Crunchy Gluten Free Granola Recipe

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Granola is one of the simplest recipes to make at home. Our cranberry-orange gluten free granola recipe is a fresh take on the classic breakfast food.

Gluten Free Granola Recipe with a Twist

Granola is one of those foods that reminds me of the days when I was single and wanted to eat cereal for meals, but at the same time was trying to be health-conscious. Granola is just sophisticated cereal, isn’t it?

It has several food groups in it and can contain fruit and nuts if you please. It can be made without refined sugar or corn syrup. As an adult and mother of a bunch of kids, I wanted to create a healthy snack that made me feel young again and would please even my picky eaters. That’s why I created this homemade gluten free granola recipe with a twist, the twist of an orange that is!

This recipe contains simple ingredients that when combined give you the flavor and crunch that make granola a favorite breakfast or snack of young and old alike.

To Make Cranberry Orange Granola You Will Need…

If you are making this granola recipe for someone who has celiac disease or is on a strict gluten-free diet, check the labels on your ingredients to make sure that there is no hidden gluten to avoid cross-contamination.

Some of the ingredients are not naturally gluten free, so if you need to avoid gluten, be sure to check the labels on all of the ingredients, especially the nuts, rolled oats, and cranberries. These are often labeled that they may contain wheat.

To learn more about identifying gluten-free ingredients and reading labels to avoid hidden gluten, check the information in our Gluten-Free 101 section.

Equipment used for this recipe

Baking Homemade Gluten Free Granola Step-By-Step

In under an hour, you can have a large container full of yummy cranberry orange granola ready for your next craving.

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325F or 160C and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Step 2

Melt coconut oil in a small saucepan or in the microwave. It just needs to be mostly melted and not hot. Pour the coconut oil into a very large bowl. Add maple syrup.

Step 3

Wash your organic orange and grate the rind over the large bowl using a fine grater. Juice the orange and add the juice to the coconut oil and maple syrup. Stir the mixture trying to combine the oil and the other liquids.

Step 4

Add cinnamon to the liquids in the bowl and mix until well combined.

Step 5

Add the oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chopped almonds, and chopped hazelnuts. Stir until everything is thoroughly combined and coated with the liquid mixture.

Step 6

Spread the granola mixture evenly onto a large lined baking sheet. The mixture will be quite thick. Place the granola in the oven and set a timer for 40 minutes.

Step 7

IMPORTANT: Stir the granola mixture every 10 – 15 minutes during the baking period to ensure even browning of the granola. After the 40 minutes have elapsed, remove the granola from the oven and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 8

Pour the granola into a large bowl and mix in dried cranberries. Store the entire mixture in an airtight container and enjoy.

Substitutes and Alternatives

If you prefer, substitute the almonds and hazelnuts with your favorite nuts or seeds and use raisins or dried fruit in place of the cranberries.

For festive holiday granola, add some cardamom and nutmeg and your favorite gluten-free chocolate chips.

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