This is a really good Low Carb Granola made from wholesome seeds and nuts. It's completely sugar-free and perfect for a gluten-free or ketogenic diet. Dairy-free and Paleo Option.
I was a child of the 70’s when granola was all the rage. I remember my mother baking large sheet pans of granola for my father to enjoy for breakfast or as a snack to fuel him on long bike rides.
Made from natural ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, butter, and honey, it was especially popular with 1960 - 70’s hippies who were exploring introspection and personal health, vegetarianism, growing organic foods, and being kinder to the environment: all this long before the word “granola” became a moniker.
Eighty years before granola became a popular health food, a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner was also contemplating the interrelationship between environment, people, and improved health. He thought that eating foods “touched by the sun” was better for our health than eating meat and dairy. Believing that a significant portion of the human diet should be consumed as raw fruits and vegetables, he developed a recipe for a breakfast porridge containing oats, nuts, and ground raw apples -the original recipe for Bircher Muesli.
Today, the ingredients of muesli closely resemble that of granola, the difference being that granola is baked while muesli typically is not. Incidentally, whether one eats muesli or granola one is consuming quite a bit of carbs. Although often thought of as the ultimate health food, granola - especially commercially produced granola, is chock-full of carbohydrates and sugars.
This low carb granola is a healthier alternative to those who miss their beloved breakfast cereal and are watching their carbs. It’s made entirely from nuts and seeds with the option for adding unsweetened dried cranberries or unsweetened dried apples per your preference. Personally, I enjoy eating it with a small portion of Greek yogurt and a few fresh berries. I think this low carb granola makes the perfect breakfast or light afternoon snack with almond milk, or a great topping for yogurt, chia seed pudding, or ice cream. It is soooooo goood!
If you are looking for other breakfast option, try the Coconut Flour Porridge, Low Carb Almond Porridge with Berries, Macadamia Berry Blast Granola, Low Carb Chocolate Smoothie Bowl, Spinach Bacon & Onion Crustless Quiche
This filling and wholesome Low Carb Granola is 6 net carbs per ½ cup serving.
[This recipe contains affiliate links]
Really Good Low Carb Granola
Ingredients
- ½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped (2 oz/56.7 g)
- ½ cup whole almonds, roughly chopped (2.5 oz/70.9 g)
- ½ cup sliced almonds, chopped to resemble oats (2 oz,/56.7 g)
- ⅓ cup whole pumpkin seeds (1.75 oz/49.6 g)
- ⅓ cup whole sunflower seeds (1/75 oz/49.6 g)
- ¼ cup Bob's Red Mill ground golden flax meal (1 oz/56/7g)
- ¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
- ¼ cup Sukrin Clear or Gold Fiber Syrup (Vitafiber Fiber Yum, yacon syrup, or honey)
- 1 tablespoon butter or ghee or melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon low carb powdered sugar or powdered Swerve - omit if using honey
- pinch or two of salt
- ½ - 1 teaspoon of cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 and position the rack to the middle of the oven. Line a large sheet pan with a piece of parchment.
- Chop the nuts that need chopping.
- Add all of the nuts, seeds, flax, and dried fruit if using, to a medium bowl and mix. Measure and pour the Sukrin Clear Fiber Syrup (Vitafiber, Fiber Yum or honey) over the nuts and seeds and mix thoroughly. Add the melted butter (or ghee or coconut oil) and mix again. Add a pinch or two of salt and the tablespoon of Sukrin Melis (or powdered Swerve) and mix one more time.
- Distribute the low carb granola mixture evenly on the prepared sheet pan and bake until fragrant and slightly golden in color - about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir and cool completely and break up large clumps before storing in an airtight container.
- Makes 4 cups with 12, ⅓ cup (40 g) servings. Each serving is 3.62 net carbs per serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Macadamia Granola - Berry Blast! (low carb, keto)
Coconut Flour Porridge (paleo, low carb, keto)
Zucchini Bread - Coconut Flour (low carb, keto)
Lola Lee Duke
My Husband is a diabetic so carb watching is very important to us. I have made this recipe, and it is fabulous! I actually poured it into some silicon bar molds, and they turned out beautiful. They really make the best tasting bars, and the nutrition is right on point for us. We are both Vegan, so this works well for both of us. Thank you, good recipes, low carb are hard to find.
mary
thinking about getting a machine to make milk at home. what a great way to use the pulp and not waste it.
