon juice. Add apple slices and allow to soak for 20-30 mins. This will reduce browning.
- Remove apples from lemon water and place on a paper towel. Press another paper towel over the top to remove excess liquid. Place slices on baking sheets and put one tray on upper and one tray on lower racks and bake for one hour.
- Remove, turn over slices, and bake for one more hour. If you would like crispier apple slices, bake for up to 30 minutes to an hour additional. I baked mine for two and a half hours total.
Notes
Nutrition
danielle is rooting the sun
hello to you tessa! i'm just discovering your blog - though your recipes are quite lovely! and your accompanying photography is beautiful to the eye. i love this recipe in particular for its perfect autumnal flavors (i'm a huge apple fan in general) - totally delicious ingredients, too (walnuts, pepitas, hemp hearts!). it's nice to find you! happy coming weekend. ♥
Tessa
Hi Danielle! So glad you found me! I am a big apple fan as well and love when they are in season. Never a fruit I tire of. :) Thank you for your kind words. Happiest weekend to you!
Amy | Club Narwhal
Tessa, this granola looks like my every dream come true! What a perfect fall breakfast ;)
Tessa
Aw, yay! I seriously have been eating this every day and can't get enough of it. ;) Thank you, Amy!
Amanda Paa
yes, the clump-ier the better! i've had success only sometimes with this, so i appreciate your tips. and i really need to try making my own apple chips. i know these don't require it, but i'm wishing for a dehydrator this christmas.
ps- love these photos, as always. xo
Tessa
Oh, yes, a dehydrator would be great to have! I have been making so many apple chips - can't get enough.
Thank you, sweet friend!! xo.
Leslie @ flora foodie
You are absolutely right, preparing a great weekday breakfast sets a day up SO well. I'm with you on the workouts, too. I'm just a much better person when I get a workout and a good breakfast in. You're killing me with rooftop pancake breakfast picnics though! Loving that. I want breakfast picnics!!!
Tessa
Breakfast picnics are the best!! :) Thanks, Leslie!
Lindsey | Mabel & the Wooden Spoon
The apple slices! OMG. So pretty. And, yep. I had a looooong work shoot today and left the house without a decent breakfast. I'm still feeling the effects! It's totally worth a few hours on Sunday to make something hearty for the week ahead.
Tessa
Oh no! It really does change the whole day, doesn't it? I know the feeling.
I love these apples slices so much I've made extra batches to keep in my bag so I can snack on them. Thank you, Lindsey!! xo.
Pang {circahappy}
I would choose YOUR autumn-worthy granola over any pancake any day, Tessa :)
For some reason, the aroma of this freshly baked granola from your photos carry through time & space to my place.
<3 <3 <3
Tessa
Haha, thank you, Pang! I thought it might be a bit of a tease to talk about pancakes and not deliver one. ;) Thanks so much for your kind word, sweet lady. xo
Zainab
I am a sucker for any kind of granola and just love it!! Thanks for this fall perfect one :)
Tessa
Haha, me too, I know the feeling! :) Thank you, Zainab!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
This granola looks lovely! The homemade dried apples are stunning :)
Tessa
Oh, thank you, Medha! The dried apples double as a tasty snack too. I've had a bag with me at all times as of late. ;)
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
I have to admit, there was some irony as I read this post today :) I was hurriedly shoving a piece of toast in my mouth as I rushed out the door because I didn't prepare a good breakfast for the week this weekend and I totally missed my morning workout! I totally agree, preparing for the week ahead makes life so much easier and smoother, which is really why I should do it a lot more often. By the way, I made your teff brownies to take to a GF friend tonight and they are SO good! Thank you sweet lady for the amazing recipe!
Tessa
Haha, that's too funny. Sounds like a normal morning for me! ;) I don't know why I resist preparing for the week so much - I'm going to blame it on procrastination.
Oh, yay! I am so happy to hear you liked the brownies. Thanks so much, Abby! xo.
Kathryn
Oh my, I bet this smells amazing as it's baking!
Tessa
It does!! :)