Healthy Applesauce Granola (high protein, without all the junk)
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This healthy applesauce granola is my favorite way to use up extra egg whites and it’s naturally sweetened with unsweetened applesauce and date syrup, chewy raisins and cranberries, with just enough olive oil to make it crispy. It’s loaded with healthy fats, clean protein and no refined sugar.
Let’s face it: it’s pretty shocking if you read labels on a typical store bought granola. They’re loaded with sugar and quite often junk oils like canola, yet they’ve been touted as “healthy” at least my whole life.
The good news about baking or cooking for yourself in general is that we can do better. The even better part about making granola, is that it’s a 5 minute process with 20-25 minutes in the oven tops.
And the better, better part is that you can customize your actually healthy homemade granola any number of ways. Now I like to shop the granola in the stores not to take it home, but to get some flavor ideas because they’re fun!
The better better better part is that you need literally one bowl and two sheet pans. Shoot, you could stir your applesauce granola with a regular fork. I sure did. Who doesn’t love a no fuss no fancy equipment recipe?
Your healthy granola will elevate all of your smoothie bowls, give you something fun to top your Greek yogurt, or just be something to crunch on with milk all by itself. Let’s make something crunchy!
Affiliate disclosure
bakingwithtradition.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking to recommended products. Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Healthy Applesauce Granola (gluten free, dairy free)
Granola ingredients
- Oats: Oats are naturally gluten-free, but buy certified gluten free oats if you have someone in your life who is extra sensitive and might be affected by cross contamination.
- Coconut Flakes: I always add these in to my granola because toasted coconut is delicious.
- Almonds: Swap in any nut you like such as walnut, pecan, pistachio, peanuts, cashews etc.
- Pumpkin seeds: They’re beautiful and green! Again, you can use another seed here like flax, sesame.
- Egg whites: the egg whites add extra protein and are the secret weapon for a crispy granola. If you’re a baker like me always with parts of eggs hanging around the fridge, I live for these recipes!
- Unsweetened applesauce: adds sweetness without being cloying and helps cut down on the amount of oil. I’m using homemade applesauce, but any unsweetened applesauce works here.
- Date syrup: no refined sugar here, date syrup will make for a lightly sweet not hurt-your-teeth granola. Use honey if you prefer a little more sweetness.
- Olive oil: Heart healthy olive oil trumps junky canola every time, and there’s just enough to help the granola crisp up.
- Cinnamon: for flavor, skip it if you like, or add sweet spices like a pinch of nutmeg, cloves, allspice or even pumpkin pie spice.
- Salt: just a pinch to balance out the flavors.
- Dried fruit: I’m using a combo of raisins and cranberries, but anything goes here. Dates, apricots, figs, prunes, banana chips, dried blueberries or strawberries, currants, etc.
Healthy Applesauce Granola step by step
Simple Applesauce Granola
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 10 cups
Description
Sweetened with applesauce and date syrup, this is not the sugar loaded granola that gets passed off as healthy. With added egg whites, it gets nice and crisp and gives you an added protein boost to top your smoothie bowls with something fun and crunchy. (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
Dry ingredients
- 4 cups oats (gluten-free if needed)*
- 1 cup almonds, chopped (you can skip chopping if you use slivered or flaked almonds)
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
Wet ingredients
- 1/4 cup date syrup
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- pinch of salt
- 2 egg whites
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (homemade applesauce is awesome, but store-bought is okay too)
- 1 tsp cinnamon (or chai spice blend, pumpkin pie spice, or apple pie spice)
Dried fruit
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).
- Lightly coat two sheet trays with cooking spray.
- Mix the oats, almonds, coconut flakes, and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl.
- Whisk the egg whites with the salt until they are broken up well in a small bowl.
- Add the date syrup and olive oil to the egg whites, then mix in the applesauce and cinnamon.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until everything is moistened well.
- Spread out the unbaked granola on the prepared sheet trays in a shallow layer.
- Bake for 10 minutes, then stir the granola.
- Bake for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
- Let the granola cool for 10 minutes, then stir in the dried fruit.
Notes
*Oats are naturally gluten-free, but for gluten-sensitive people, you might think of buying certified gluten-free oats to avoid any cross-contamination.
If you prefer your granola a little sweeter, swap in honey for the date syrup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Additional Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Healthier Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 211
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 12
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 0
Serving ideas for homemade granola
- Smoothie bowl: sprinkle on top for a nice crunch.
- Yogurt and fruit: Sprinkle on granola for more fun texture with your favorite yogurt.
- Toasted porridge: cook up just like regular oatmeal. It will have a deep toasted flavor and a different chew than your regular morning oatmeal.
- Top granola with milk: ditch your boxed cereal for something much better for you.
- Granola Overnight oats: soak your granola in your favorite milk overnight for a different spin on overnight oatmeal.
- Snack time: pop some granola in a small container and take it on the road when you know you’ll need a snack.
Have you made homemade granola? What are your favorite flavors? What is your favorite way to eat your granola? Let me know in the comments. I love to hear what you have to say.