Sue Brooks
I tried the porridge for dinner last night. I've been craving hot cereal since beginning my low carb journey two weeks ago.
It was so good!!
Can this be made in large batches and stored in glass jars in the fridge to heat and eat during the week? Like refridgerator oatmeal??
Thanks for all the great recipes!
S Brooks
Kim Hardesty
Hi Sue. I seem to remember a commenter mentioning something about this. I think it will work, but you may need to thin it down a bit upon reheating - much like with real oatmeal or cream of wheat. -Kim
maryann Williamson
Just starting the keto diet as I have tried every other thing going and can never loose weight, I also need to get more healthy so hopefully as the weight comes off I can get out walks ECT
Fiona
Hi, just made a batch of this and waiting for it to come out of the oven!
I used honey because we’ve still got some in the store cupboard from our pre low carb days. Do you know how the carb count comes out using honey rather than fibre syrup?
Our taste buds have adapted to a lot less sweetness since we started on low carb so from the bits I licked out of the mixing bowl I think it’s a bit sweet for us (still yummy) but I’ll know to cut down next time.
Kim Hardesty
Hi Fiona, you can Google the nutritional information of honey to find out what carbs are per the amount you used. The honey is much sweeter than the fiber syrup. Although I haven't tried yet, the Choc Zero syrups may be a better option. -Kim
aprilunderthesea
Thank you for this fantastic, easy and scrumptious recipe! I've been desperately missing my carb-heavy granola and have been wistfully visiting the nutrition facts in hopes the numbers have magically changed. Your Parmesan Pork Chops have been in heavy rotation in my house for the past two years so when I stumbled upon your granola recipe, I knew you'd have my back. I made a batch this morning and cannot wait for breakfast tomorrow! Your structure makes it a breeze to substitute what've you got in your cupboard and experiment. Following your measurements, I used almonds, pecans, walnuts, flax seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, butter, pinch of salt, and pinches of cinnamon. I didn't have fiber syrup so substituted Wellnut Farms Salted Caramel Walnut Butter which was DIVINE. Added a drop of water to the mix before baking. Served with fat free greek yoghurt and fresh blackberries. Sweet, tart and hearty way to start the day. Thank you again.
Kim Hardesty
I'm glad you are enjoying the recipe, April. It's my husbands favorite with Greek yogurt and berries just like you! Have a nice week. -Kim
Mary
For those of us who don't live in USA trying to equate the brand names for some ingredients is difficult. For example: Swerve; Sukrin Clear or Gold Fiber Syrup; Sukrin Melis. Perhaps if you could name the constituents of these and other brand name products these ingredients would be easier to find in Australian stores. Thanks Kim.
Kim Hardesty
Hi Mary. Sukrin is a European brand and there was even a distributor in Australia, although I don't know if she is still open. I am going through my older posts and starting to make things more generic but it will take time. Thank you for the suggestion. -Kim
Judy
Hi Kim, Thanks so much for this wonderful recipe.
What I decided to do is make up a batch with the Swerve , but without the fruit. I Will use this as a “Nut Snack Mix” I added up all the grams of the whole mix and will baggie up portions for snacks. It will be fabulous to have a mixture of nuts! In Carb Manager, I can use grams as my potion size.
I have freeze dried Trader Joe’s rasperrries, and can add them when I use the mixture with my Greek yogurt. It was just too hard for me to either dry the cranberries myself or find a reasonably priced unsweetened one. Your link show a sweetened cranberry.
Thanks again, Judy
Judy
This looks great, and I bought the nuts to make it.
However, I am wondering if I can sub Lankato maple syrup or any of the Swerve flavors for the syrups? I can’t use honey.
Does your recipe mean I don’t need the Sukrin Clear of Gold fiber Syrup if I use the powdered Swerve? Because I have the Swerve.
