Full of cozy fall flavors this sugar free granola recipe is loaded with fresh apples and cinnamon. Likewise, this apple pie granola is easy to make and the perfect snack for kids. With a chewy texture and made from nuts, seeds, oats, and spices this healthy granola is perfect as is or as a topper!
Ways To Use This Sugar Free Granola Recipe
While I'm a fan of just grabbing homemade granola out of the fridge and shoving it in my mouth (this crunchy granola being the best), there are better ways to make it into an actual snack 😉
- use an actual bowl and add some plant-based milk! We use this apple pie granola in place of cereal
- top off a smoothie bowl
- use the healthy granola in a yogurt parfait or on top of overnight oats
Truly, any way you make use of this sugar-free granola recipe will be delicious!
Don't want to read? JUMP to the recipe!
Scaling The Sugar Of The Granola
"Sugar-free" is a hot term and one I struggle to use. To me personally, sugar-free means that I am not adding additional sugars. While I use a lot of natural sugar (like honey and maple syrup) in my recipes, to me that's still not sugar-free.
So, this apple pie granola does technically contain sugars (from the apples themselves and the dried fruit as carbohydrates break down into sugar). However, no additional sugar shave been added.
This means while the vegan granola is delicious it's not overly sweet. Furthermore, if you don't care about the sugar aspect, adding in ¼ cup of maple syrup to the nut butter before mixing definitely tastes delicious!
Much of this is simply about preference.
Texture Of The Granola
Due to the fact that this granola recipe uses real apples, it's not overly crunchy.
Instead, it's chewy! Between the oats and the apples, this granola comes out chewy more than anything which is perfect for younger kids. While you could cook it longer in an attempt to crisp it up, I wouldn't.
Cooking the granola longer than advised tends to give a "burnt" taste to the coconut.
Dried Fruit & Substitutions
I've been making homemade granola for years and here's a secret: there's no one way to do it! It's really about mixing a bunch of nuts, seeds, and grains in one bowl and a bunch of sticky stuff in the rest.
Thus, there's a lot of substitutions you can make!
Large flake toasted coconut I personally think that this gives the sugar-free granola more texture so I always opt for it. However, regular shredded coconut would work too!
Dried fruit apples and cranberries go together just so perfectly. That said, applied pie with raisins is delicious too. use the dried fruit you have.
Cashew butter was used because it's decadent. Any nut butter will work
Walnuts/Almonds - it also tastes delicious with pecans so feel free to swap some in if you have them!
Hack: if you need one last reason to make this granola it’s because it smells amazing. Seriously, leave the fresh vanilla bean on the tray while it cooks and your house will be perfect for company!
How To Store It
I store this sugar-free granola in the fridge simply because it has fresh apples in it. Store it in a sealed container and grab some when you need it. The granola is fine at room temperature for a while but I wouldn't leave it out more than a day.
Also, it's not a great recipe to freeze. Because the apple pie granola is chewy in texture it tends to get soggy once frozen!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup Walnuts
- ½ cup raw almonds
- 1 ¼ cup large toasted coconut flakes
- ⅓ cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- 1 cup gluten-free regular oats
- ½ cup rice puffs or more oats
- 1.5 tablespoons Cinnamon
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 3tbs coconut oil (measured solid)
- ⅓ cup cashew butter
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 inch vanilla bean
- 1 apple (¾ cup) peeled and grated
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
How To Make The Recipe
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Combine the almonds and walnuts in a food processor and process until chunky (leave pieces for texture!)
In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients up to and including the cinnamon (note: I used to make this recipe with bee pollen which is what you see in the picture)
Melt the coconut oil in the microwave and combine with the cashew butter, vanilla and applesauce. Whisk until smooth.
Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir briefly.
Add in the shredded apple and mix until everything looks a bit wet.
On a large tray with parchment paper, spread out the granola into a thin layer, and press down with a silicone spatula. You want to press down firmly to try and keep the sugar-free granola somewhat stuck together versus spread out.
Bake for 12 minutes then stir the granola, pressing it down again.
Bake another fourteen minutes until granola is starting to brown (it won't look quite done yet)
Remove from oven and let sit for one hour to firm up before moving.
Makes roughly 3 cups.
Don't forget to pin this apple pie, sugar-free granola recipe!
