Lemon Blueberry Granola

This healthy lemon blueberry granola is lightly sweetened with honey and has rolled oats, almonds, and dried blueberries. It’s delicious with yogurt bowls, almond milk, smoothie bowls, or just by the handful!

When I have a little extra time over the weekend, I love to make a batch of homemade granola.

I usually have the essential ingredients stocked in my pantry so it’s super simple to whip up.

I’ve got plenty of other granola recipes for you to try, including coconut cashew & almond granola, chai spiced granola, and peanut butter granola!

Many store-bought granolas have a lot of added sugar.

As a Registered Dietitian, I prefer making my own granola because it allows me to control exactly how much sugar I add.

My favorite ways to sweeten granola are with maple syrup or honey, and I use just enough to let the flavors shine.

This granola recipe is plant-based, gluten free (if using certified gluten free oats), dairy free, and soy free. You’re going to love this lower sugar, nutritious granola!

Ingredients in lemon blueberry granola

Here is everything you need to make this granola recipe:

• Old fashioned oats
• Almonds
• Honey
• Dried blueberries
• Oil – coconut, vegetable, or olive
• Hemp seeds
• Lemon zest
• Lemon juice
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• Vanilla extract

Ingredient and dietary restriction substitution suggestions

• Make it vegan. Use maple syrup instead of honey to make this granola recipe 100 percent vegan.
• Make it nut free. Omit the almonds and use pumpkin seeds.
• Use another nut. I love to use pretty much all kinds of nuts in granola recipes. Try this recipe with cashews, walnuts, or pecans – or do a mixed nut blend.
• Swap dried blueberries for a different dried fruit. If you can’t find dried blueberries at your local store, try this recipe with another dried fruit. I recommend dried cranberries or dried cherries as a substitute.

Note: I do NOT recommend using quick cooking or steel cut oats in this granola recipe. Old fashioned rolled oats are best for texture and the ability for the ingredients to stick together.

How to make lemon blueberry granola

1. Mix together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl: oats, almonds, hemp seeds, salt, and cinnamon.
2. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: oil, lemon juice, honey, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
3. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir it all together to coat everything well.
4. Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This step is important, as it prevents the granola from sticking to the pan and burning on the bottom.
5. Spread the granola out in an even layer, and use your hands to press it together a bit.
6. Bake in the oven until golden brown. Then let the granola cool completely – waiting is the hardest part!
7. Use your hands to break up the granola into large chunks. Gently mix in the dried blueberries.

Serving suggestions + storage

The lemon flavor in this lemon blueberry granola develops even more after a day or two! I love to eat it with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit, on top of a smoothie, with almond milk, or just munch on it plain.

This recipe makes about 6 cups of granola. Store it in an airtight container or jar (glass is preferable). Granola tends to keep longer and stay crunchier when stored in the fridge. I find granola keeps well for up to 3 weeks in the fridge.

Oats nutrition benefits

Oats make up the base of this granola, and pack a big nutrition punch. One half cup of dried oats provides:

• 4 grams of dietary fiber
• 6 grams of plant-based protein
• 0.3 mg of thiamine (20 percent of your daily needs)
• 204 mg of phosphorus (21 percent of your daily needs)
• 1.9 mg of manganese (96 percent of your daily needs)
• 69 mg of magnesium (17 percent of your daily needs)

About half of the fiber in oats comes from soluble fiber. This type of fiber is particularly beneficial for heart health, as it can help lower blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis (1). Aim to eat 5-10 grams of soluble fiber per day for these benefits.

Almonds nutrition benefits

Almonds pack a big nutritional punch. One ounce (about 1/4 cup) of almonds contains several nutrients:

• 3.4 grams of dietary fiber
• 6 grams of plant-based protein
• 8.6 grams of monounsaturated fat
• 7.3 mg of Vitamin E (37 percent of your daily needs)
• 0.6 mg of manganese (32 percent of your daily needs)
• 75 mg of magnesium (19 percent of your daily needs)

Almonds are a high fat food, but most of the fat comes from heart healthy sources. The majority of fat in almonds is monounsaturated fat, and it also contains some polyunsaturated fat. Eating foods rich in healthy unsaturated fat instead of saturated fats has heart health benefits, and may reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Hemp seeds nutrition benefits

Hemp seeds are a very nutrient-dense food to include in your diet. 2 tablespoons of hemp seeds provides:

• 6 grams of plant-based protein
• 1 gram of dietary fiber
• 1.59 mg of iron (16 percent of your daily needs)
• 1.98 mg of zinc (23 percent of your daily needs)
• 140 mg of magnesium (48 percent of your daily needs)

Hemp is one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids, in the form of alpha-linolenic acids (ALA). Unfortunately, the conversion from ALA to DHA and EPA (the most important omega-3 fatty acids for humans) is poor. ALA is still a source of healthy fat, and can be used for energy, though.

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!

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