Thank you very much,
Kim
Hi Judy, great questions. Using the fiber syrups acts like honey in that it helps the nuts stick together like real granola. Choc Zero has some flavored fiber syrups if you don't have the Sukrin fiber syrups. If you don't have any of the syrups, you can use a granular sweetener to sweeten the granola, it just doesn't clump as well. I have used granular over the years and it is fine - the finer syrups just make it better. I hope this helps. -Kim
Judy
Yes, thank you! Maybe I should invest in the fiber sweeteners. I like the idea of a honey style
Kim
Just be mindful that they have a LOT of fiber and should be used sparingly. -Kim
Baker Judy
Looks really great! At first, I balked at the craisins. But, seeing how spread out they are, finding one will be a treat.
Thank you
Kim
Hello Judy. I used unsweetened, dried, sliced cranberries that I found on Amazon. That bag has lasted me a few years! The cranberries are crunchy opposed to chewy. Enjoy the recipe. -Kim
Elie
When should the Bob's Red Mill ground golden flax meal be added?
Kim
Hi Elie. Thanks for letting me know it was missing from the instructions. Add it with the nuts. -Kim
Sean
Whole sunflower seeds: including the hulls? I used hulled raw sunflower seeds and MyFitnessPal is giving me a reading of ~500 cals. Something's off here, help!
Kim
Hi Sean. Yes, I meant hulled sunflower seeds. My Fitness Pal is notoriously giving people problems. Fatsecret.com is MUCH better. Are you adding things by weight? Are you choosing products that don't have sugars or seasonings added to them? Did you divide by 12, the recipe serves 12. I recently recalculated the recipe and it is correct. -Kim
Terry
I made this using the Sukrin Gold and loved it! But now when I tried to order the Sukrin Gold on Amazon they are out. It's been that way for several weeks. Any idea what's going on?
Kim
Hi Terry. Are you speaking about the syrup or the Sukrin Gold brown sugar sub? I don't know what is going on. I do know that the US importer for Sukrin products - Sukrin USA, has to order the product from Europe. Perhaps she is having a hard time getting it? Additionally, it seems like the low carb keto communities are looking to Swerve and Lakanto products, so perhaps she is reducing her product selection? Looking on Amazon I see Vitafiber syrup. It's basically the same thing. I also see Yaccon syrup, but that is much less sticky and I am not sure how it would work in the recipe. I have some, but it is not not suitable for some applications. As always, use the smallest amount possible of the IMO syrups, because they contain a lot of fiber, which does count when watching carbs. I hope this helps. -Kim
Teresa Bippen
Great recipe. Thank you. I enjoyed this with Greek Yogurt and berries this morning. I appreciate you providing weigh measures--had my scale set up and measured everything that way. I did not have cranberries and substituted large flake unsweetened coconut--same amount.
Martha
Delicious! However, serving size is very size small so be careful how much you eat! I added a TBSP of maple extract to mine. Best faux granola ever!!
Padma
This recipe is delicious! I made it with unsweetened dried cherries.
Are there any modifications to make these into granola bars?
Kim Hardesty
Hi Padma. I have a chewy granola bar recipe, but it uses a syrup that is not keto friendly. I have seen other bloggers use peanut butter to make granola bars, but honestly haven't tried it myself to see how well it works. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful at this time. -Kim
Eliza
How many grams are one serving?
I wish the nutrition overview was referring to 100grams
Kim
Hi Eliza. That number occurred when I changed recipe card program. I'm sorry for the mixup. I just recalculated this recipe and updated all of the nutritional informaton. -Kim
Diana Daniels
Wow! Just what I was looking for. Missed my morning oatmeal and now I have a good substitute. Thank you!
megan
great recipe, but too many ads on your site.
Lorraine
This is so much better than what I had been making. I used honey but only half (2T) and also added the powdered Swerve. Came out great!
Kim
I'm glad you liked the recipe, Lorraine! -Kim
Jessica Lynch
Do you measure out the nuts before chopping? Could I use already chopped and sliced nuts and maybe just then use a little less?
Kim
Actually Jessica, where it says 1/4 cup I weighed 1 ounce and where it says 1/2 cup, I weighed 2 ounces. Then I chopped how I wanted it. I find that weighing ingredients gives the most accurate carb count and that is what I did with this recipe. I just used the conventional cup measures because people complained about the weights I originally posted. -Kim
Jeri
Love this. My daughter is 13 and recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This is a life saver! Thanks. She doesn't like cranberries so I substituted a 1/4 cup of Lilly's chocolate chips which is lower in carbs. 9 vs 33. Thanks again for this recipe!