More healthy Snack Recipes You'll Love
- High protein granola
- Crunchy granola
- Overnight cookie dough protein oats
- Chocolate chia protein balls
- Peanut butter and jam protein balls
- Chocolate fudge protein balls
- High protein cookies
- Easy healthy snacks
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Healthy Apple Cinnamon Granola Recipe (gluten-free & vegan)
Equipment
- Large baking tray
- Silicone baking mat
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup walnut halves
- ½ cup raw almonds
- 1 ¼ cup large toasted coconut flakes
- ⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup regular oats
- ½ cup rice puffs or more oats
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 1.5 tablespoons cinnamon
- 3 tbs coconut oil measured solid
- ⅓ cup cashew butter
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 inch vanilla bean
- 1 apple ¾ cup peeled and grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
- Combine the almonds and walnuts in a food processor and process until chunky (leave pieces for texture!)
- In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients up to and including the cinnamon.
- Melt the coconut oil in the microwave and combine with the cashew butter, vanilla and applesauce. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir briefly.
- Add in the shredded apple and mix until everything looks a bit wet.
- On a large tray with parchment paper, spread out the granola into a thin layer and press down with a silicone spatula. You want to press down firmly to try and keep the granola somewhat stuck together versus spread out.
- Bake for 12 minutes then stir the granola, pressing it down again.
- Bake another fourteen minutes until granola is starting to brown (it won't look quite done yet)
- Remove from oven and let sit for one hour to firm up before moving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Fall is one of my favorite seasons for anything apple flavored (though to be honest, I make apple pie granola year-round. Why limit it to just one season?!). Because it's real food-based, this healthy, homemade, sugar-free granola recipe is the perfect snack to whip up! Apple pie granola makes for an easy breakfast, snack, or topper for busy moms and kids.
Tuula
This granola sounds yummy! I love that it does not have any added sugar!
fitasamamabear
I definitely try to steer clear of added sugars as I don't let my little one have any so this granola is perfect. Plus.. apples! 😀
Ned
This looks like a fantastic snack! Gotta try this!!
fitasamamabear
I love homemade granola! Such an easy snack 🙂
Lauren
This looks absolutely delicious. Where we live it is still over 100 degrees (in September) but I can't wait for it to cool off and start making some fall recipes. This one is definitely on the list!
fitasamamabear
Okay, I am so jealous of your temperature.. lol But yes, this is a tasty fall one! Just as you're getting ready to curl up and enjoy warm, comfort food! Enjoy!
Oh to Be a Muse
This homemade apple pie granola looks like a pretty delicious on-the-go snack!
fitasamamabear
That it is! I love it as a yogurt topper too!
Lisa
Yum! This looks delicious! I will definitely have to try to make these!
XO-Lisa
http://www.thatssodarling.com
fitasamamabear
Enjoy it- it makes an awesome snack!
Christine
Oh this looks so good and is right up my alley! I just made a homemade apple pie over the weekend and LOVED it! I'll be sure to try this one next! Thanks!!!
fitasamamabear
No problem Christine I hope you enjoy it! I love making the house smell like apple cinnamon and granola is just perfect for snacks!
easyblogthemes.com
Really love how you presented your blog with the images and all. Great job. And that granola recipe, I'll have to learn that. Look so good!
fitasamamabear
Thanks so much! It was a long learning process lol I'm glad it has paid off!
Cristine
This recipe is perfect for apple season. I can't wait to make this recipe with my kids.
fitasamamabear
My little one loves granola so this was a huge win- I hope your kids enjoy it!
Aarika
Apple pie granola?!!! This sounds amazing! I can't wait for apple season, so I can try this recipe. Yum!
fitasamamabear
Haha I know right?! So tasty and warming- enjoy it!
Valerie
YUM! I love Granola. Your Apple Pie Granola is getting me in the mood for Fall (even though I don't like Fall).
fitasamamabear
I don't like fall because it gets cold haha but I do love the tastiness that comes with it!
GiGi Eats
HUBBA HUBBA! Mouth open. Tongue outttttt and drooling!!!
fitasamamabear
Haha I know right?! Granola kicks butt
Sarah Camille
I love granola but have not made my own yet. You're inspiring me to give it a try!! Looks delicious. 🙂
Cheers, Sarah Camille // SCsScoop.com
fitasamamabear
Definitely give it a try- though fair warning it's addictive 😉
Emmi
This seems perfect for the changing seasons! I would love this as an afternoon snack.
fitasamamabear
It makes a great snack on it's own or topped with almond milk or on top of yogurt.. I love it all lol
Chastity
This looks tasty and I love granola. This is a great treat for kids since there isn't sugar added.Love the recipe!
fitasamamabear
Yes! My little one loves it as a snack 🙂
Sandra R. Schloemer
Sounds great.. But how do you store it and how long can you keep it.. Will give it a try..??
fitasamamabear
I store mine in a jar in the fridge! It gets eaten in about four days because we have some serious granola issues 😉 I've kept it for up to three weeks in the fridge though (although I haven't tried freezing it!)