This homemade gluten-free cinnamon granola recipe has become a staple in our house. You can eat this gluten free granola for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. Our family puts cinnamon granola on yogurt, ice cream, and fruit crisps. Once you have made granola at home, you will never want to buy store-bought granola again.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy.
Have you tried to make your own granola from scratch yet? Once you make homemade granola, it is very hard to go back to expensive store-bought granola! It tastes delicious and is so much cheaper to make compared to store-bought granola!
You will also love all the fun things you can do with granola…like make granola tart crusts! Adding gluten free granola on top of yogurt is so good for breakfast! Once you know the formula and the granola contents, you can make any flavor of homemade gluten free granola you like. Give this gluten free apple granola recipe a try.
If you love granola as much as we do, but you need to follow a paleo, grain-free, or refined sugar diet, give this delicious Paleo Granola recipe a try! It has all of the granola flavors you love, but it is grain-free and refined sugar-free, too!
If you love granola, you will love my homemade Gluten Free Granola Bars too!
This is very good. I just made a couple changes. I only used 1/4 c. maple syrup because I’m trying to cut down on sugar and I baked a half batch in the oven for 30 minutes total because I like it more crunchy and the other half batch I put in the air fryer. I will definitely make this again.”
mary p., blog comment
Allergen Information:
This easy granola recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, soy-free, and egg-free.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
Here are all the granola ingredients you need to make gluten-free granola from scratch. I include lists of substitutions and mix-in ideas so you can customize this gluten free granola recipe any way you like!
- Gluten Free Rolled Oats – It is critical to use gluten free rolled oats if you are Celiac. Cross-contamination runs high in regular oats.
- Walnuts – Or any other nuts you like
- Sunflower Seeds – raw unsalted. You can use any nuts; just be sure to check for shells. I also love to add pepitas.
- Chia Seeds – This adds even more protein to this healthy gluten free snack.
- Maple Syrup – Not only is maple syrup a great sweetener, but the stickiness helps hold your granola together.
- Coconut Oil – I use coconut oil, but you can use another light oil.
- Raisins – You can use any dried fruits.
It is critical to use gluten-free oats!
It is important to know that when you are on a gluten free diet, it is critical to ensure that the oats you use are certified gluten free. Cross-contamination is a huge issue for oats, and I don’t want anyone to get sick!!
Our family loves Quaker GF Rolled Oats and Bob’s Red Mill GF Rolled Oats. Both are certified gluten-free; nobody in our family has ever reacted to them.
A special note is that Trader Joe’s rolled oats are labeled gluten free. The Gluten Free Watchdog, an independent testing company, has found Trader Joe’s Oats to be over the 20ppm rule for gluten free products. I would not recommend eating this brand if you are gluten free.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have some of the ingredients, don’t worry. Here are some easy recipe substitution swaps you can use:
- You can substitute honey or agave nectar for maple syrup.
- If you can’t have coconut, use another light oil like avocado.
Tips For Success
1. The granola should not be piled thickly on the baking sheet but in a thin layer. If you have too much granola, bake it in two rounds.
2. Stir the granola part gently throughout the baking time to avoid removing clumps.
Step-By-Step Photos and Directions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300º F. I also have used my convection toaster oven to make granola!
Email This Recipe To Me!
I will email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Step 2: Add the seeds, oats, ground cinnamon, and nuts to a large
Step 3: Mix the syrup and coconut oil in the bowl. (If the coconut oil is hard, melt it for 25 seconds.)
Step 4: Use a large spoon to spread out the granola mixture onto a parchment paper-lined
Step 4: Bake your gluten free granola for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and stir the granola. This will help your granola bake evenly through. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Mix-In Ideas:
Homemade vegan gluten free granola is easy to customize to your favorite flavors and add-ins. You can add any of the following to my cinnamon granola recipe:
- Nuts – chopped walnuts, pecans, or pistachios are delicious options for cinnamon granola.
- Seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds.
- Dried fruit like raisins, cherries, and apricots.
- Unsweetened coconut
- Chia seeds
- Seasonings like pumpkin spice or even savory spices like chili powder or curry powder will kick up the flavor of any gluten free granola recipe!
Frequently Asked Questions:
In small amounts, granola is considered good for you. It is full of nuts, seeds, and oats. This recipe has no added refined sugars, which makes it healthier than most store-bought granola brands.
The main binding ingredient in granola, either honey or maple syrup, is sticky, and it helps hold your granola together.
Store this granola in an airtight container in your pantry. It will keep fresh for up to two weeks. I like to store my granola in mason jars.
Homemade and store-bought granola can go bad if they sit for too long. One way to know if your granola went bad is to smell it. If the oats start to get soft and have a slightly sour smell, there is a good chance the granola is going bad. Nuts and seeds in granola can also go rancid, making an off smell.
How we like to eat granola:
Our family puts this homemade granola on everything!! They even eat it right off the baking tray! Here are some of our favorite ways to eat granola
- This is an easy granola for yogurt; sprinkle it on!
- Spoon into ice cream
- Top fruit crisps
- Mix in a bowl with milk for cereal.
- Use as a trail mix on a hike.
I used coconut oil in my recipe, but you can also use other light oils like avocado oil. This dairy-free and vegan recipe makes it a great allergy-friendly snack!
More Recipes with Gluten Free Oats:
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Cinnamon Granola – Basic Gluten Free Granola Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl.
- Pour on melted coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup and mix well.
- Spray coconut oil on a cookie sheet. Spread the granola onto the cookie sheet. (You may need to use two cookie sheets so the granola isn’t piled on too thick.)
- Bake at 300º F for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and stir. Put back into the oven for an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Store in a large ziplock bag or container.
Nutrition
Notes
- It is critical to use certified gluten free oats if you are Celiac. Cross-contamination runs high in regular oats.
- This granola will keep up to 5 days in an air-tight container.
- You can mix and match any way for this recipe so use any nuts or seeds you enjoy :-).
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
(*This post was updated from an older September 2016 post.)
This is very good. I just made a couple changes. I only used 1/4 c. maple syrup because I’m trying to cut down on sugar and I baked a half batch in the oven for 30 minutes total because I like it more crunchy and the other half batch I put in the air fryer. I liked the air fryer batch better. I will definitely make this again.
I am so glad you loved it, Mary. Thank you so much for coming back to share your edits!
Definitely trying this recipe. Do you add the raisins and bake them or toss them in after the oats and nuts are baked? Last time I made granola and added raisins to it, they got crispy and disgusting and ruined the whole batch. Now I’m traumatized and nervous to try again.
Hi Nikki, I chuckled at your note because I have done that with raisins too. If you don’t like the raisins to be crispy, I would set the timer and add them in 5-8 minutes before the batch is done. That way they get heated a bit with the cinnamon flavors
What other oil besides coconut?
Thanks.
Hi Beverly, I have also made this with avocado oil. Any light oil that doesn’t have much flavor should work well. Take care, Sandi