Grain Free Granola with Cranberries
This Grain Free Granola with Cranberries is packed with rich dark chocolate, tart cranberries coconut, nuts, and seeds! It is the perfect grab-and-go snack for any occasion!
What is Grain Free Granola?
Traditional granola is made from oats. While it is completely delicious it is not low carb, and unless you use specifically gluten free oats it isn’t safe for those with Celiac either. This grain free granola is made of dried fruits and nuts. It is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping the carbs in check. We love this granola on yogurt, or just as a snack.
Ingredients for Cranberry Granola
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this granola. For exact measurements, keep scrolling to the printable recipe card!
- Coconut Flakes: you will need flakes for this recipe, not shredded coconut
- Almonds, Pecans and Macadamia Nuts: salted or unsalted, your preference
- Chia Seeds: raw seeds
- Butter: I use salted, but unsalted will also work
- Low Carb Sweetener such as Golden Monkfruit or Brown Sugar Swerve
- Vanilla Extract
- Sugar Free Chocolate Chips: you can use regular chocolate or another variety if you prefer
- Dried Cranberries: sweetened are fine if you are not low carb. If you are keto, use unsweetened.
How to make Gluten-Free Granola
This grain free granola is made in three basic steps:
- Combine the coconut flakes, nuts and seeds in a mixing bowl, set aside.
- Heat a large skillet to medium low heat, melt the butter and add the sweetener, stirring regularly. Stir the mixture for 6-7 minutes until the sweetener completely dissolves and it begins to thicken. Be careful not to overheat the mixture. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and cinnamon.
- Pour the mixture over the nut and seed mixture and stir until it is completely coated. Spread out onto a silicone lined baking sheet and roast at 250 degrees F for 15 minutes, then turn and bake another 10-15 minutes more, until the coconut flakes are toasted.
- Allow the granola to cool completely and mix in the chocolate chips and dried cranberries
Tips for the BEST Homemade Granola:
- Use high-quality ingredients — One great thing about granola is its ability to pack a ton of nutrients into a relatively small amount of food!
- Do not add in the chocolate until the granola has cooled to avoid melting.
- Cook the sugar mixture until it has thickened, but you do not want the mixture to crystalize.
- Be sure to coat all of the ingredients well with the cinnamon sugar mixture for the best flavor.
Granola Substitutions:
My FAVORITE thing about granola is how easy it is to customize! Here are some ways you could customize it to create your own perfect blend:
- Nuts: Pistachios, cashews, almonds, pecans… Whole, sliced? You can create many different textures and flavors by adding different nuts!
- Fruits: Dried fruits always work best in granola for storage and texture, but you could try all kinds! Raisins, dried blueberries or cherries, figs, apricots, banana chips… You could even cut your dried fruit before adding for a chewier granola! Just remember, if you are keto a lot of those dried fruits are off limits.
- Candies: I added dark chocolate chips because I didn’t want it to be TOO sweet, but you could add milk or white chocolate chips, too!
- Seeds: Try sunflower seeds, chia seeds, toasted pumpkin seeds, or none at all. I really love the crunch and nutrition they provide!
- Seasonings/Spices: Try a different extract, different spices, maybe even espresso powder! Cocoa powder, powdered peanut butter, pumpkin spice mixes… The options are endless!
How should I store homemade granola?
After cooking your granola and mixing in any additions, you should make sure your granola is COMPLETELY cool before storing. If it is, it should stay crunchy and fresh for about 2 weeks in an air-tight container in a cool cabinet or pantry. If you can vacuum seal it or store in a baggy with all the air pressed out, it will keep for longer!
You can also freeze granola for longer-term storage. Again, make sure granola is completely cool, then place in freezer bags. Granola will keep about 6 months, but it’s best eaten within 3 months.
Easy Gluten-Free Granola:
- Lemon Poppy Seed Granola Bars
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Granola
- Grain-Free Granola (keto + low carb)
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars (no bake)
Get the Recipe: Grain Free Granola with Cranberries
Ingredients
- 2 cups coconut flakes, not shredded coconut
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup macadamia nuts
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup keto friendly sweetener such as Golden Monkfruit
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup sugar free chocolate chips
- 1 cup dried cranberries, unsweetened if low carb
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
- Combine the coconut, nuts and seeds in a mixing bowl, set aside.
- Heat a large skillet to medium low heat, melt the butter and add the sweetener to the skillet, stirring regularly. Stir the mixture for 6-7 minutes until the sweetener completely dissolves and it begins to thicken. Be careful not to overheat the mixture.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and cinnamon.
