Vanilla Almond Granola with White Chocolate
Love granola but want to control the ingredients? This Vanilla Almond Granola recipe is a healthier, gluten-free version of your favorite store-bought cereals. Made with oats, nuts, seeds, and honey, it’s naturally sweetened and full of flavor. Perfect for topping yogurt or enjoying with fresh fruit, it’s satisfying and energizing!
Why You’ll Love My Healthy Vanilla Almond Granola Recipe:
- Easy to make: With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up this granola in no time.
- Customizable: You can easily swap out nuts, seeds, or add-ins to suit your preferences.
- Gluten-free goodness: Made with gluten-free oats, it’s perfect for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Naturally sweetened: Honey gives this granola the perfect balance of sweetness without refined sugar.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best-tasting healthy vanilla almond granola w/ white chocolate recipe:
Almonds: You can replace almonds with other nuts like walnuts, pecans, or cashews if you have allergies or prefer a different nut.
Old-Fashioned Oats: If you want to make this granola gluten-free, use gluten-free oats or other gluten-free grains like quinoa flakes or rice flakes.
Shredded Coconut: You can substitute shredded coconut with unsweetened coconut flakes or omit it altogether if you’re not a fan of coconut.
Chia Seeds: Chia seeds can be replaced with flax seeds or hemp seeds for a similar texture and nutritional boost.
Coconut Sugar: Replace coconut sugar with brown sugar, maple sugar, or your preferred sweetener like stevia or erythritol.
White Chocolate Chips: If you want a healthier option or have dietary restrictions, you can use dark chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, or omit them entirely.
Almond Butter: If you have a nut allergy or want a different flavor, you can use sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter.
Coconut Oil: You can replace coconut oil with melted butter, ghee, or a neutral vegetable oil like canola or grapeseed oil.
Honey: If you prefer not to use honey, you can use maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sweetener of your choice.
Almond Extract: If you don’t have almond extract or want to avoid it, you can omit it or replace it with vanilla extract.
Vanilla Extract: You can use other extracts like maple, hazelnut, or coconut extract for a different flavor
How to Make My Healthy Vanilla Almond Granola
Step 1: Chop the Almonds
Pour 1/3 cup of almonds into a food blender. I like to use the convenient chopper cup that works with my immersion blender. Pulse the almonds until chopped. You can also use store-bought slivered almonds if you prefer.
Step 2: Combine the Dry Ingredients
Pour the chopped almonds, old-fashioned oats, shredded coconut, chia seeds, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and salt into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Stir it with a spatula until well combined.
You can also use quick oats, but I prefer old-fashioned oats for granola. The oat flakes are larger, which creates larger clumps of granola. I find them easier and more satisfying to eat as granola cereal in a bowl of milk.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
Combine the almond butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and almond extract in a bowl and stir with a fork until well combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until all the oats are coated.
Step 4. Spread on Cookie Sheet
Line a large 17-inch baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Cut the parchment paper about 2 inches larger than the pan. Dump the granola into the center of the pan and spread it out evenly using a spatula.
Optional: Sprinkle 1/3 cup of the white chocolate chips over the granola.
Step 5: Bake in Intervals
Bake at 350°F for a total of 16 minutes. Set the timer for 8 minutes. Pull the sheet pan out of the oven and gently lift the sides of the parchment paper to redistribute the granola. Then spread the granola with a spatula. Stirring the granola will ensure it cooks evenly. Then return to the oven and bake for eight more minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow it to cool on the counter before transferring to an air-tight container.
Homemade Vanilla Granola Recipe Notes
Customize Your Ingredients: Feel free to customize the ingredients based on your dietary preferences and what you have on hand. This recipe is quite versatile.
Sweeteners: If you’re watching your sugar intake, you can reduce the sweeteners like honey or coconut sugar. The natural sweetness from the other ingredients might be sufficient.
Mixing the Wet Ingredients: Make sure to mix the wet ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth and even coating for the dry ingredients. You can gently warm the almond butter and coconut oil to make mixing easier.
Evenly Distribute the Granola: When spreading the granola on the baking sheet, try to distribute it evenly. This ensures even cooking and prevents some parts from becoming too dark.
Stirring During Baking: Stirring the granola during baking is essential to prevent burning and ensure even browning. Be gentle when stirring to avoid breaking the granola clusters.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Top with yogurt and fresh fruit: Add your favorite Greek or coconut yogurt and seasonal fruit for a delicious breakfast or snack.
- Sprinkle over smoothie bowls: Add texture and flavor to your smoothie bowl with a handful of crunchy granola.
- Snack on the go: Pack it in a small container for a quick and satisfying snack when you’re out and about.
- Pair with almond milk: Enjoy it as a classic cereal with almond milk or your favorite dairy-free milk.
If you love granola, check out more of my naturally-sweetened granola recipes:
Vanilla Almond Granola with White Chocolate
Ingredients
DRY INGREDIENTS:
- 1/3 cup almonds (chopped or slivered)
- 3-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup shredded coconut
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds (white, if you can find them)
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
WET INGREDIENTS:
- 1/3 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey (or maple syrup)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Chop the almonds in a food processor or chopper cup.1/3 cup almonds
- Combine the chopped almonds, oats, shredded coconut, chia seeds, coconut sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir with a spatula until combined.3-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats, 3 tablespoons chia seeds, 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Combine the almond butter, coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and almond extract in a bowl and mix with a fork until well combined.1/3 cup almond butter, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup honey, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until all the oats are coated.
- Line a large 17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the parchment 2 inches larger than the sheet pan. Pour the granola into the center of the pan and spread with a spatula until evenly distributed.Optional: Sprinkle white chocolate chips over the granola.
- Bake at 350°F. Set the timer for 8 minutes. Pull the sheet pan out of the oven and gently stir to redistribute the granola. Stirring the granola will ensure it cooks evenly. Then return to the oven and bake for eight more minutes for a total of 16 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a cooling rack until the chocolate is cooled and solidified. Store in an airtight container.
I made this granola today for the first time it is absolutely divine..smells delicious when out of the oven.
Definitely having it for breakfast tomorrow and possibly everyday from now..can’t wait to try some more of your recipes..I will be making it again that’s for sure.
Hi Anne, thank you so much for the review! I’m thrilled you love my recipe 🙂 I agree; the aroma from the oven is amazing. I should make a candle with the same scent…haha 🙂
Made this yesterday and it is a solid win! I so appreciate Nicole bringing these recipes to YouTube so I can expand my knowledge of “cooking myself” so I “know what is in my family’s food”! Such simple tweaks really show you how to end up with actual homemade yummy food! Keep up the great work Nicole!
Hi Sandra, thank you so much for sharing this! I’m so excited about your journey to make delicious and nutritious food at home. I’ll keep posting recipes and videos 🙂