Superfood Turmeric Granola with Goji Berries (Oil-Free)

Name: Superfood Turmeric Granola with Goji Berries
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: ½ cup maple syrup; ¼ cup almond butter; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1½ tsp turmeric powder; 1 tsp cinnamon; 2 cups rolled oats; ¾ cup coconut flakes; ⅓ cup almonds (roughly chopped); ¼ cup cacao nibs; ¼ cup ground flax seeds; ¼ cup hemp seeds; ¼ cup pumpkin seeds; pinch of salt; ⅓ cup goji berries

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This loaded superfood turmeric granola bursts with good-for-you ingredients and has that perfect spiced vs sweet balance of flavor. And that crunch is so amazing, even if made without oil or egg whites! Make it part of your weekly meal-prep routine and enjoy a healthy and nourishing breakfast all week. Gluten-free and vegan.

View on a cereal bowl made with a superfood turmeric granola with plant milk and sliced bananas.

We go through bags of granola each week. Mostly as a crunchy topping for our strawberry smoothie bowls (yes, we are obsessed), but also just for a quick breakfast with plant milk and berries.

So when I prepare my own granola from scratch, then it feels like a special morning! This vanilla almond granola is my go-to recipe to make at home, but also, this spiced sweet potato granola is amazing when you have the extra time to cook the root vegetable.

And I thought we were in need for one more homemade granola recipe on the blog. But not just any kind, a loaded superfood turmeric granola with goji berries! ❤️ You know how much I love turmeric: the color, the nice punch of spiced flavor and all of its nutrients: turmeric is such an amazing spice we would all benefit from enjoying more! And it worked out great here.

This granola is SO FLAVORFUL I promise, please don't fear the turmeric in a breakfast recipe! Turmeric goes amazingly in sweet recipes, especially when paired with maple syrup, as it gently spices up the recipe without being too overpowering and also helps complement the sweetness. Plus, it brings a whole lot of anti-inflammatory properties to the granola.

In this case, the turmeric powder is also paired with cinnamon to balance out the spices and a handful of goji berries. This chewy dried fruit is bright red and sweet and similarly to cranberries, a tad sour, which is such a perfect final touch for this granola. And look at that contrast of red and yellow, I love it.

As a side note, I mentioned how I eat granola mostly over smoothie bowls, but I think the best way to enjoy this specific one is actually with milk: you will enjoy the beautiful and appetizing yellow hue the granola gives to the milk! It's like a golden milk cereal bowl! I also love how this recipe stays SUPER crunchy for days and even after being in milk. Made without oil or tons of refined sugar, but still has a very nice crisp.

I included a ton of nutrient-dense foods here (aka superfood!) such as pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, spices, oats, almonds, goji berries and cacao nibs. This recipe is so versatile and can definitely be modified to your taste, so be sure to read below.

I hope you give it a try! 😀

Overhead view on a large jar filled with a superfood turmeric granola made with goji berries.

Highlights of this recipe

Healthy and especially rich in antioxidant, omega-3 fats and fiber.
Simple recipe and easy
SO crunchy!
Can make a large batch as it stores well
No cooking on the stove required
Perfectly spiced
Very versatile
Made without oil, refined granulated sugar and honey
Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free

What you'll need

Rolled oats: choose the thick kind, also called old fashioned, for best texture and maximum health benefits. If looking for a gluten-free recipe, then choose certified GF oats.
Coconut flakes: they add so much texture! Coconut flakes are such a great whole food as it is not processed much and so rich in fiber (and manganese). Choose unsweetened.
Almonds and pumpkin seeds: can also swap for other nuts and seeds as you wish, see below for more ideas!
Cacao nibs: boost the granola with a tons of antioxidants, but also a nice crunch and earthy flavor.
Cinnamon and turmeric powder: flavor the granola, but also add a heaping serving of antioxidants as well.
Goji berries: so rich in antioxidants and add a nice chewy texture to balance the crispy granola.
Hemp and ground flax seeds: ultra rich in omega-3 fats and the flax helps create those nice clusters, so don't omit if possible.
Maple syrup: adds an amazing caramel-like flavor, but can also use brown rice syrup.
Almond butter: adds a delicious nutty flavor and helps create a thick sauce with the maple syrup to clump the granola into mini clusters once baked.
Vanilla extract

Showing are the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

Showing oats, seeds, nuts, coconut flakes, cacao nibs and ground flax seeds in a large bowl.

How to make superfood turmeric granola

Pre-heat the oven to 300º and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine

In a medium bowl, combine the almond butter with the maple syrup, cinnamon and turmeric powder. Whisk well until smooth and combined. You want to ensure there are no clumps of almond butter anymore.

