Anyone who enjoys snacking on granola can probably relate… have you ever fished around in the container or If you’re a fan of granola, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as picking out the giant clusters when snacking – so why not make your own to guarantee those crunchy bites? All it takes is some simple ingredients and voila! Delicious homemade cluster-filled goodness.

With this classic recipe, you can create a delicious and gluten-free breakfast treat that’s so tasty it tastes like crunchy granola cookies. Using almond flour instead of whole wheat to help bind the oats together keeps your snack free from gluten while adding sliced almonds for flavor and texture on top. Sweetened with maple syrup, brown sugar, and vanilla – enjoy an indulgent yet healthy start to any day!

Summary of Homemade Granola Clusters:

• Made with only minimal ingredients, this is an easy recipe that great for beginners and young bakers.
• The wholesome treat is made with oats, almonds, and maple syrup, resulting in a little salty and sweet flavor with a wonderful maple taste.
• Not only do you get an energy-packed snack that you feel good about eating, but it’s also vegan, egg-free and gluten free when using certified GF oats.
• You’re in control here—the clusters can be as large or small as you like!
• Every bite will be packed with texture and crunch that is sure to satisfy any craving.

8 Ingredients & Why Each Is Crucial

1. Oats: Use whole rolled (old-fashioned) oats for a nutritious granola. Quick/instant oats not recommended.

2. Almond Flour: Needed for the granola to clump. Can substitute or make at home (see Notes).

3. Salt: Enhances other flavors for tastiest clusters.

4. Sliced/Slivered Almonds: Add texture, can omit if desired. Unsalted recommended.

5. Coconut Oil: Keeps granola from becoming a mushy mess and adds crunch & richness – use butter if needed, not liquid oil. Must be solid at room temp.

6. Brown Sugar: Sweetens & thickens sticky “sauce” that’s poured over dry ingredients – can substitue with coconut sugar if desired.

7. Maple Syrup: Gives delicious flavor & helps clusters stick together – use unrefined sweetener.

8. Vanilla Extract: Enhances flavor of clusters

FAQ: Need an alternative to brown sugar?

For the perfect sweet and crunchy granola clusters, combine maple syrup with a dry sugar for an ideal sauce consistency. To avoid refined sugars, swap in coconut sugar instead of brown sugar—guaranteed to be delicious!

Bake the Mixture in a Baking Dish (That’s the Trick!)

Combine coconut oil, brown sugar and maple syrup in a pot to create an irresistible topping for your dry ingredients. Then press the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish to make delicious granola bars that are sure to please!

For the ultimate granola clusters, rotate your pan every 10 minutes while baking. After about 40 minutes in the oven, take out and let it cool for a few moments before handling with care -it’ll be hot! Remove from the parchment paper carefully to cut into squares or break apart as desired; voilà- delicious homemade clusters are ready!

Return the clusters back to the pan, or spread on a lined baking sheet this time, and give them another 10 minutes in the oven to achieve crispy, crunchy clusters.

FAQ: Can I Include Some Add-ins?

Enhance your granola clusters by adding a variety of flavorful ingredients! Stick to about 1 and 1/4 cups total— 3/4 cup sliced almonds plus around a half-cup of pepitas, sunflower seeds, raisins, coconut flakes or dried cranberries. Too much can take away the cluster effect so enjoy in moderation for that crunchy texture you love.

Maple Almond Granola Clusters

• 
  Author: Andrew
• 
  Prep Time: 15 minutes
• 
  Cook Time: 50 minutes
• 
  Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
• 
  Yield: 5.5 cups
• 
  Category: Snacks
• 
  Method: Baking
• 
  Cuisine: American

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Description

Make a crunchy, naturally vegan and gluten-free snack! With just 8 ingredients you can prepare your own homemade batch of granola clusters. The trick? Bake it in a 9×13 pan before breaking into pieces for an extra crispy texture then quickly returning to the oven. Enjoy this delicious treat worry free knowing that no eggs were used in preparation and certified GF oats guarantee there’s none of that pesky Gluten either!

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

2. Mix oats, almond flour, salt and almonds in a large bowl. Set aside.

3. Combine coconut oil, brown sugar and maple syrup in medium saucepan over medium heat; whisk until sugar dissolves & remove from heat – some oil layer ok. Whisk in vanilla; pour over oat mixture & stir until ingredients begin to come together. Mixture will be sticky.

4. Pour into prepared baking pan & press tightly into an even layer using spatula.

5. Bake for 40 minutes, rotating pan every 10 minutes for even baking. Remove pan, don’t turn off oven; let granola cool in pan for 5–10 minutes (crucial!). Lift out using parchment overhang on sides & cut into squares, breaking up into smaller clusters – be careful as it’s hot!

6. Place clusters back into baking pan/spread onto lined/unlined baking sheet; bake for 10 more minutes. Remove from oven & cool completely – clusters become crunchier as they cool.

7. Cover & store cooled clusters at room temp for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months – thaw at room temperature.

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Notes

1. Special Tools (affiliate links): 9×13-Inch Baking Pan | Baking Sheet | Parchment Paper | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Spatula
2. Almond Flour: If you’re looking for an ingredient to add something special to your recipe, try using almond flour or meal. Almond flour is finely ground blanched almonds and almond meal is coarser. Most groceries stock the Bob’s Red Mill brand of pre-made almond flower but it’s also easy enough to do at home: Just pulse about ¾ cup of whole almonds a few times in a food processor until they become uniformly small – just don’t grind them too long or else you’ll end up with more than what was intended!
3. Nut-Free: You can swap almond flour for oat flour, and leave out the sliced almonds. I find this version isn’t quite as crunchy, but it does work.
4. Oats: Whole rolled (old-fashioned) oats are the nutritious heart of these granola clusters. I don’t recommend quick or instant oats here—you need whole.
5. Coconut Oil: If you don’t want your granola to turn into a mushy disaster, adding fat is key. Solid fats like butter guarantee the crunch and richness that will make every bite of your homemade granola delicious! Liquid oils simply won’t do—avoid them at all costs for top-notch results.
6. Brown Sugar: The brown sugar adds sweetness, but is also needed to thicken the sticky “sauce” that gets poured over the dry ingredients. You can substitute coconut sugar, if desired.
7. Add-Ins: Whether you’re looking for a bit of crunch or extra sweetness, adding 1 and 1/4 cups of tasty add-ins to your maple almond granola clusters can really take them up a notch. For best results, use 3/4 cup sliced almonds plus an additional half cup – choose from pumpkin seeds (pepitas), sunflower seeds,, raisins, coconut flakes or dried cranberries! Enjoy the treat with caution though – too many mix-in choices could cause your treats to crumble more than usual.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/2 cup
• Calories: 306
• Sugar: 12.3 g
• Sodium: 107 mg
• Fat: 12.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 33 g
• Fiber: 4.1 g
• Protein: 6.3 g

Keywords: maple almond granola clusters