Kim
Hi Jeri. I am so glad she likes the granola. I have unsweetened dried cranberry flakes which are pretty low carb. The regular sweetened cranberries from the store are terrible. Good call on subbing the SF chocolate chips for the Craisins! If she likes hot cereal, look at my porridge recipes. I really like the almond best, but it calls for special almond meal. Many ketoers love the coconut flour version. Thanks for . commenting. It was nice talking to you. -Kim
Karen
I made this on Sunday and didn’t taste it until today, Tuesday, because I was fasting. It really is the best granola ever. I was making granola regularly with oats (and still do for my husband) but this is my first keto granola. I didn’t have unsweetened dried cranberries so I left them out. I also added a 1/2 cup of pecans. I had fiber syrup that I bought for making Quest bars but only used once. I imagine now I will have to order more. It is perfect with they syrup. The nuts kind of shatter in your mouth. Now, I want to try your other recipes.
Jessica
I use this recipe as a jump off point and make different granolas. The ratios are great and it lasts me several days. Right now I'm on a maple pecan kick so I sub those for walnuts and a 1/2 tsp maple flavoring for the cinnamon. I also use big coconut flakes instead of cranberries.
Nuts and seeds are so nutritious. It's nice to take a little break from eggs in the morning while doing Keto. Thanks for all your hard work!
Kim
Jessica, your maple pecan recipe sounds scrumptious. Thanks so much for sharing! -Kim
CoProgressive
Can you tell me how long it lasts when stored in an air-tight container? Do you refrigerate it? Thanks
Kim
I don’t refrigerate it. It lasts on the counter for a 2 weeks, but it usually doesn’t last that long. -Kim
Carole Myhill
My husband has been diagnosed with dementia
And I am endeavouring to change his diet to ketogenic
Diet to assist in delaying the symptoms.
He has always enjoyed whole oats for his breackfast
And lately with coconut oil and boiling water.
Is he able to continue this practice or should I offer him cooked breakfast with sourdough toast. I would appreciate any suggestions from you.
Many thanks.
Kim
Hi Carole. If you are trying to keep him on a ketogenic diet, the oatmeal or toast will never let him achieve ketosis. I have tree good recipes for porridge which are very similar to cream of wheat and taste really good. You can type "porridge" in the search box to find them. I also have a nice post about cereal breakfasts that you can find by typing "cereal" into the search box.
If you are new to the ketogenic diet, please read my article on Low Carb Keto Diets and then the Allowable food list.
1. https://www.lowcarbmaven.com/low-carb-diet-beginers-guide/
2. https://www.lowcarbmaven.com/low-carb-food-list-induction-keto/
If I remember correctly, the therapeutic dose of coconut oil was 2 tablespoons? Have you watched any of Dr. Mary Newport's videos on YouTube about coconut oil and her husband's Alzheimer's? While not a cure, it did help her husband up to a point. My mother is living with dementia caused by an autoimmune disease. My father cares for her with the help of an aid during the week. I wish you strength on this new journey of life. -Kim
Live
Yummy! Just made this. Had to substitute a few things (didn't have cranberries or sliced almonds, so I left those out and added coconut flakes) and it's so good! Really crunchy, too. My mom can't stop eating it. XD Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Kim
I love your subs, Live. It's so easy to make it your own. Enjoy! -Kim
Ever
This looks like a great recipe. Thank you for sharing it. Do you refrigerate it? How long will it keep? Thanks much and again. :)
Kim
I just keep it in an airtight container on the counter. My whole family eats it so it doesn't last long. Enjoy! -Kim
Daniele
Best low carb sugar free paleo friendly granola eveeeeer! ? Plus the house smell amazing after cooking that, as I used cinnamon!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. Instead of using cranberries I used chopped dried apricot (I love cranberries, but I didn't have them at the moment), also next time instead of using shaved (sliced) almond I will use coconut shaves (I love coconut), for sure I will play around a bit with this recipe, using some cashews, pecans, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios etc... Every week a diferent granola ?
Kim
So glad you like it Daniele. My family loves it, too. The coconut flakes cook more quickly than the nuts so make sure to put them in later to toast or they may burn. Thanks for taking the time to leave such a nice comment and have fun making the recipe your own. -Kim
Mar
This is THE BEST keto recipe in the world. I've made this granola maybe 10 times already and can't get enough of it!!