Pour the mixture over the granola and stir until it is completely coated. - Spread out onto a silicone lined baking sheet and roast at 250 degrees F for 15 minutes, then turn and bake another 10-15 minutes more, until the coconut flakes are toasted.
- When the granola has cooled completely mix in the chocolate chips and dried cranberries.
Notes
I do that too! It’s all worth the effort when you get yummy plans snacks. This granola is gorgeous. Great photos!
Thanks Bri! 🙂
I need that kind of inspiration to clean out my apartment before my trip to FL tomorrow…at the least, I DEFINITELY need to clean out the fridge! And maybe also make some granola…because obviously we’ll need snacks for the trip!
Yes! Absolutely! What fun are trips without chocolatey snacks?!
Ooh I’m on a serious granola kick now — chocolate/cranberry is one of my favorites! I have that cleaning impulse, too. Sometimes before work I run around like a madwoman trying to straighten up because I know I’d hate to clean when I get home after a long day!
Oh yeah I do that too! I am actually way more likely to do a good job of cleaning up when I first wake up, after that it is touch and go! 🙂
I am the exact same way Annie! My house has to be sparkling clean before I leave for vacation. Nothing worse than coming home to a messy house. I joke that my house is the cleanest when I’m out of town and not there to enjoy it, haha! This granola sounds delicious! I love the dark chocolate and raspberry combination : )
Oh yes definitely! lol When we left there was NO dog hair anywhere and within a few hours of getting back it was covered again. I just can’t walk into a messy house after vacation! It just ruins it lol
This looks sooo good! I love making my own granola and clearing out my pantry, too! 🙂
Thanks Michelle! Granola is the perfect way to use up random ingredients! 🙂
What a great idea to take homemade granola on a trip with you. I wish I had done that myself! This granola looks fantastic! 🙂
Thanks Renee! I am such a snacker I have to carry food around with me! haha!
Gorgeous! I’ve been kinda obsessed with granola lately, could live off the stuff! Pinned this!
Thanks Krista! 🙂 Me too!
This looks so good and gorgeous! Once you make homemade granola, there is no going back to the store-bought stuff!
Oh I totally agree!! It is so easy and way better!
I love the combination of cranberries and chocolate. This granola looks great!
Thank you! 🙂 Me too! It is an unbeatable pair!
Loving the awesome flavor combinations in this! (and the photographer in me is really digging that awesome red platter these are on!)
Thanks Nicole! My sister got it for me and said she thought food would look beautiful on it! She was right! 🙂
I was amazed (definitely in a good way) when I first had a go at homemade granola. I love the sound of those honey roasted peanuts and cranberries in yours!
I think I need to get on with making some more granola … it’s the food bloggers’ disease, only making things once and then moving on!
I totally understand!! 🙂 I have a love/hate relationship with always having to make new content!
I’ll take granola any way I can get it! Looks delicious!
I love granola – and this flavor combo looks fantastic, I want it for breakfast…and again as a snack later!
Haha! I am so with you about coming home to a clean house!! I’m certain I got it from my mom…we’d all be in the car, packed and ready to go, and she’d still be inside windex-ing the mirrors! I love homemade granola and your recipe looks scrumptious!
Such a classic flavor combination, Annie – love it! Pinned!
I do the same thing when I travel. I love coming home to a clean house. I’m so happy you posted this recipe! I’ve been looking for a recipe for chocolate granola, and this one checks all the boxes!
This looks DELICIOUS! I’ve been on such a granola kick lately, I’ll have to try this!
Annie this granola looks amazing! I am a sucker for dark chocolate – I love it in this recipe!!
Yum!! The perfect to-go snack! So glad you didn’t get stuck in the airport TOO long! 🙂 I always empty the fridge when I leave for like, 2 days…. even though most of that stuff would have been untouched if I was HOME for those 2 days anyways! LOL!
Granola is the best! Good for anytime, anywhere! The flavors you’ve put together sounds delicious; dark chocolate is so good in granola. It feel like dessert for breakfast! Delicious, Annie!
I hear you; I always clean before leaving town. I can’t stand coming home to a cluttery, messy house. I mean, isn’t unpacking enough!?
Oh yes! Unpacking is always such a chore! I normally put clothes straight into the wash! No sorting or anything! I like for my life to get back in order pretty quickly after returning from a trip! I am such a creature of habit!
I’ve been craving granola recently and this looks like granola heaven! Love the combination of dark chocolate and cranberries… Pinned 🙂
Oh I do too!! I love the bitter dark chocolate and the tart cranberries, it is such a classic combo!