21 Homemade Granola Recipes That Slash Sugar

Homemade granola, granola bars, and granola parfaits are loaded with fiber, antioxidant-rich fruit, protein, and calcium, especially when paired with Greek yogurt or low-fat milk.

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Homemade granola recipes

Don't you love granola for breakfast, granola bars for a snack, and those fun little granola parfaits you can get at fast food restaurants anytime? So wholesome right? Well, actually not. Despite its healthy image, some store-bought granola is so loaded with fat and calories it makes our list of fattening foods you should never eat. The solution? Make your own homemade granola, breakfast bars, and parfaits—since you know exactly what's going into it, you can keep it low-sugar, but still totally delicious. Here, some of our all-time favorite homemade granola recipes to pair with fresh fruit and Greek yogurt for a well-rounded, diet-friendly breakfast.

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Golden Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

Try this recipe: Golden Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

If you often have to eat on the go, pack one of these bars in your purse for a dose of healthy whole grains and protein. One recipe makes 12 bars, so you'll have plenty for the week ahead.

Ingredients: Flaxseeds, nut butter, light agave nectar, golden raisins, vanilla extract, kosher salt, rolled oats, raw, unsalted mixed nuts, flaky sea salt

Calories: 256

 

3 of 22 Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Cardamom-Vanilla Granola

Try this recipe: Cardamom-Vanilla Granola

Dig in: Nuts and seeds (use any you want) plus oats and fruit are transformed with fragrant cardamom.

Ingredients: Honey, ground cardamom, extra-virgin olive oil, vanilla extract, kosher salt, uncooked rolled oats, raw almonds, raw cashews, pumpkin seeds, unsweetened flaked coconut, cooking spray, cranberries

Calories: 265

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4 of 22 Romulo Yanes

Apricot-Pine Nut Granola Bars

Try this recipe: Apricot-Pine Nut Granola Bars

You'll love this grown-up version of the classic after school snack. Plus, it's packed with good-for-you nutrients: pine nuts are loaded with minerals, especially iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese.

Ingredients: Olive oil cooking spray, tart dried apricots, runny wild honey, extra-virgin olive oil, light brown sugar, old-fashioned rolled oats, pine nuts, ground cardamom, salt, ground golden flaxseed

Calories: 176

 

Adapted from Better Baking (C) 2016 by Genevieve Ko. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Rux Martin Books. All rights reserved.

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5 of 22 Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Basic Granola

Try this recipe: Basic Granola

This easy-to-make granola recipe can be used as template for different variations. To save money, look for nuts, oats, and dried fruit in your supermarket’s bulk bins and buy only as much as you need.

Ingredients: Old-fashioned rolled oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, ground cinnamon, salt, extra-virgin olive oil, maple syrup, raisins or dried fruit (optional)

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6 of 22 Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Apricot-Hazelnut Granola

Try this recipe: Apricot-Hazelnut Granola

Start with our Basic Granola recipe and sub in chopped hazelnuts for half of the almonds, then add vanilla and and chopped dried apricots for subtle sweetness and a hit of fiber.

Ingredients: Old-fashioned rolled oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, ground cinnamon, salt, extra-virgin olive oil, maple syrup, hazelnuts, vanilla, chopped dried apricots

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7 of 22 Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Superfood Crunch Granola

Try this recipe: Superfood Crunch Granola

Start out with our Basic Granola recipe, but omit 1/2 cup of oats and add 1/2 cup of hempseed to up the nutrition. For an even bigger boost, this version also has turmeric, ground ginger, and goji berries.

Ingredients: Ground ginger, ground turmeric, coconut oil, goji berries, old-fashioned rolled oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, ground cinnamon, salt, extra-virgin olive oil, maple syrup, dried fruit

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8 of 22 Amy Kalyn Sims

Quick Baked Pears

We can't decide if these baked pears are a breakfast or diet-friendly dessert. Either way, at under 200 calories a serving and 4 grams of filling fiber, you can dig into this sweet treat every day and never feel guilty.

Try this recipe: Quick Baked Pears
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Waldorf Parfaits

Parfaits are a fun way to mix up your breakfast or snack routine. This recipe has layers or tart kiwi, loaded with vitamin C, protein-packed Greek yogurt, crunchy, heart-healthy walnuts, and apple and apricot flavors. Sprinkle a little homemade granola on top for amp up the crunch and fiber.

Try this recipe: Waldorf Parfaits
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Maple Date-Nut Oatmeal Breakfast Squares

These delicious granola bars are almost foolproof to make. They are packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, and a deep maple flavor. Eat one every morning to satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you energized all day.

