Lightly sweetened and full of toasted coconut, almonds, and pecans, this Cranberry Coconut Granola is a delicious way to start your day.
Granola is definitely not a low-carb food, and it’s often packed with sugar. This Cranberry Coconut Granola has less added sweetener than most other granolas (homemade and store-bought). I used just ¼ cup of pure maple syrup to sweeten the whole 12-serving batch, and it was plenty. Now I’ll have to try making some of my other granola recipes with less sweetener, because I’m sure they’d be just as delicious!
I’ve been enjoying a small bowl of this coconut granola from time to time, without the cranberries. The dried cranberries are a delicious addition, but mostly pure sugar so not a good idea for me at this point. The coconut granola is totally yum, even without the cranberries if you are watching your sugar intake.
I did some nutrition calculations, and as written below (with the cranberries) each ¾ cup serving of this Cranberry Coconut Granola has 44 grams of carbohydrates and 12 grams of sugar. Without the cranberries, one serving has 36 grams of carbs and just 5 grams of sugar. I’ll sometimes sprinkle just about ¼ cup of granola on top of some plain Greek yogurt, for a healthy carb-protein balanced snack.
Whether you’re looking to watch your sugar intake or not, I’m sure you’ll love this Cranberry Coconut Granola. It’s filled with coconut flakes, pecans, and almonds, which become all toasty and amazing as the granola bakes. I used refined coconut oil in my granola, which doesn’t add extra coconut flavor. If you want even more coconut in your granola then you can also use virgin coconut oil which does taste like coconut.
Cranberry Coconut Granola
Ingredients
- 6 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup dried coconut flakes
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup refined coconut oil*
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 cup dried cranberries**
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, stir together oats, coconut flakes, pecans, almonds, and salt.
- In a microwave-safe liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine the coconut oil and maple syrup. Heat until the coconut oil is mostly melted and then stir to melt completely. (You can skip this step if your coconut oil is already in a liquid state.) Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the maple syrup mixture over the oat mixture and stir to evenly distribute. Spread the granola in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until lightly golden and crisp. Let granola cool before stirring in the dried cranberries.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
**If you are looking for a low-sugar version, omit the cranberries. The coconut granola is delicious even without them!
More favorite homemade granola recipes:
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola
Looks SO good! I’ll add dried cranberries to my granola next time 🙂
Thank you! The dried cranberries are certainly delicious in this granola! I like to add dried cherries to granola, too.
This granola looks delicious! I love the photos. It must be hard to have gestational diabetes, so I’m glad you avoided it this time even if you are still being careful! 6 weeks is going to fly. Enjoy it.
Thank you, Bri! Photos are a challenge these cloudy winter days!
Sounds like your little girl will be here before you know it! That’s so exciting, Kristine! This granola looks fantastic! Such a great way to make it in order to keep your sugars in check. I love the pecans and almonds in here. Sounds perfect for breakfast or a mid-morning snack!
Or even a bedtime snack! I can eat granola any time of day. 🙂 The more nuts you add in, the more protein, so I even add extra to mine!
I love granola, and I am digging the ingredients, everything I have and love.
Homemade granola is the best! Don’t you love recipes that use things you keep on hand already?
I’m not a mom, so I often forget that women have to watch what they eat while they’re pregnant.. I guess I just assumed they always give into their cravings! It’s going to be a busy next couple of weeks for your family!
Before I had my first child, I thought pregnancy was a time to eat whatever you wanted, too! The next few weeks are going to fly by! Enjoy the rest of the holiday season!
Only 6 weeks to go? How exciting! Best of luck to you in your remaining weeks! This granola, by the way, looks so delicious!
Thank you, Sara! We are getting excited! 🙂
So exciting there are just 6 weeks left! Sending positive thoughts your way for a wonderful end of your pregnancy. This granola sounds delicious! And love that it is low sugar. Some granola recipes out there have so much sugar, I can hardly believe it acceptable as a breakfast food. Can’t wait to make this!
Thank you for your positive thoughts, Natalie! You are so sweet!
My daughter loves granola in her yogurt, so I’ll have to make this for her! Looks amazing!!
Granola and yogurt is such a healthy snack. I hope your daughter enjoys this granola!
We love making granola at home and the kids eat it up every single time! So glad your test came back low for you this time!
I love feeding my kids homemade granola for breakfast, rather than boxed cereal. Glad your kids love granola, too!
This granola sounds so good! I love that it is lower in sugar. I’m so excited that you will meet your baby soon! Good for you for sticking to a healthy diet! 🙂
The healthy diet is sooo hard this time of year! But I’ve done it twice before, so I can do it this time. 🙂 It’s funny how your tastes change and you don’t even miss the extra sugar in recipes after a while!
This granola is lookin’ so good! I also love how it’s lower sugar, that’s always a plus!! 🙂
Thank you, Christina! You really don’t miss the extra sugar at all in this granola!
So excited for you and your family, Kristine! I just took my glucose test last week – fingers crossed that I passed!
Regardless, I love the coconut you paired with cranberries in this granola. Sounds amazing!
Thanks, Melanie! I’m sending positive thoughts your way for your test results – I really hope you passed!
This granola sounds like exactly the type of breakfast I’d crave! Beautiful pictures too, Kristine! Best of luck with the coming weeks under your new bundle of joy arrives!
*until 🙂
Thank you so much, Alyssa! I crave granola all the time!
Wow, this granola looks fantastic! So healthy and delicious…pinned! Congrats on your baby girl as well–I’m sure you are counting down the days ’til she’s here 🙂
Thanks so much, Michelle!!
Such a beautiful granola, Kristine! I just love those cranberries in there. And I had no idea you were even pregnant! Congratulations!! 🙂
Thank you, Ashlyn!!
I adore granola for so many reasons! And This one is calling my name!
Granola is one of my all-time favorite breakfasts! I’m addicted to making new homemade versions of it. 🙂
You are the master of all things granola! Love this lower sugar version because I always feel super guilty when I eat granola! The calories in a 1/4 cup are ridiculous – and who can eat just a 1/4 cup?!!? Not me! Pinned!
I could never eat just 1/4 cup! (Well, unless it was a topping for Greek yogurt, but still!) Thanks so much for pinning!
Yum! Cranberry and coconut sounds like a great combo…. I bet this would be awesome over some yogurt!
It is sooo good over yogurt! I need to make another batch soon!
Just yummy! I can’t believe the only sweetener is 1/4 cup of maple syrup. Next, I will make your banana granola muffins using coconut granola!