In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients (oats, pumpkin seeds, almonds, coconut flakes, ground flax, hemp seeds, cacao nibs and salt).

Then, pour the sticky wet almond butter mixture over the dry ingredients and stir well until uniform. It will take 1-2 minutes of stirring so it really becomes all combined and free of any dry spots.

Bake

Transfer the mixture over the prepared baking sheet and use the back of a spoon or a spatula to spread it out while pressing on it. I like to keep the granola all in one compact layer without many empty spots in the middle so it can clump nicely while it bakes.

Bake in the oven for 15 min, then stir and spread/press once more. The edges and surrounding of the granola always tend to cook quicker, so be sure to stir well mid-cooking. Then, bake again for 15 minutes.

Finish up

When the granola is done, then sprinkle the goji berries all over without touching the granola and bake for another 2 minutes. This is optional, you don't have to roast the berries, you can just add them to the cold granola.

Take the granola out of the oven and let it completely cool down on the baking sheet without touching it. This will allow it to crisp and clump nicely, so be patient!

In process picture: there is a whisk stirring in a bowl.

In process picture: view on a large bowl with oats and nuts and seeds.

Watch how to make it

Helpful tips

The way you spread the granola is kinda important to ensure best crispy texture. Avoid chunks of granola scattered all over on the baking sheet, but instead, keep the mixture all in one layer and also all cohesive, if that makes any sense. You should not see many empty spots!
Granolas can burn quickly! So, watch carefully, especially in the last few minutes, and take it out a little earlier if you feel like it is getting too browned. Every oven is different, so baking time may vary slightly.
You need to add the goji berries completely at the end once done baking or only roast them for 1-2 min.
The granola NEEDS to cool down before enjoying, this is part of the process. Cooling it down will crisp the granola and allow the forming of mini clusters.
I highly recommend not to omit or swap the ground flax as it is responsible for the formation of the small clusters.

View on a turmeric granola with goji berries on a baking sheet.

Variations

There are a few ways you can modify this recipe to your taste, as long as you keep the ratio liquid vs dry.

You can play around with the spices and add more, such as nutmeg, black pepper, ginger, cardamom and even, feel free to add more turmeric for a stronger flavor. The turmeric flavor is mild to moderate, to my taste anyway, so it can take a little more if you want an extra spiced version. I also found that the spices mellow out as the granola cools down, just something to keep in mind.

Then, you can also swap the seeds and nuts as you wish. For example, try including walnuts, pecans, sesame seeds, cashews, poppy seeds or sunflower seeds. Be careful to swap for equal amounts, though!

Then, also experiment with chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, freeze dried or dehydrated fruits such as strawberries and raspberries. Make sure to add them only at the end when the granola is done baking and cooling down!

Serving suggestions

This granola is absolutely amazing simply served with milk and fresh fruits. The spices and maple syrup slowly diffuse into the milk to color and flavor it beautifully, just like a sweet golden milk! Try pairing with chopped apples or pear to complement the spices.

Also, we eat smoothie bowls often, so this granola is going to be perfect to add a crunchy and spiced topping to frozen bowls. It would pair well with this peach smoothie bowl or a vanilla smoothie bowl.

Use this crispy granola to add a nice crunch to a tropical coconut chia parfait. You can also check out this video of what I eat in a day to get more inspiration on how to make a chia and yogurt parfait.

More pairing suggestions include:

Storage tips

Be sure to first let the granola completely cool down before touching and storing.

Once ready, then transfer to an air-tight container, preferably a glass container, and keep at room temperature for up to 1 week (or 2 weeks in the fridge). This granola stores very well and keeps its nice crispy texture, making it a great recipe to prep ahead.

And did you know that you can also freeze granola! This is perfect to batch cook more if you are into meal-prep or freeze half of it if you know you won't finish it on time.

Close up on a turmeric granola in a bowl with milk and bananas.

FAQ's

Can I use quick cooking oats to make it?

I highly recommend avoiding quick cooking oats and use the thicker old fashioned kind of oats. Quick cooking might give you a result that's a little mushy and with a texture that's not very pleasant.

Can I make it nut-free?

I haven't tried using other seed/nut butter to make it, but I would think that tahini or pumpkin seed butter instead of almond butter would work just the same to make this recipe nut-free. Also, in that case, swap the almonds for more seeds.

Can I make it with whole flax seeds?

No, you need to use ground flax to make this recipe. Ground flax makes it possible for the omega-3 to be absorbed by the gut and also, the powdery ground flax texture will help create little clumps. You can buy already ground flax at the grocery store or grind the seeds yourself using a high-speed blender (once ground, keep it in the fridge).

More turmeric recipes you might like

I hope you like this superfood turmeric granola as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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