• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop

The Worktop logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Christmas Breakfast Ideas
  • All Breakfast Recipes
  • Easy Ideas
  • Brunch Ideas
  • Meet Tina
  • By Category
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home / Breakfast and Brunch Recipes / Nut Free Granola - Easy to Make and Crunchy

    Mar 3, 2020 · Last Updated: Nov 3, 2021

    Nut Free Granola - Easy to Make and Crunchy

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

    Sharing is caring!

    Nut free granola is a safe and tasty recipe for anyone with a nut allergy. It may be hard to come by in the store, but it's easy to make at home! This no nut granola recipe is full of flavor, crunch and just the right amount of chewiness.

    Nut Free Granola Recipe - on baking pan | The Worktop

    This nut free granola recipe is easy to make and allergy-free

    If you have someone in your family with a nut allergy, you know how stressful it can be to find store-bought foods that are safe.

    Granola is an easy breakfast staple to make at home, so you can avoid the store-bought stuff altogether!

    If you're like me, you will find yourself munching on this granola throughout the day. I love it because it's:

    • Crunchy
    • A bit chewy
    • Sweetened just a bit with honey
    • Perfectly spiced with cinnamon

    Try this nut free granola recipe once, and I bet you will have a jar on your counter at all times!

    Nut Free Granola - homemade just out of the oven | The Worktop

    Does granola usually have nuts?

    The majority of store-bought granolas contain some type of nuts. It's important to read labels very carefully when looking for an allergy-safe granola.

    Even if a store-bought granola does not contain nuts in the ingredients, it's possible that the granola is produced in a facility with nuts. The package should let you know.

    But good news! This homemade granola recipe is perfectly nut free.

    Please note: I use coconut in this recipe. Although it is considered a tree nut, coconut is usually safe for people with nut allergies so I included it in this recipe.

    Bowl of yogurt and Nut Free Granola ready for breakfast | The Worktop

    How do you make nut free granola?

    Most importantly, to make nut free granola, you need to find a filler to replace the usual nuts. When choosing a filler:

    • Don't rely only on oats - keep it interesting!
    • Be sure to compensate for flavor.

    However, it's not difficult to find nut free granola fillers if you think outside the box a bit.

    Key ingredients in this recipe

    What you won't find in this recipe - added sugar and of course, nuts.

    Here's what you will find in this recipe - healthy, whole ingredients.

    • Old-fashioned oats
    • Wheat germ
    • Coconut flakes
    • Honey
    • Raisins
    • Banana chips
    • Warm spices (cinnamon and ginger)

    Using wheat germ in no nut granola

    If you're thinking that wheat germ isn't a typical granola ingredient, you're right! Wheat germ adds some health benefits such as:

    • Protein
    • Fiber
    • Healthy fats
    • Vitamin E - an antioxidant
    • Minerals like zinc (good for immunity) and magnesium (good for brain health)

    Most importantly though, wheat germ also helps to form little clusters in the granola, which replace the crunchy texture of the nuts. These clusters break apart easily when chewing, unlike whole nuts in other granola recipes.

    This is the wheat germ I alway use. I've never had a problem with it, and it makes great granola!

    Adding coconut to granola

    This nut free granola recipe contains coconut, which is technically a tree nut. However, most people with a tree nut allergy can still eat coconuts.

    If you make this recipe to send to a nut-free school, you may want to double check to make sure coconut is okay.

    My favorite coconut chips to use are the thick-cut variety like these. They bake perfectly, without getting burnt.

    Regular coconut chips work just as well, but I would keep an eye on them as they bake - they might get a bit toasty!

    Other possible mix-ins to add to this no nut granola

    There are plenty of possible mix-ins for this recipe. You will never get bored with your granola again! Here are some possible ideas:

    • Dried fruit (cherries, apple chips, berries)
    • Seeds (flaxseed, pumpkin seeds)
    • Chocolate chips (my personal favorite)

    Just add your mix-ins after the granola has cooled.

    Baking your Nut Free Granola

    Sometimes it's tricky to know if granola is done baking. I do a simple “clink test.”

    How to do a clink test to tell if your granola is done: First, I transfer a few pieces of granola into a small glass or teacup. Then I simply wait a couple minutes and swirl the cup around. Swirling helps the granola cool quickly. 

    If the granola makes a clinking noise as it swirls inside the cup, then you know it’s done. 

    Adjust the baking time to make the granola the texture you like. I baked the granola in these pictures for 30 minutes for an extra crispy texture with no clusters.

    The finer, crispier texture seems to work better for my toddler's yogurt. Consequently, he can easily mix it in and eat it on his own.

    How long can I store this granola?

    This granola will keep in an airtight container for around two weeks. The more dry and crunchy you make it, the longer it will last.

    However, it's very doubtful that any will be left after more than a few days!

    Pack this healthy, no nut granola in school lunches

    I love finding healthy foods that are also easy to pack in a lunchbox. It's difficult to find variety sometimes! Like many schools, my son's school is a nut-free zone. I started making this granola so he could safely take it to school.

    This granola is great with some yogurt, or on it's own as a sweet snack. My son's favorite part of this recipe are the raisins and banana chips.

