Simple Vegan Granola Recipe (8 Ingredients!)

This vegan granola recipe has been our go-to for six years, and after countless batches (and lots of begging from me!), T finally wrote it down so we could share it with you. It’s perfectly sweet, a little salty, irresistibly crunchy, and proof that making your own granola is way easier than you think! And the best part? It uses just 8 ingredients and takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, making it one of the easiest ways to upgrade your breakfast routine!

This post contains affiliate links. As Amazon Associates, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you). Click here to read our full policy about affiliate links. Thank you for shopping our affiliate links, as it helps us keep the free vegan recipes coming your way!

---

For starters, this is actually vegan granola with no honey hiding in the ingredients! If you’ve ever grabbed a bag of “plant-based granola” at the store only to spot honey in the ingredient list, you know the frustration. This recipe keeps things simple and truly plant-based while still delivering that classic toasted granola flavor!

It’s also incredibly flexible. For example, many plant based granola recipes lean heavily on coconut which is great if you love it, but not everyone does. This great recipe uses coconut oil for crisping things up, but we’ve got a simple ingredients swap up our sleeves to keep the flavor neutral!

And if you’re someone who prefers a loose, crunchy granola instead of huge tooth-challenging clusters (I must be getting old), you’re going to love this small batch granola recipe. It creates perfectly toasted oats that are crisp and snackable without forming hard clumps. 

Once you learn this easy vegan granola recipe, you’ll also have a base you can customize endlessly. Think nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate chips, spices. This recipe is basically a blank canvas for whatever you have in your pantry!

Is Granola Vegan?

No, not all granola is vegan!

When buying store-bought granola or choosing a recipe online, it’s always worth checking the ingredient list before committing. Dairy occasionally pops up in some granola recipes, but the most common non-vegan ingredient is honey.

Honey can be tricky because it doesn’t appear in allergen warnings or cholesterol information (two shortcuts many plant-based eaters use when scanning labels!). That means you’ll need to read the ingredient list closely to spot it.

The good news? This vegan granola recipe skips honey and dairy entirely while still delivering that cozy, toasted flavor that makes granola so snackable. Once you try making your own plant based granola at home, you might have a hard time going back to store-bought!

Ingredients for Vegan Granola

One of the best things about this easy vegan granola recipe is how simple the ingredient list is.

Rolled Oats – Rolled oats (also called old-fashioned oats) work best for this recipe. Quick oats can work in a pinch, but avoid steel cut oats or instant oatmeal!

Raw Cashew Pieces – Optional, but absolutely lovely if you have some to use up. They toast beautifully and add a buttery crunch.

Light Brown Sugar – Adds a little caramel flavor. You can easily swap in dark brown sugar, coconut sugar, or date sugar here.

Cinnamon – A cozy, classic flavor that pairs perfectly with toasted oats!

Sea Salt – A key ingredient! Just a small amount makes all the other flavors pop.

Coconut Oil – If you don’t want your granola to taste like coconut, use refined coconut oil. If you enjoy a coconut flavor, use unrefined or virgin coconut oil. Another neutral oil works too, or even a runny nut butter or seed butter if you prefer an oil-free option.

Maple Syrup – Adds sweetness and helps everything crisp up. Agave, silan (date syrup), or any liquid sweetener also works great!

Vanilla Extract – Measure with your heart and feel free to play around with various extracts here!

Tips for the Best Vegan Granola

Granola is simple, but a few small tricks make a huge difference. Here are our best tips for perfect plant-based granola every time.

Mix wet and dry ingredients separately first. You might be tempted to just throw everything into one bowl. I get it; I get in that mood too, lol. But mixing the wet ingredients together and the dry ingredients together before combining them really helps distribute the flavors evenly. I learned firsthand that T’s method is worth the extra bowl! (That, let’s be honest, T is washing anyway 😄) See the photo below for what this looks like step by step:

Don’t skip the salt. Seriously. One bite of this granola and you’ll understand why! The pinch of salt doesn’t necessarily make the granola taste salty; it just balances the sweetness and makes every flavor pop. It’s honestly my favorite part!

Avoid overcrowding the baking sheet. If you want loose, crunchy granola instead of big clusters, give the oats room to toast. We bake this on a USA quarter sheet pan and find the small batch fits perfectly without overcrowding (see the photo below for what this looks like). With a high-quality sheet pan like this, we don’t even bother with parchment paper.

Let it cool completely before storing. This is key for keeping that perfect crunchy texture!

Variations for This Basic Vegan Granola Recipe

Once you conquer this small batch granola recipe, the fun really begins. There are endless ways to customize it depending on what you have in your pantry!

Chocolate Granola: Sprinkle a handful of chocolate chips on top of the hot granola right after it comes out of the oven. The heat from the granola and baking pan will melt them just enough so you can stir them in. This works with peanut butter chips and vegan white chocolate chips too!

Nut and Seed Swaps: You can swap the cashews for any nut or seed you like. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds all work beautifully. Coconut flakes can be added too if you enjoy that flavor!

Add Dried Fruit: Stir in raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots, or dates after baking for a trail-mix vibe.

The main rule when experimenting with plant based granola recipes is to keep the same ratio of dry ingredients to wet ingredients. As long as that balance stays the same, you can get creative with the mix-ins!

How to Serve Vegan Granola

There are so many delicious ways to enjoy a granola bowl made with this homemade vegan granola recipe.

One of my favorite ways is sprinkled over dairy-free yogurt with fresh fruit. The Silk Greek-style yogurt (especially the lemon flavor!) makes an incredible base for a quick breakfast parfait.

You can also serve it like cereal with a splash of oat milk or almond milk, grab a handful straight from the jar as a crunchy snack, use it to top a smoothie bowl, or sprinkle it over desserts. It’s amazing on baked fruit crisps or even a scoop of vegan ice cream when you want a little crunch.

Once you start making your own plant based granola, it quickly becomes one of those staples you reach for all week!

How to Store This Basic Granola Recipe

Store this vegan granola in an airtight container like a mason jar or bag in your pantry for up to 10-14 days.

It’s also fantastic for meal prep. You can make a batch at the start of the week and portion it out ahead of time. I especially love making little yogurt parfait jars with granola on the bottom, then vegan yogurt, and some frozen fruit on top, so breakfast is ready to grab and go!

Can you freeze granola? Yes! Granola freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely, then store it in an airtight freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, just let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes and it will crisp right back up.

⭐ Did you make this vegan granola recipe?

Leave a rating and review below! Your feedback helps more people discover our vegan recipes and feel confident trying them in their own kitchens. We also love hearing how our recipes come alive in your home!

I hope this easy vegan granola recipe becomes a go-to for you like it has for us and maybe even opens up a whole new world of homemade granola, so you never have to buy a bag again!