Homemade Coconut Cashew & Almond Granola

posted by Alex Aldeborgh, RD on Apr 19, 2019 (last updated 10/2/23) 4 comments »

This healthy homemade granola is easy to make and packed full of healthy ingredients like cashew nuts, almonds, and old fashioned rolled oats. It has the BIGGEST crunchy clusters! This granola recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Enjoy this granola with a fruit, granola, and Greek yogurt bowl for an easy, healthy breakfast.

Granola is one of those things I usually buy instead of make from scratch. There are some wonderful brands on the market today that are lower in sugar and use minimal ingredients that I love. However, there is something truly special about a freshly baked batch of homemade granola! As a Registered Dietitian, I love that I can control the exact ingredients and amount of added sugar when making my own granola at home.

Some of my favorite granola recipes include healthy and homemade honey nut granola, nutritious chai spiced granola, cinnamon toast crunch granola, and tahini granola with giant clusters. But, this coconut almond granola recipe might be my number one. It has all the best granola ingredients: oats, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, cinnamon, and maple syrup. It’s perfect with yogurt and fresh fruit or simply with milk!

Ingredients in coconut cashew & almond granola

Here is everything you need to make this coconut cashew granola:

Old fashioned rolled oats
Slivered almonds
Cashews
Unsweetened shredded coconut
Coconut oil
Maple syrup
Vanilla extract
Almond extract (optional)
Cinnamon
Ground ginger
Kosher salt
Dark chocolate chips
Dried banana chips

How to make homemade granola

Start by mixing together the dry ingredients: old fashioned rolled oats, slivered almonds, cashews, unsweetened shredded coconut, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.
Add the wet ingredients: maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla and almond extracts.
Mix everything up together very well.
Transfer the mixture to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Spread the granola out into a single layer.
Bake for about 30 minutes, without stirring, until ingredients are golden brown and fragrant.
For giant granola clusters: let the granola cool completely to room temperature. It will harden up into a single large sheet of granola. Use your hands to gently break it apart into large clusters.
Stir in the chocolate chips and banana chips. From start to finish, you’ll have a batch of homemade granola ready to eat in about an hour!

Storing granola

Granola will stay fresh for several weeks if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. I prefer to use a wider, shallow container instead of a jar for granola because it helps keep the large clusters intact.

Can you freeze granola? Yes! To make granola last even longer, you can freeze it for up to three months. Pack it into a freezer safe storage container or freezer bag leaving as little air as possible.

All About Oats

Find answers to your questions about oats in this section!

Old fashioned rolled oats nutrition

Old fashioned rolled oats are an incredibly nutrient-dense food to include in your diet. They’re packed with dietary fiber, protein, and more! One half cup of dry old fashioned oats provides:

4 grams of fiber (15 percent of your daily needs)
5.3 grams of plant-based protein
0.186 mg thiamin (16 percent of your daily needs)
1.72 mg iron (10 percent of your daily needs)
11.7 mcg selenium (21 percent of your daily needs)
55.89 mg magnesium (14 percent of your daily needs)

Of the 4 grams of fiber in oats, about half is soluble fiber. This type of fiber is particularly important for heart health, because it can help lower cholesterol.

Old fashioned rolled oats vs rolled oats

There is no true difference between old fashioned rolled oats and rolled oats – these terms mean the same thing! Old fashioned rolled oats are whole oat grains that have been steamed and flattened into flakes. They retain their shape and texture when cooked.

Rolled oats do differ from steel cut and quick oats, and should not be used interchangeably in recipes unless specified.

Substitute for rolled oats

In traditional granola recipes, there is not really an ideal substitute for rolled oats. However, you can use quick oats in a pinch as a substitute – just note that the texture will change!

Nutrition Benefits of Granola Ingredients

Cashew nut benefits

Cashew nuts contain several nutrients, including dietary fiber, protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants. One ounce of unsalted cashews provides nearly 1 gram of fiber, 4.2 grams of protein, and plenty of heart healthy unsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, cashews are a good source of magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc, and an excellent source of copper.

Almond benefits

Almonds are a nut packed with nutrition, providing fiber, protein, healthy fat, micronutrients, and antioxidants. One ounce of almonds contains 3 grams of fiber, 5.8 grams of protein, and 9.5 grams of heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.

In terms of micronutrients, almonds are an excellent source of riboflavin, Vitamin E, and copper, and a good source of magnesium and phosphorus.

Does coconut oil have health benefits?

Coconut oil has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years because of several purported health benefits. It has a slightly sweet, pleasant flavor that lends itself well to baked goods and granola recipes. But is coconut oil actually healthy?

Coconut oil is 100% fat. It is a source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), however, a majority of the fat in coconut oil is saturated fat. We know that high intake of saturated fat is linked to heart health problems.

Currently, the scientific research finds that coconut oil raises total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease. Therefore, it is recommended to use coconut oil occasionally in small amounts, and to choose oils high in unsaturated fatty acids most often, such as olive oil.

Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!