If you love the crunchy goodness of granola but don’t love all of the added sugar, this naturally sweetened maple cinnamon walnut granola is the recipe for you. This granola is made with only a handful of ingredients and in under half an hour. Sweetened with only pure maple syrup, this granola is naturally sweetened with no added sugar. Packed with old fashioned oats and crunchy walnuts, and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, this recipe is one you can feel great about eating. Why buy it at the store when it’s so easy to make with a handful of pantry staples?
What can I do with granola?
Granola is one of those things that I have always absolutely loved, but had no self control over. I would sit and eat dry granola from a bag all day long if I could! In reality, granola is a great, healthy food option eaten on its own, or on top of yogurt in a parfait, or alongside your favorite breakfast, or fruit. Honestly, the options are endless.
When I started my health journey I was always discouraged at how high in calories, sugar, and WW points granola could be. Most of that was because of the added sugar in the ingredients. Aside from added sugar, some granola can also have other hidden ingredients that really, are unnecessary if you make it at home. I pretty much stopped eating granola because I didn’t think it was “worth it” to me.
I never thought to make it at home because I didn’t know where to begin, but one day it occurred to me that using my favorite pure maple syrup as a sweetening agent with some oats and other ingredients would make a delicious granola, and believe me, it does!
This granola has no added sugar, and is naturally lower calorie as a result, without the use of any artificial sweeteners or sugar replacements. It uses only a handful of pantry staples as ingredients, and is super versatile; if you don’t have walnuts, use pecans, almonds or whatever else you have on hand! Throw in some raisins, chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or whatever other ingredients you typically enjoy eating in your favorite granola.
What you will need to make this healthy naturally sweetened maple cinnamon walnut granola recipe
The beauty of this recipe (aside from it tasting delicious) is that it only using six ingredients! Most of these ingredients are pantry staples, which makes this an easy and convenient recipe to whip up at home whenever you are in the mood for it.
- old fashioned oats
- I use Quaker old fashioned oats, but any kind will do.
- cinnamon
- vanilla extract
- kosher salt
- walnuts
- If you prefer, you can sub it any nut of your choice, or a mixture of nuts. Almonds and pecans work beautifully here also.
- pure maple syrup
- This is an important ingredient, as it is the only sweetening agent in this recipe and it also provides a lot of flavor.
- Make sure to use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup or sugar free syrup. The flavor is different and it will make a huge difference here!
- If you have dietary restrictions that require you to watch your sugar intake, you can substitute sugar free maple syrup, however I have not tasted this version so I can not attest to the flavor for this swap!
How to make homemade granola
I never knew how easy it was to make granola at home, but all it requires is some mixing and a quick bake in the oven. The key to making granola is lining your sheet pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking, but otherwise this recipe is basically effortless. Preheat the oven to 325F. Chop the walnuts into smaller pieces, and add them to a bowl with the oats, cinnamon, vanilla extract, a pinch of kosher salt, and stir to combine. Next, add the maple syrup and toss to coat. Make sure the maple syrup is evenly incorporated throughout the other ingredients to ensure an even flavor throughout the granola.
Next, pour the mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and spread it into a thin layer, using a spatula. Make sure there are no large gaps between the ingredients so that they bake together and hold their shape. Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the sheet pan from the oven, but let the granola sit for a while before touching it. At least half an hour to 1 hour, until the granola has a chance to cool and set. Then, break it into chunks. Store in an air tight container, like a large mason jar.
You can also add chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, or any other ingredients you enjoy in your granola. This recipe yields 4 heaping cups of granola.
Naturally Sweetened Maple Cinnamon Walnut Granola
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- sheet pan
- parchmant paper
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch kosher salt
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, add the oats, chopped walnuts, cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt, and stir to combine.
- Add the maple syrup, and stir to incorporate.
- Make sure the maple syrup is evenly incorporated throughout the other ingredients to ensure an even coating and flavor distribution.
- Spread the granola on the sheet pan in a flat, even layer. Make sure there are no gaps in the ingredients, so that it bakes together.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and let the granola cool (do not touch it!)
