Vanilla Cherry & Almond Granola - Oil-Free!
This crunchy and nutritious granola combines almonds, cherries, and warming vanilla for a highly craveable and incredibly delicious snack! Made with nutrient-dense whole foods like oats, almonds, chia seeds, and cashew butter to leave you feeling nourished and satisfied. Plus it’s oil-free, refined sugar-free, & gluten-free.
This post is sponsored by one of my favorite superfood brands, Natierra! For all premium and superfood products sold, Natierra donates a nourishing meal to children in need - learn more about Natierra’s impact here. I only work with companies whose products I love and whose mission aligns with my own values. Special for my followers, you can use code TEO10 for 10% off a purchase of 3 items or more! All opinions and recipes are my own - thank you for supporting Teo’s Tiny Kitchen!
One of my favorite ways to enjoy granola is as a hiking snack - a few bites satisfy my craving for something sweet while also packing in nutrient dense foods to fuel me through navigating treacherous rocks on my way up to mountain tops! With spring vibes in the air and in anticipation of an upcoming hiking trip, I developed this granola based on one of my favorite nut/fruit combos, cherry and almond, and added in vanilla to create a deliciously addictive flavor combo. You can bet I’ll be packing a fresh batch to snack on after reaching those mountain peaks ⛰️ - I call it #summitgranola!
Why You’ll Love this Granola
Nutrient dense. This granola is made primarily with whole plant foods - oats, almonds, chia seeds, cashew butter, and dried cherries - each of which contains loads of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to create a super nourishing snack!
Irresistible flavor combo. Although the combo of cherries and almonds is irresistible in any format, adding vanilla in makes it extra addictive. 🔥 This is definitely one of those granolas that disappears very quickly!
Oil-free. Thanks to cashew butter, this granola is just as satisfying than oil-based ones but more nutritious! And it’s actually tastier, too. I’ve tested this recipe with both a neutral oil and coconut oil, expecting that the oils would produce a better flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the oil-based granolas lacked the full flavor depth that only the cashew butter could add. Healthier and more delicious?! Sign me up!
Crunchy texture. Is it even granola without that satisfying crunch in every bite? 🤤
Easy to make. Making homemade granola is incredibly easy! Just coat your dry ingredients (nuts, oats, seeds, spices, granulated sugar) with a mixture of liquid sweetener and fat (maple syrup plus a nut/seed butter or oil) and bake it on low heat for ~20-30 minutes, stirring halfway through. Once baked, let it fully cool before mixing in any dried fruit and that’s it - you’ve got a tasty, crunchy, satisfying snack that you can reach for throughout the day! If you’ve never baked granola before, check out some helpful tips in this post to get started.
Ingredient Overview
Oats. The base of this granola! Oats are delicious whole grains that are rich in fiber and protein, and they help give granola that super satisfying texture. Be sure to use rolled oats, not quick oats or steel-cut oats, for the proper texture.
Almonds. One of my favorite nuts to add into granola! Almonds pair especially well with cherries and vanilla, but they’re also great with chocolate (check out my chocolate almond granola recipe here!). Make sure to buy raw, unsalted almonds for granola since they’ll roast as the granola bakes - you don’t want to further cook (or scorch!) any pre-roasted almonds.
White chia seeds (or a mix of hemp seeds and ground flaxseed). Chia seeds are small but very mighty, adding over 17 grams of fiber, 10 grams of protein, and loads of omega-3 fatty acids (which are essential for brain health!) into this granola! Because they’re so nutrient-dense, I try to make sure to eat chia seeds every day, and adding some into granola is a super easy and tasty way to do that - since I know I’ll inevitably snack on some sooner or later in the day! 😉 Black chia seeds have been a pantry staple for a while, and the recent addition of Natierra’s white chia seeds has helped further increase the plant diversity of my diet (the #1 most important predictor of a healthy gut)! Although the recipe calls for white chia seeds, feel free to substitute black ones if you prefer (the nutritional value is very similar), or use a mix of both. Alternatively, you can use a mix of hemp seeds and ground flaxseed instead to switch it up - the granola will still be incredibly nutritious!
Light brown sugar OR coconut sugar. Light brown sugar’s toasty, molasses-y flavor enhances the vanilla almond flavor combo nicely, but if you’d like to keep the granola free of any refined sugars, you can swap it out for some coconut sugar.
Vanilla extract. For that warm vanilla flavor!
Cashew butter. Unlike traditional granola recipes made with oil, this granola uses cashew butter for the fat source, which makes it more nutritious! Cashews are rich and creamy, and they have a slight vanilla flavor, which perfectly complements the full-on vanilla flavor in the extract. Just be sure to use a very drizzly, single ingredient cashew butter (i.e. just cashews) as any additives (spices, extracts, etc.) will alter the final granola’s taste. I used my homemade roasted cashew butter, but you can also go with a store-bought option.
Maple syrup. The liquid sweetener, which is naturally unrefined! This combines with the cashew butter to help give the granola its satisfying crunchy texture.
Dried cherries. Mix in whatever type of dried cherries you like! Sour Montmorency cherries and unsweetened tart cherries are two of my favorites, since I like the flavor contrast that the more tart cherries provide. Alternatively, you can use sweet cherries if tart/sour cherries aren’t your thing.
Sea salt. A tiny bit of salt goes a long way to enhance all the flavors!
Vanilla Cherry & Almond Granola
Vegan, Oil-Free, Refined Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
2 cups rolled old-fashioned oats
¾ cups raw almonds, chopped lengthwise
¼ cup light brown sugar OR ¼ cup coconut sugar**
3 ½ tablespoons Natierra white chia seeds (or sub black chia seeds) OR 2 tablespoons hemp seeds + 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
¼ teaspoon fine salt
¼ cup very drizzly, well-mixed cashew butter* (homemade or storebought)
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup dried cherries**
Directions
Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, chopped almonds, light brown sugar or coconut sugar, chia seeds or hemp seeds and ground flax, and salt.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the drizzly cashew butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until well combined.
Add the wet ingredients to the mixed dry ingredients and use a rubber spatula to mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are fully combined. The mixture will be dry at first and will begin to feel “wet” once everything gets incorporated.
Spread the granola mixture onto your prepared baking sheet, using the rubber spatula to press the granola down firmly into a thin even layer covering almost the entire sheet. Transfer the granola to the oven and bake for 14 minutes.
Remove the granola from the oven, mix the granola thoroughly (this ensures even baking!) and press it down again into a thin even layer, making sure to cover almost the entire sheet again. Return to oven and bake until golden throughout and the edges are starting to brown, about 12-16 minutes, being careful not to overbake (check it sooner if your oven runs hot).
Remove from oven and let cool fully to crisp, about 1 hour.
Once cooled, break up the granola into clusters and stir in the dried cherries.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes:
*Be sure to use a single ingredient cashew butter (i.e. just cashews). I used my homemade roasted cashew butter - I just processed the cashews until they turned into a very drizzly butter. If using a store bought cashew butter, just make sure it’s very drizzly!
**To keep the granola free of refined sugars, use coconut sugar and unsweetened dried cherries or dried cherries that are sweetened without any refined sugars (check the ingredient label on the packaging).
***Recipe originally published 3/29/2021; last updated 8/4/2022.
As you’re snacking on the granola, don’t forget to leave a review in the comments below and tag me on Instagram (@teostinykitchen) - I’d love to see how you’re eating it up! Bonus points if you bring the granola with you out into the wild! ⛰️