Try this recipe: Maple Date-Nut Oatmeal Breakfast Squares
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11 of 22 Antonis Achilleos

Greek Yogurt Parfait

Talk about the Mediterranean diet! This luscious breakfast combines protein-packed Greek yogurt, honey, and pistachios, for a surprisingly low-calorie breakfast or dessert.

Try this recipe: Greek Yogurt Parfait
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Jamie's Easy Granola

This easy granola recipe, created by Jamie Oliver, one of our favorite celebrity chefs, tosses together quick-cooking oats, mixed nuts, lot of high-fiber seeds and shredded coconut. Feel free to mix and match the ingredients to suit your taste. Try serving with low-fat milk or yogurt for a quick breakfast or a snack.

Try this recipe: Jamie's Easy Granola
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13 of 22 Yunhee Kim

Morning Sundials

This fresh, fruity recipe looks like sunshine on a plate, and can be prepped the night before. Packed with vitamin C, calcium, and a hit of fiber, this treat just might become your favorite way to enjoy citrus fruit.

Try this recipe: Morning Sundials
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Granola Yogurt Parfait

Parfaits are so inviting they're hard to resist, and this one happens to be super healthy too. You can use your favorite fruit-flavored Greek yogurt to make this delicious breakfast, but if you go for plain instead you'll save 70 calories. Here's how to make it: Layer 6 ounces plain fat-free Greek yogurt with 2/3 cup granola mixed with 1/2 cup puffed wheat cereal or granola, and 1 cup sliced fruit.
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15 of 22 Travis Rathbone

Greek Yogurt Fruit Parfait

Every layer of this skinny parfait, from the cereal to the Greek yogurt to fresh fruit, is filled with energizing nutrients and flavor. With a whopping 23 grams of protein, this amazing breakfast will keep your metabolism humming all day.

Try this recipe: Greek Yogurt Fruit Parfait

Related video: How to Make Greek Yogurt Fruit Parfait  
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16 of 22 Leigh Beisch

Everyday Granola

Have you ever noticed how expensive store-bought granola can be? This delicious, nutty version can be made at home for pennies, and it's packed with energizing dried fruit, fiber, and unsaturated fats. Add low-fat Greek yogurt and it's a meal!

Try this recipe: Everyday Granola
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Greek Yogurt Sundae

Stock up on Greek yogurt, your own homemade granola and fresh fruit and you can enjoy this fat-burning breakfast every morning. Yes, it looks like a sundae, so you can also enjoy it for dessert. Here's how to make it: In a bowl, layer 1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup granola and 1 cup sliced kiwifruit. Sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg.
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Almond Cereal Bars

Cereal bars aren’t usually a dieter's best friend. These are the exception. At only 144 calories each, they pack fiber, vitamin C, and loads of sweet and tart fruit flavor. We love to make them in large batches, then individually wrap them in plastic and freeze. Yum!

Try this recipe: Almond Cereal Bars
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19 of 22 Plamen Petkov

Yogurt Crunch Parfait

Granola is the perfect excuse to sneak our favorite source of monounsaturated healthy fat, pumpkin seeds, into breakfast. Pumpkin seeds not only add texture, but essential minerals such as iron, zinc, and magnesium, too! Antioxidant-rich cantaloupe and blueberries add juice, sweetness, and color.

Try this recipe: Yogurt Crunch Parfait
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Granola with Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds and Dried Mango

Possibly the easiest granola recipe ever created, this version is perfect for beginners, with a 5-minute prep time and mix-and-match ingredients. This incredibly crispy and hearty cereal gets its fabulous flavor from chopped dried mango, pumpkin seeds, and pecans.

Try this recipe: Granola with Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds and Dried Mango
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Yogurt Breakfast Bowl

Indian spices and freeze-dried fruit make this low-fat breakfast full of surprising flavors and crunch. Greek yogurt delivers 11 grams of protein, double what you'd get from a regular granola parfait, as well as calcium and vitamin D.

Try this recipe: Yogurt Breakfast Bowl

Related video: Yogurt Breakfast Bowl  
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22 of 22 Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Wholesome Morning Granola

This delicious, crunchy granola is sweetened with fruit juice, honey and natural sugars (you control the sweetness) and packs a whopping 5.6 grams of fiber per serving. We toss in dried blueberries but it tastes just as good with raisins or any dried fruit. Make it in large batches to use in other recipes or give as a housewarming gift.

Try this recipe: Wholesome Morning Granola

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