    This nut free granola recipe is kid-friendly too

    Allergies aside, nuts are also a choking hazard for young kids. Nuts are simply too hard for toddlers and young children to chew. This granola is much easier for little ones to eat!

    I replace nuts with wheat germ in this recipe, which helps clump the granola together. However, the wheat germ breaks apart very easily for chewing.

    Toddler lunch box with nut free granola | The Worktop

    Love this lunchbox? It's a Yumbox. I love that I don't need to use countless plastic bags and the divided portions make it very easy to pack lunch. We use this every day!

    Here are some other nut free lunch ideas that pack well in a lunchbox:

    • Toddler Muffins - a healthy and easy breakfast
    • Toddler Pancakes - perfect for little hands
    • Egg Free Banana Muffins - another allergy-safe option
    Best Nut Free Granola - served in a bowl with yogurt | The Worktop

    Make the best nut free granola at home

    If someone in your home has a nut allergy, it's possible that you avoid granola altogether due to fear that maybe you'll miss something on a store-bought label.

    Try this homemade granola recipe with no nuts ASAP!

    It's truly better than anything you will find in the store, and you can rest easy knowing you are in control of the ingredients.

    Best Nut Free Granola - homemade recipe | The Worktop

    I hope you try this homemade granola recipe with no nuts soon and love it as much as we do!

    Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below or email tina@theworktop.com. And I’d love to hear what you pair with your nut free granola in the comments below.

    Nut Free Granola Recipe - close up to show oats, raisins, wheat germ | The Worktop

    Nut Free Granola

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Serves: 8 cups
    Prep: 5 mins
    Cook: 30 mins
    Nut free granola is a safe and tasty recipe for anyone with a nut allergy. It may be hard to come by in the store, but it's easy to make at home! This no nut granola recipe is full of flavor, crunch and just the right amount of chewiness.

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats (jumbo rolled oats)
    • 1 ½ cups wheat germ
    • 1 cup thick coconut flakes
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
    • ⅔ cup cold-pressed virgin coconut oil - melted
    • ⅔ cup honey
    • 1 ¼ cups plump raisins
    • 1 ¼ cups banana chip pieces (I just roughly break up banana chips)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 325°F / 160°C. Line a big baking tray with parchment paper.
    • In a large bowl, mix together the oats, wheat germ, coconut flakes, cinnamon, ginger and sea salt flakes.
    • In a small bowl, mix together the honey and coconut oil. You can heat it in the microwave for about 10 seconds to help it mix together more easily.
    • Pour the honey mixture over the dry mixture and stir everything together very well, until all the oats look well coated. Tip the oats mixture onto the baking tray and use a spatula to spread it all out evenly.
    • Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, stirring everything once halfway through. Remove the pan from the oven and do not stir again if you like clusters. Allow the granola to cool completely.
    • Once the granola has completely cooled, break apart any large clusters. Mix in the raisins and banana chips.
    • Store in an airtight container. It should last up to 2 weeks, but use your best judgment depending on how dry/crunchy you like your granola toasted.

    Notes

    Adapted from Flour Cookbook. 
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Oats and Grains
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Nut Free Granola
    Special Diet: Dairy Free, Vegetarian
    Author: The Worktop
    Cal : 643kcal
    Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
    Love this?I would appreciate a star review! Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram using #theworktop and tagging me @theworktop.
    « Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed Butter (Nut Free Lunch Spread)
    Country Scrambled Eggs »

    By Tina Jui
    Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch Recipes, Breakfast for a Crowd, Dairy Free, Fall Breakfast Recipes, Kid Friendly, Make Ahead, No Egg, Oats and Grains, On The Go, Oven, Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas, Summer Breakfast Recipes, Vegetarian, Winter Breakfast RecipesTags: cinnamon, coconut, dried fruits, oats

    About Tina Jui

    A breakfast lover and food blogger. Tina develops everyday breakfast recipes on The Worktop, and writes about all things related to breakfast and brunch. Read more about Tina Jui or drop an email to say hi.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. JC Peles says

      March 09, 2020 at 4:36 pm

      Really not into granolas so I thought I'd just take a quick look but I ended up checking everything. I had tried cooking similar stuff before and that online delivery service, Feast Box, really helped me out try some ingredients that are hard to find like some listed above. Anyway, will forward this page to a couple of friends who are starting to get fond of cookng!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Hi, I'm Tina and a lover of breakfast! The Worktop is where I share my everyday breakfast recipes. You can find lots of breakfasts and brunch ideas on my site. Many of the recipes are easy to make and healthy, but of course, you'll also find big brunch indulgences.

    More about The Worktop →

    Popular Breakfast Recipes

    • Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole
    • Overnight Chia Seed Pudding with Almond Milk (Vegan, GF)
    • Instant Pot Congee - Chicken and Rice
    • Original Glazed Donuts (Krispy Kreme Recipe Copycat)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Statement

    As Featured On

    The Worktop Featured On Banner - Taste of Home, Buzzfeed, Decor, The Bump, FeedFeed

    Stay Connected

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2013-2021 Rainbow Rice Ltd trading as The Worktop. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.