This healthy granola is a lighter, more nourishing take on the classic version, made without any added sugar or oil. Instead of relying on syrups or fats for sweetness and crunch, it uses simple whole ingredients like ripe banana and nut butter to naturally bind everything together while adding subtle sweetness.
The result is a crunchy, satisfying granola that pairs perfectly with yoghurt and fresh fruit, especially if you want something that won’t spike your energy first thing in the morning. It’s designed to be wholesome rather than overly sweet, making it ideal for everyday breakfasts or snacks without that typical “more-ish” crash you get from traditional granola.
A mix of oats, nuts, seeds and warming spices creates texture and flavour, while a slow bake helps everything crisp up beautifully. Once cooled, it becomes crunchy and cluster-like, without needing oil or refined sugars.
This is the kind of granola you make when you want something simple, clean, and genuinely healthy – not just labelled that way.
Gluten-Free Option
To make this granola fully gluten-free, simply use certified gluten-free rolled oats instead of regular oats. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but are often contaminated during processing, so certification matters if you’re sensitive or coeliac.
For extra variety or if you want to reduce oats altogether, you can also swap part of the oats for:
- Buckwheat groats (raw or lightly soaked)
- Quinoa flakes
- Extra nuts and seeds for a lower-carb option
Everything else in the recipe is naturally gluten-free, so no additional changes are needed.
Variations
- Add 1/2 tsp cardamom or ginger for a spiced version
- Mix in coconut flakes after baking for extra texture
- Add chopped dates if you want slightly more sweetness (still no refined sugar)
- Swap nuts depending on tolerance (hazelnuts work well for a richer flavour)
Serving Ideas
- With Greek yoghurt and berries
- Sprinkled over smoothie bowls
- As a clean pre-workout snack
- With almond milk for a low-sugar breakfast
No Sugar No Oil Granola
Ingredients
Wet ingredients
- 1/2 cup banana (120g) mashed (1 ripe banana)
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed or chia seeds (15g)
- 2 tbsp almond or peanut butter (30g)
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
Granola ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (170g)
- 1 cup nuts and seeds of choice I use almonds, walnuts, pepitas
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/4 tsp salt
Optional – for sweet granola
- 2 tbsp liquid sweetener (maple syrup, agave, honey etc)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 130° C / 265° F fan forced (or 150° C / 300° F without the fan) and line a large baking tray.
- In a large bowl, mix all wet ingredients together and set aside for 10 minutes for flax to thicken.
- Mix in the rest of the granola ingredients. This granola is not sweet, so if you prefer it sweet add in liquid sweetener.
- Spread the granola on the prepared baking tray and bake for 40 minutes. Rotate the tray and flip the granola pieces after about 20 minutes – use a spatula and be gentle if you don’t want break big clusters up.
- Let the granola cool completely where it will crisp up further. Store in an airtight container. Use within a week or freeze for up to 2 months.
Leave a Reply