- Let the granola cool for 30-60 minutes before breaking it into pieces.
Notes
Nutrition
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Healthy Banana Almond Butter Muffins
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This sounds delicious! I use 1/4 cup of granola most days on a bowl of fresh fruit and I do like to change up my granola often. I can’t wait to try this.
Amazing! Such an easy quick snack to make and have on hand. I made this tonight, the only ingredient I changed was the walnuts. I had pecans in my pantry.
Absolutely delicious and so easy to make! It’s addicting😊
Delicious and so easy!!
I just made this and tried it. SO DELICIOUS! I swapped out the walnuts for pecans ( just like them better) I can’t wait to top my yogurt bowls with this! Will definitely be a staple in my house!
This is another delicious dish from Steph! It’s so easy and not too sweet love love it.
I think this is the best granola I have ever had! It’s really just perfect. I used quick oats instead of old fashioned and it turned out great. Only 2 points on my WW plan for 1/4 cup.
Simple Easy and Amazing!!
LOVE this! So easy, really tasty
I made this today and it is so good! I have always wanted to make my own granola, but there was always so many steps and ingredients that I just would never do it. This recipe just has a few easy ingredients and it is so simple to make. When this was baking in the oven my house smelled like I was in a store where they roast nuts. The vanilla and maple just filled my house and I knew it was going to be delicious! I let it sit for an hour and it breaks apart in perfect chunks and the granola slid right of the parchment paper into a container. SOOO easy! I used walnuts because that is my favorite and any nut would be delicious because it roasts in the oven and it brings out another level of flavor. I am going to use the granola in the blueberry overnight oats (another recipe I am trying today of Steph’s on this website, check it out) and for my yogurt parfaits. I can finally put granola back into my diet and it won’t break my WW point bank. Thanks for the recipe and all your hard work so I can enjoy this so easily.
Soooo good! Thanks for the recipe!
This granola recipe could not be easier. So delicious! Highly recommend!
DELICIOUS and easy!!!!!!
Just made this a OMG! It’s so good. My 7 year old loves it. Going to be making this all the time. The flavors make me wonder how adding apples might turn out? I’m not a expert so I don’t know what the baking would do to the apples or how it would need to be stored.
I make her crockpot apple.pie filling and serve it with some granola on top.with whipped topping for an easy dessert.
Fresh out of the oven and cooled and so good! I used Trader Joe’s Fig Syrup as I didn’t have enough maple syrup, pecans and walnuts, 2 Tbls shredded unsweetened coconut, and 2 Tbls Hemp seeds for added protein. Excellent recipe! Thanks.
correction- Trader Joe’s Date (not fig) Syrup.
Making this today along with your overnight oats.
This is seriously SOOO addicting!! My husband isn’t a big oat guy and he couldn’t even stop eating it! This recipe will definitely be a repeat!
Steph has done it again! Delicious, easy and tastes much better than store bought. Looking forward to having this on my yogurt bowls this week.
I just made this tonight and can stop munching on it! It’s so delicious!! I switched out the walnuts for 1/4c sunflower seeds 1/4 cup pecans, and 1/4c slivered almonds because I like having a variety of nuts in granola. I will definitely be making this again!!!
This is fantastic. My house smells amazing and it tastes delicious. I also made it with almonds and almond extract. That is also delicious.
Just made this and as usual it did not disappoint. I added raisins to it and it’s amazing! Hoping you do something with coconut!
Great recipe!!!! Love this granola!
How long can you store this?
This granola is excellent. A co-worker sends me pure maple syrup every year from New Hampshire so this was an excellent way to use it.
This granola is unreal! It’s so good! Can’t wait to try your other granola recipes!
Such an easy to make delicious recipe!
I made this exactly as posted and it was delicious. I love that it’s a low calorie option yet so filling and delicious. I added it to my yogurt bowl and just perfect. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!!
Today I added flax.seeds, almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds for a change. So good!!
Easy and good – this has become a staple in my house!!!!
great flavor – but mine didn’t crisp. I added raisins (is that the problem?)
Delicious, easy,healthy
I make a double batch bc it doesn’t last long in my house 🙂