If you love my Paleo Granola, you’ll also love this fall twist: Homemade Apple Crisp Granola (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free). Think of it as all the best parts of a cozy apple crisp – the crunchy, spiced topping – baked into golden clusters of granola you can snack on by the handful or sprinkle over your favorite breakfast bowl.
This oven-baked, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free granola recipe is perfect to prep ahead for snacking or a cozy fall breakfast. I especially love adding the dried apple chips for that sweet, spiced apple flavor, but you can also serve this with fresh chopped apples over a yogurt bowl or smoothie.
Fall-Inspired Flavors in Every Apple Crisp Granola Crunch
I’m telling you: this apple pie–inspired granola has everything you want in a fall-flavored treat. Warm spices, crunchy walnuts and pecans, and naturally sweetened clusters from maple syrup and coconut sugar come together in this easy-to-make, homemade granola recipe.
The rolled oats add whole-grain fiber, flaxseed and hemp seeds provide plant-based protein and healthy fats, and the dried apples give you that crisp, cozy apple flavor without added refined sugar. Baked to crunchy perfection, you’ll get those big granola clusters everyone loves. It’s too good!
A Cozy, Make-Ahead Fall Breakfast
Homemade granola is one of my favorite make-ahead snacks, and this easy apple granola recipe couldn’t be simpler. It’s oven-baked, stores well for weeks, and makes the perfect topping for yogurt bowls, oatmeal, smoothies, or even on its own as a gluten-free, dairy-free snack.
Because it’s refined sugar-free and packed with nuts and seeds, it’s not only delicious but also nutrient-dense – ideal for keeping you fueled all morning. This breakfast granola is giving quintessential fall vibes and I’m confident it will quickly become a staple in your kitchen. Hope you love it!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Maple syrup
- Coconut sugar
- Avocado oil
- Pure vanilla extract
- Pumpkin or apple pie spice
- Kosher salt
- Gluten-free rolled oats (I like One Degree)
- Roughly chopped walnuts
- Roughly chopped pecans
- Pepitas
- Ground flaxseed meal
- Hemp seeds
- Dried apple chips
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE APPLE CRISP GRANOLA (GLUTEN-FREE & DAIRY-FREE)
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
In a large bowl, add the maple syrup, coconut sugar, avocado oil, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Whisk to combine.
Add in the oats, chopped walnuts and pecans, pepitas, flaxseed meal, and hemp seeds. Use a wooden spoon and stir for about 1 minute, allowing the oats to begin to soak up the wet ingredients a bit.
Transfer to the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. You don’t want to completely spread out the granola because we want to have big chunks! Make sure it’s spread out in a thin, even layer, but that there is minimal gapping.
Transfer to the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Let the granola cool entirely on the counter for at least 1 hour before trying to break it up. This will ensure you have large chunks.
Once cooled, add the crushed apple chips and toss to combine, breaking the granola into chunks/pieces, then transfer to air-tight containers. The granola will stay fresh at room temperature for one week or in the freezer for several months.
RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS & QUESTIONS
Option to omit the dried apples and instead serve with chopped fresh apples over a yogurt bowl or smoothie. I like the addition of dried apples here because they’re shelf-stable and a great mix-in to really bring the apple crisp flavor to life.
For the nuts, you can swap walnuts and pecans for almonds, cashews, or any nut you prefer. Pepitas can be replaced with sunflower seeds for a similar crunch, and if you don’t have flaxseed or hemp seeds, chia seeds work well too. Maple syrup can be swapped with honey or brown rice syrup, and avocado oil can be replaced with melted coconut oil or another neutral oil.
Finally, feel free to adjust the spice mix—pumpkin pie spice can be swapped for cinnamon, or a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger for your preferred flavor.
For my kitchen, cooking, and baking essentials (& more!), shop my Amazon Storefront.
How do I get big, crunchy clusters in my homemade granola?
To get those signature clusters, avoid spreading the granola too thin while baking, and let it cool completely before breaking it up. The combination of oats, nuts, and seeds naturally clumps together for that perfect crunch.
Can I make this granola nut-free?
Absolutely! Swap the walnuts and pecans for extra seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or a mix of chia and hemp seeds. You’ll still get a crunchy, nutrient-packed granola without nuts.
More Apple Recipes You’ll Love:
- Apple Pie Oats
- Paleo Apple Crisp
- Salted Caramel Apple Bark
- Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
- How To Pick the Best Apples for Snacking and Fall Recipes
Homemade Apple Crisp Granola (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 23 tablespoons coconut sugar
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin or apple pie spice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats, (I like One Degree)
- ½ cup roughly chopped walnuts
- ½ cup roughly chopped pecans
- ¼ cup pepitas
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed meal
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 1 cup dried apple chips, slightly crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the maple syrup, coconut sugar, avocado oil, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Add in the oats, chopped walnuts and pecans, pepitas, flaxseed meal, and hemp seeds. Use a wooden spoon and stir for about 1 minute, allowing the oats to begin to soak up the wet ingredients a bit.
- Transfer to the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. You don’t want to completely spread out the granola because we want to have big chunks! Make sure it’s spread out in a thin, even layer, but that there is minimal gapping.
- Transfer to the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Let the granola cool entirely on the counter for at least 1 hour before trying to break it up. This will ensure you have large chunks.
- Once cooled, add the crushed apple chips and toss to combine, breaking the granola into chunks/pieces, then transfer to air-tight containers. The granola will stay fresh at room temperature for one week or in the freezer for several months.
Notes
- Option to omit dried apples and serve with fresh chopped apples over yogurt or smoothies.
- Swap walnuts and pecans for almonds, cashews, or your favorite nuts.
- Replace pepitas with sunflower seeds, or flax/hemp seeds with chia seeds.
- Use honey or brown rice syrup instead of maple syrup.
- Swap avocado oil for melted coconut oil or another neutral oil.
- Adjust spices: pumpkin pie spice can be replaced with cinnamon or a cinnamon-nutmeg-ginger mix.
