Homemade No Sugar Added Granola
I’ve been receiving a lot of requests for homemade granola with no added sugar for babies and toddlers, and after many failed attempts, I’m so excited to share this recipe with you! I will tell you upfront that this granola is not very sweet nor as crunchy as store-bought granolas or those made with lots of sugar and oil. BUT it has a subtle nutty, sweet flavor and just the right amount of crispness that’s perfect for your little one(s). If your child is over two and you desire a little more sweetness, feel free to add some maple syrup or honey. You don’t need a lot! My kids love it either way. My kindergartener calls this “grow-nola” because he believes nuts and seeds make him strong. And I am here for it!
Ingredients
Rolled oats – quick oats or steel cut oats will not work! Nuts and/or seeds – Here I’m using pecans and sunflower seeds but you can use whatever combination you wish – almonds, cashews, walnuts, pumpkin seeds…Just be sure to finely chop into small pieces for toddlers. Apple sauce – adds natural sweetness. Can use store-bought or homemade unsweetened applesauce, which is super easy to make if you wish to try! Peanut butter – will help form clusters, add flavor, and boost nutrition. For alternatives, see suggestions below. Salt – I’ve tried this recipe without the salt and let me tell you, this is a must ingredient. It truly helps enhance the flavors of all the ingredients.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Variations and Add-ins
While the granola is delicious as is, if you want to switch up the flavors, here are some suggestions. You can see, this is a very versatile recipe!
Instead of peanut butter, try: Almond butter, cashew butter, or any nut butter. If there’s an allergy or want to pack for nut-free school, seed butter like sunflower seed butter will work too. Coconut oil Instead of applesauce, try mashed banana (have extra? make these oatmeal balls!) Desire a sweeter granola? add maple syrup or honey to taste. You can also add some date syrup to keep it added sugar free. Feel free to add whatever dried fruit you wish – cranberries, apricots, dates, mangoes, pineapple, blueberries…all delicious! Just be sure to chop the larger pieces to make it easier and safer for toddlers to eat.
Serving Suggestions
You can just eat this granola straight from the jar, which is what my kids love to do, or enjoy with:
Yogurt – plain or flavored, like vanilla yogurt, blueberry yogurt, or strawberry yogurt. A fun idea: Add to a muffin tray along with other delicious toppings for your child to build their own yogurt granola bowl. Cottage cheese Ricotta Oatmeal – here’s the ultimate oatmeal recipes for babies and kids Smoothie bowl Milkshake – this is thick so you can serve in a bowl and top with granola Mix with cereal and enjoy dry (great for traveling or school snack) or with milk
Granola for Babies
To make this granola safe for babies, add to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. You can mix into, to name a few:
Oatmeal Yogurt Lentils Mashed avocado Mashed banana Sweet potatoes Chia pudding Overnight weetabix Custard yogurt toast
Storage Suggestions
Cool completely as moisture will make it soggy. Transfer to an airtight container (I like to store in a tall mason jar. Store in a cool, dry place at room temperature. I do not recommend refrigerating. It will be good for up to 2 weeks. Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
