Easy Nut-Free Granola (Oil-Free)
My favorite recipe for Nut-Free Granola featuring pepitas, sunflower seeds, and hemp hearts is a crunchy treat that’s fun and easy to make. Naturally vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free, it’s perfect for snacking, breakfast cereal, or as a topping for yogurt and smoothie bowls!
The best homemade granola is full of flavor and deliciously crunchy, with no nuts at all! Made with rolled oats, pumpkin, sunflower, and hemp seeds, it’s naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup and completely oil-free!
This allergy-friendly seed granola is perfect for anyone with nut allergies or those who want a healthy and delicious seed-based granola. I’ve been making variations of this for years, and it’s always a family favorite and disappears quickly.
It’s incredibly easy and customizable, and it fills your home with the most wonderful aroma as it bakes. Whether you enjoy it for breakfast with plant milk as cereal, sprinkled over yogurt, or by the handful as a snack, I’m sure it will soon become a staple in your pantry too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
In this recipe, oats and a variety of seeds are mixed with cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, and nut-free butter to create a healthy, delicious nut-free treat you’ll love munching on.
Here is everything you’ll need:
- Rolled oats — Old-fashioned oats give the best texture. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- Sunflower seeds — Raw and untoasted work beautifully.
- Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) — These add a lovely crunch and nutrition.
- Hemp hearts — A fantastic source of omega-3s and complete plant protein.
- Cinnamon — Adds a warm, cozy flavor.
- Salt — A pinch enhances all the flavors. I love using pink Himalayan salt (affiliate link) for the minerals and trace elements.
- Pure maple syrup — This is my favorite liquid natural sweetener for granola. It sweetens it perfectly and hardens it without the need for oil.
- Vanilla extract — Adds a lovely depth of flavor (optional, but highly recommended!).
- Tahini or sunflower seed butter — Adds richness and extra nutrition, and helps form those delicious clusters.
Optional Add-Ins
Stirred in before baking: Shredded coconut (unsweetened), chia seeds, and ground flaxseed.
Added after baking: Dried fruit, preferably unsweetened, such as raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots or cherries, goji berries, or barbarries (my personal favorite). Dark chocolate chips are great too, and can be stirred in once cooled, so they don’t melt.
***Prefer the recipe card? You’ll find the exact measurements and instructions just below.
How To Make Nut-Free Granola
Making homemade nut-free granola is easy as can be and takes just a few simple steps:
- Preheat the oven to 275-300 degrees F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas, hemp hearts, seed butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
- Pour the maple syrup over top and stir to combine, mixing well until the ingredients are well coated and there are no dry pieces of oats.
- Layer the granola on a rimmed baking sheet (shown above left) lined with a parchment liner or Silpat, or lightly greased with coconut oil.
- Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Remove from oven, toss in optional dried fruit (above right), and let cool completely. Granola will harden as it cools.
Now your baking is done, and you are ready to enjoy!
Tips For The Best Seed Granola
- Bake at a low temperature. Granola is best when cooked at a lower temperature. This prevents burning and also gives it that nice flavor and texture. Depending on the recipe, I bake my granola between 275 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.
- Add-ins: I’ve made this granola with goji berries, and recently, as shown here, with dried barberries. I highly recommend the barbarries, their tartness pairs wonderfully with the maple sweetness!
Recommended Equipment: I love my Silpat or these parchment liners for lining this rimmed baking sheet (affiliate links).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! As long as you use certified gluten-free rolled oats, this granola is completely gluten-free. Most other ingredients (seeds, maple syrup, etc.) are naturally gluten-free too.
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, it stays fresh for up to 3 weeks. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just let it come to room temperature before eating.
You can simply omit them or replace them with more pumpkin, sunflower, or chia seeds. The granola will still turn out great.
Absolutely! Stir in dark chocolate chips or your favorite dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots) after the granola has cooled completely. This prevents the chocolate from melting.
How to Store & Freeze
This seed granola stores beautifully once completely cooled and stays fresh for weeks!
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container or jar for up to 3 weeks (but trust me when I say, it’ll be gone before that!).
Freezer: For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying. I find that for the crunchiest texture, let it come to room temperature after freezing before eating.
More Easy Granola Recipes!
- Peanut Butter & Banana Granola Snack Clusters
- Ginger-Orange Granola
- Pumpkin Granola
- Healthy Homemade Granola
- See all our vegan granola & roasted nut recipes on TSV!
If you try this gluten-free recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love hearing what you think or any changes you make.
Print Recipe
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NUT-FREE GRANOLA
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups 1x
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan
Description
Easy homemade nut-free granola recipe made with oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and hemp hearts. This crunchy vegan granola is refined sugar and oil-free, allergy-friendly, and perfect for healthy breakfast bowls, yogurt, or snacking!
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (I used gluten-free)
- 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/4 cup hemp hearts
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 2/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup sunbutter or tahini, optional
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or silicone mat, or lightly grease with coconut oil.
Combine ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, add the oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas, hemp hearts, cinnamon, and salt. Pour the maple syrup, sun butter/tahini, and vanilla over the top, then mix until well coated and no oats remain dry.
Layer: Spread granola in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet.
Bake: Place in the oven on the center rack and bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring the mixture halfway through to ensure even cooking. If using two baking sheets, you may like to switch their positions in the oven after stirring.
Cool: Remove from the oven and let cool. Granola will harden as it cools.
Makes 6 cups
Notes
Store in a covered container on the counter for 3 weeks. Freeze for 2-3 months. Let thaw and enjoy!
Optional Add-ins:
- Stirred in before baking: Add 1/4 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened), 3 tablespoons chia seeds, and ground flaxseed.
- Added after baking: Use 1/2 cup of dried fruit, preferably unsweetened, such as raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots or cherries, goji berries, or barbarries (my personal favorite). Dark chocolate chips are great too, and can be stirred in once cooled, so they don’t melt.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: For this recipe, I love my Silpat or parchment liners to line this rimmed baking sheet (affiliate links).
The recipe has been updated in July 2026. You can still use the original recipe if you prefer.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Updated: This recipe was originally published in March 2013 and updated in July 2026 with new photos and helpful tips. The recipe was also edited and improved.
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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 it was just not good. Give the granola a try, I think you find they are quite good. :)
This was so delicious! I never thought of adding some goji berries to my granolas!
Glad you enjoyed it, Lysa!