Easy Oil-Free Vegan Granola (GF)

Easy oil-free vegan granola that is healthy, gluten-free, and so delicious! An easy flaxseed meal combination coats the oats, creating a crispy, cluster-ific granola. Vary the spices, nuts/seeds and dried fruits to make it your own unique blend.

Make Crunchy Granola without Oil

One of the perils of writing a food blog is this: I get so caught up with brain-storming ideas, new-found flavors, and interesting ingredients that I (more often than I care to admit) overlook the obvious.

For example, yesterday. My husband asked me to make his favorite granola, a recipe I concocted years ago and make throughout the year.

“This is on your blog, right?” he asked.

Oops. It wasn’t. But this post corrects my oversight.

What is Used in Place of Oil in Oil-Free Granola?

This is a great granola in so many ways: super-easy, versatile, and healthy, everything I like in a good recipe. What makes it special, though, is that it is oil-free, yet still produces crispy-crunchy, cluster-ific results.

My secret? In lieu of oil, I make a syrup (of sorts), made with either flaxseed meal or ground chia seeds, combined with coconut sugar, water, vanilla, spices and salt. 

Recipe Benefits

• Oil-free
• Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
• Gluten-free
• Variable (change the flavors, nuts, seeds, and more)
• Easy

Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• flaxseed meal (or ground chia seeds)
• coconut sugar (or sweetener of choice)
• vanilla extract
• rolled oats (certified gluten-free, as needed)
• 1coarsely chopped raw nuts, or seeds, or a mix
• ground cardamom, cinnamon or spice(s) of choice
• Optional: 1/2 cup chopped dried fruit

You will also need a small amount of regular water (I use filtered tap water). I add salt, too, but it is always adjustable/ optional according to your needs and tastes.

Instruction for Making Easy Oil-Free Vegan Granola

Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.

Step One: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet

Preheat the oven to 300F (150C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step Two: Combine the Wet Ingredients

Combine the water, flaxseed meal, coconut sugar, vanilla, cardamom and salt in a small bowl. Stir until combined (it will thicken slightly in 2 to 3 minutes).

Step Three: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the oats and nuts/seeds.

Step Four: Combine the Wet & Dry Ingredients

Add the syrup-y flax mixture to the combination of oats and nuts/seeds, tossing to coat. The flax (or chia) binds the ingredients (hello, clusters) and also contributes enough fat for perfect crispness.

Thoroughly coat every last oat, nut and seed with the syrup mix.

Step Five: Spread on the Baking Sheet

Spread in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Try to keep the edges from being too thinly spread; the edges bake faster due to their proximity to the pan’s edges, so keep them even.

Step Six: Bake

Bake the granola in the preheated oven for 32 to 38 minutes, stirring once halfway through the baking time. I prefer baking granola at a lower heat for a longer time to make sure it gets completely dried and golden brown, with less risk of overbaking or burning.

Remove the pan from the oven, place on a cooling rack, and then tamp down the warm granola with a spatula. Press hard! This simple step leads to lots of clusters!

Step Seven: Cool

Cool completely, without stirring, and then break into clusters, big or small.

FAQ

What is the Best Way to Store Granola?

In the refrigerator. The refrigerator will keep the granola crispy as well as prevent it from going stale. Store the granola in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

What is a Good Substitute for Flaxseed Meal?

You can use an equal amount of ground chia seeds to replace the flaxseed meal.

If you cannot have chia seeds or flaxseed meal, but still want an oil-free granola, consider my 3-Ingredient Oil-Free Peanut Butter Granola as an alternative.

What Can I Use to Replace Coconut Sugar?

An equal amount of the granulated sugar or other granulated sweetener of your choice can be used in place of the coconut sugar. Maple syrup or other liquid sweeteners can also be used. Use an equal amount as the coconut sugar and reduce the water to 3 tablespoons (45 mL).

How Do I Vary the Granola Flavors?

• Nuts & Seeds: The nut-seed-oat combination is variable. If you would like to make a super-frugal granola, or need to bypass all nuts and seeds (other than the ground flax/chia), replace them with more oats. Alternatively, sub with unsweetened coconut (flakes or shreds). It is all delicious.
• Add Dried Fruit: If you like, add some chopped dried fruit. My husband and I love the granola best when made with cardamom, a mix of nuts and seeds (and, sometimes, unsweetened coconut flakes), plus some dried cherries (splurge!).
• Change the Spices and Added Flavorings: Use any combination of spices to create unique flavor blends. Also consider using different liquids inlace of the water (e.g., coffee, strong brewed tea, lemon juice, orange juice). Last, use different extracts or finely grated citrus zest.

Here’s to the obvious! Happy cooking :).

More Healthy, Delicious Granolas to Try

• 5-Minute Microwave Mug Granola {healthy, easy, vegan, GF}
• How to Make Low-Calorie Granola {vegan, GF, 72 calories}
• Banana Bread Protein Granola (vegan, GF)
• Oil-Free Buckwheat Granola {vegan, GF, oat-free}
• Grain-Free Banana Granola {oil-free, no added sugar}
• Grain-Free Red Lentil Granola {vegan}
• Fresh Apple Pie Granola (vegan, gluten-free)