Free From Funfetti Granola

Yay, it’s completely free from gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, egg, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. This recipe does contain coconut, but easy substitutions can be made. NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, so any purchases made on Amazon through the links will help support Yay, It’s Free From This!

This delicious, allergy-free granola is the perfect topping for a morning yogurt parfait or a smoothie bowl. The kids will love that it is full of white chocolate chips and sprinkles, and you’ll love that it’s full of healthy oats and super seeds with no peanuts or tree nuts. I’m always searching for creative ways to feed my kids and the Hubs good, healthy snacks. Granola really is the perfect thing to munch on after school or in the afternoon at the office.

I also think granola is one of the highest risk foods for an accidental allergic reaction since it almost always contains or is cross-contaminated with nuts. We manage severe allergies to both peanuts and most tree nuts plus some seeds, so it’s almost impossible to find a “safe” granola on the market for us. Of course, I always think the best solution then is to make it at home. I had honestly thought granola would be hard to make yourself, but it’s not at all! And the best part about homemade granola is that it’s highly customizable. I love being able to choose my favorite components while eliminating all risk of an allergic reaction.

Choose Your Granola Ingredients

The main base ingredient is gluten-free oats. You want to use old-fashioned oats, not the instant kind. Although oats are naturally gluten-free, how they are grown and produced usually contaminate them with gluten, so make sure the the oats you purchase are labeled gluten-free. I use both Trader Joe’s and Bob Red Mill’s oats with no issues. Aside from the oats, you can add whatever else you want. We manage both both a sesame and pumpkin seed allergy, in addition to all nuts. Because of this, I avoid these ingredients, but I use whatever else is safe for our family specifically and there are so many options! So choose exactly what works for your and/or your family. You can also just do oats only….the possibilities go on and on. Here are some options and suggestions (please be careful of any potential allergies to any of these suggestions):

• Seeds: quinoa, chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds
• Dried fruit: cranberries, wild blueberries, raisins, apricots, goji berries, or mango
• Sweetener: brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar or honey
• Oils: coconut, avocado, or melted vegan butter
• Other options: dairy-free dark, semi-sweet or white chocolate chips, or coconut flakes

Make the Granola

For the base of this granola recipe, I use oats, hemp, quinoa, sunflower seeds, and coconut flakes. I like to use red quinoa for the added color. Be sure to rinse it ahead of time since there’s a coating on it that will make it bitter.

Sometimes the sunflower seeds I buy are cross-contaminated with peanuts and tree nuts. A trick I learned from our allergist was to spray them with a vegetable cleaning spray and then rinse. This should remove any nut proteins on its surface. I’ve done this without issues, but I am by no means a health professional so please do not proceed if you have concerns with this method.

Place the oats, hemp, quinoa and sunflower seeds in a large bowl. Set aside the coconut flakes. These burn easily so it’s not added until the granola is about halfway baked. Combine the coconut oil, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan. Melt over medium heat until the oil and sugar is dissolved. Whisk carefully and then pour over the dry mixture. Use a spatula to stir until everything is evenly coated.

Spread onto a large parchment lined baking sheet pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350ºF, then add in the coconut flakes and stir. Bake for another 6-8 minutes. Remove and cool completely before storing.

Make It Funfetti

Whenever I make this granola, I set aside about half of the batch for the Hubs and I, and leave it as is. It’s not as fun, lol, but it’s still amazing granola. For the kids, I add Enjoylife’s mini white chocolate chips and a handful of sprinkles. I love the 365 rainbow sprinkles from Whole Foods. There are no artificial colors and they do not contain any allergens. We also use Cake Mate sprinkles with no issues, but they do contain soy lecithin and also artificial coloring.

Our favorite way to enjoy this granola is over yogurt parfaits. It really upgrades it up several notches. Dairy-free yogurt, honey, fresh fruit and a good shower of funfetti granola makes a wonderful, fun and healthy breakfast! Please try this and let me know how you’ve customized your granola. ☺️