I soak and dehydrate all my nuts and seeds first, which adds a bit f work, but the results are incredible.
As one other reader said, I also add coconut flakes to the mix, which come out extra crunchy and for some reason are super fun to nibble on.
Thanks for a perfectly balanced recipe!!! ?
Kim
Mat, I'm so happy you like it. Yes, soaking and drying the nuts takes so much work! I bet they are crispy and delicious, though. I often add lightly toasted coconut to this recipe. My kids aren't fans, but it's adds a nice buttery sweetness. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment and taking the time to write it. Have an awesome weekend. -Kim
Laron
This looks really good. How much is a serving out of curiosity?
Kim
Hi Laron. The serving size is about 1/3 - 1/2 cup. You can always have more if your carb and calorie allotment allows it. -Kim
Kent
'One permutation. Add a nut butter that you can first sweeten with stevia. Almond butter works great. One way to get stick togetherness without the syrup.
I think crushed walnuts, finely for half the walnut mix also adds some clumping.
Kim
I love this idea Kent, and will try it next time. Thanks for providing an option for those who do not have the syrups. Have a great weekend. -Kim
Heidi
OMG, Best. Granola. Ever. Just made this today. It actually crisped up in the oven like granola is supposed to! Had to make a few changes because I didn't have all the ingredients, like Walden Farms Carb Free Calorie Free Maple Walnut Syrup instead of the Sukrin Gold, LC inulin/monk fruit brown sugar substitute instead of the Swerve, Trader Joe's dried blueberries instead of the cranberries, pecans in place of the walnuts (I don't like walnuts), and I added about 3/4 cup unsweetened flaked coconut and the cinnamon, and it turned out amazing! Will have to control myself, or I'll end up eating the entire quadruple batch in one sitting!
Kim
Your subs sound great, Heidi. Thanks so much for sharing your tweaks to help others out. This granola doesn't last long in my house. I only get one serving and my husband and kids devour it. Hope you enjoy the New Year. -Kim
Donna
My husband has high triglycerides so I am removing carbohydrates from our diet . All the granolas I could found had oats or some other carb in it until I found yours. Thank you he is very picky and he really likes this recipe I've made it several times now. I did exchange xylitol for the syrup
Kim
Hi Donna. I am so glad your husband is enjoying this recipe. I can't seem to keep it in the house when I make it! ;) Happy to hear that you were able to sub the xylitol syrup for the Sukrin Fiber Syrup. Thanks for letting me know. Have a wonderful week. -Kim
Keto
Maximilian Bircher-Benner was Swiss, not Swedish.
Kim
Oops. How embarrassing. I've changed it. Thank you! -Kim
Barb
Where do you find unsweetened cranberries?
Kim
Hi Barb. I found some on Amazon. I got a HUGE bag of them. They are dry but will absorb moisture when wet. They are not at all like the dried cranberries we can buy at the store (moist and somewhat soft and pliable). They are quite literally dried slices of cranberries. We like them. I hope this helps. -Kim
Lisa
Hi! Where do you get the nutritional info from that you include with the recipes?
Kim
Hi Lisa, great question. I am using a recipe program called MasterCook. I enter my ingredients in weight and enter the number of servings and the program calculates the nutritional info for me. I also have the ability to add my own ingredients like the Sukrin products, Miracle Noodles, Isopure Protein power, etc. Because all nutritional programs use different algorithms to calculate nutritional value, they will all yield different results and I have found that entering weight into the programs provides more accurate results. Once I get the nutritional info I type it into the recipe program on my blog. I hope this answers your question. Have a great day! -Kim
Lisa
Thank you!
Kim
You are very welcome! -Kim
manda
What is the nutritional information if using raw honey? I don't have the syrups and I'm assuming honey has more carbs? Can you calculate this for me?
Kim
Hi Manda! My favorite nutritional calculator can be found on Fatsecret. Just add the ingredients into a new recipe, omit the fiber syrup and sub the same amount of honey. It will calculate all of the nutritional information for you per serving. I absolutely love Fatsecret[dot]com and I think you will, too! Have a nice day. -Kim