Seeds & Goji Berry Granola
Seeds & Goji Berry Granola is a healthy, nut-free vegan granola that’s oil-free, rich in high-quality protein, and super easy to make! It’s perfect for snacking and makes a delicious cereal or topping.
Let’s talk granola, seeds and goji berries for a second, shall we?
There are many granola recipes floating around and it’s no wonder why, as granola is a handy pantry staple. It can be used as a cereal, topped on yogurt, ice cream, smoothies, or simply taken on the go in a small container. It’s a great snack or meal that is filling, healthy, and just plain good!
For this seeds and goji berry granola, I had a ton of goji berries in my fridge, along with pumpkin (pepitas) and sunflower seeds that needed to be put to good use, when I ran across an article from Wake Up World entitled, Five Healthy Seeds. That planted the seed, so to speak, for this delicious nut-free granola recipe.
Is Seed & Goji Berry Granola Healthy?
Yes, this seed and goji berry granola is super healthy! Seeds are a great alternative to nuts, especially for those who have nut allergies. Some of the best seeds in a whole form are hemp, sunflower, chia, sesame, and pumpkin seeds. Flax seeds are great as well, but unless they are ground, you’re not going to get their full benefits, as they will pass straight through the body with hardly any benefits.
As for the goji berries, well I love them because they don’t have any added sweeteners like most dried fruits do (I also like raisins for this reason). They are full of antioxidants similar to other berries like blueberries, acai berries, cranberries, strawberries, and cherries. Find out more about their nutritional profile from this article from Live Strong, Goji Berries Nutrition.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
In this recipe, oats, goji berries, and a variety of seeds are mixed with cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, and seed butter, creating a healthy and delicious granola snack that I know you’re going to love.
Here is everything you’ll need, including variation and substitution ideas:
- Oats. Use old-fashioned oats. To ensure they are gluten-free, only purchase certified GF oats.
- Goji Berries. These exotic berries can be found in most healthy-conscious grocery stores or purchased online.
- Sunflower Seeds. Use raw, untoasted sunflower seeds.
- Pepitas. Also known as pumpkin seeds, these are the actual seeds removed from the pumpkin seed shell.
- Chia Seeds. These little seeds are packed with nutrients. Feel free to omit them if needed.
- Hemp Hearts. Hemp hearts contain all the essential omega’s and are a heart-smart addition to this granola recipe.
- Cinnamon. Adds a nice layer of flavor!
- Salt. My favorite salt for just about everything is pink mineral salt, aka Himilayan Salt. It has beneficial minerals and trace elements you won’t find in other salts. Plus, a little goes a long way!
- Pure Maple Syrup. This is my preferred liquid natural sweetener for granola. It sweetens perfectly and hardens the granola without the need for oil.
- Vanilla. For another layer of flavor, feel free to omit it if you don’t have it on hand.
- Tahini or Sunbutter. It adds flavor and nutrition and helps with making a few extra clumpy pieces.
How To Make Seed Granola with Goji Berries
Making this granola recipe only takes a few simple steps:
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas, goji berries, chia seeds, hemp hearts, cinnamon and salt.
- Pour the maple syrup, tahini, and vanilla overtop the mixture and stir to combine, mixing well until the ingredients are well coated.
- Layer the granola on a rimmed baking sheet (shown above) lined with parchment liner or Silpat, or lightly greased with coconut oil.
- Bake in the oven for 30 – 35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool (shown below). Granola will harden as it cools.
Tips For The Best Granola
- Bake granola at a low temperature. Granola is best when cooked at a lower temperature. This prevents burning and also gives it that nice golden flavor and texture. Depending on the recipe, I bake my granola between 250 and 300 degrees F.
- Mix well to coat. When mixing the dry and wet ingredients, be sure to mix well coating each piece with the maple for maximum flavor and crunch.
- Storing. You can store this healthy granola in a mason jar or an airtight container for up to 1 – 2 months (but trust me when I say, it’s not going to last that long!).
Recommended Equipment: I love my Silpat or these parchment liners for lining this rimmed baking sheet.
More Easy Granola Recipes!
- Peanut Butter & Banana Granola Snack Clusters
- Ginger-Orange Granola
- Pumpkin Granola
- Everyday Healthy Granola
If you try this seeds and goji berry granola recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintSEEDS & GOJI BERRY GRANOLA
A healthy seed and berry granola with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, chia seeds, hemp hearts and cinnamon. Making your own granola is fun and easy!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Makes 4 cups 1x
- Category: Snack, Breakfast
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats (I used GF)
- 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/3 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/3 cup goji berries
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 2/3 cup pure maple syrup*
- 1/4 cup sunbutter or tahini, optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or silicone mat, or lightly grease with coconut oil.
Combine all dry ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add maple syrup, sun butter/tahini, and vanilla. Mix until well-coated.
Spread granola in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Place in oven and bake for 30- 35 minutes, stirring the mixture every 10 minutes to ensure even cooking. If using two baking sheets, you may even like to switch their positions in the oven once after stirring. If using a smaller baking dish such as a 9 × 9 or 11 × 13, bake for up to 1 hour or so, or until golden throughout. Be sure to stir the mixture every 15 minutes or so.
Once done, remove from oven and let cool, granola will harden as it cools.
Makes 4 cups
Store in a covered container on the counter for up to 1 month.
Notes
Feel free to add 1/4 cup or so unsweetened shredded coconut to the dry mixture as well.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: I love my Silpat or these parchment liners for lining this rimmed baking sheet.
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I've been really into making granola lately, and now I'm inspired to add some goji berries and chia seeds to the mix! I keep reading about how beneficial chia seeds are, and this seems like a great way to try them out. Thanks!
Chia seeds are great little power houses. I think even sesame seeds would be nice in this too. You almost can't go wrong with granola!
Hmm, I LOVE granola :) Not a fan of goji berries, but maybe I'd like them mixed in with these ingredients.
I'm not too much of a fan of goji berries either…I do like by small handfuls and in this granola. I tried making a goji berry smoothie one time by softening the berries in water before blending with a banana…it wasn't very good at all…in fact I threw it out. lol I don't do that very often as I have tolerance for weird tastes but this was just not good. Give it a try, I think you find they are quite good in this. :)
This looks so delicious! I never thought of adding some goji berries to my granolas! great idea
You'll have to try it, it's great!