Homemade Granola With Puffed Grains (Kid Friendly)

Ideal for kids with delicate tummies, this naturally low-sugar homemade granola recipe is packed with nutrients and healthy fats by combining crunchy nuts, seeds and oats with the sweetness of dried fruits and the lightness of puffed rice and millet for an enjoyable texture.

Delicious and flexible, this kid friendly granola serves wonderfully as breakfast with porridge, yogurt, milk, or as a fruit puree topping. And you can even pack it in a lunchbox for school!

Best of all, it’s incredibly tasty, plus gluten-free, ensuring that it’s a hit with the little ones with different diet restrictions.

Related: Oatmeal For Toddlers, Kids (Recipes)

A Tummy-Friendly Granola

If you’re anything like me, finding snacks that tick all the boxes—nutritious, kid-friendly, delicious, and gentle on sensitive stomachs—can feel like striking gold.

Related: Apple Oatmeal For Babies/ Toddlers

That’s where this homemade granola comes in. It’s my go-to recipe for a reason: it’s packed with wholesome ingredients, uses minimal natural sweetener, it’s gluten free and, importantly, includes a step that makes oats more digestible for little ones.

Plus, it’s customizable, which means you can tweak it to your heart’s (and your kid’s taste buds’) content.

Related: Soft Banana Oat Pancakes For Baby

Why This Homemade Granola Rocks for Kids and Toddlers

This homeamde granola is a go-to for kids with sensitive tummies while being high in nutritional value, low in sugar and tasty at the same time.

The ingredients used in this granola are high quality and are essential for kids’ growth, development, and overall well-being.

This homemade granola recipe is meticulously designed to be gentle on sensitive stomachs by using the soaking and drying process for the oats.

By using maple syrup, we keep things sweet but not overly so, avoiding the sugar highs and crashes associated with many store-bought snacks.

Related: Baby Oatmeal Cookies + Variations (9 months +)

How To Make This Kid Friendly Granola Recipe (Step By Step)

1. Prepping Your Oats – The First Step

• Soaking: This step is important. Soaking the oats in hot water for about 15 minutes helps hydrate and soften the grain, meaning making them easier for little bodies to digest.

• Drying: After soaking, spread the oats on a baking sheet and dry them in the oven at a low temperature. This ensures they’re ready to absorb the delicious flavors we’re going to add.

2. Gathering Your Ingredients

The real magic lies in its nutrient-packed ingredients, each chosen for their health benefits and digestibility: For this recipe, you’ll need:

• Rolled Oats (Gluten-Free and Organic, Soaked and Dried): The foundation of our granola, oats are a fantastic source of fiber, which is essential for healthy digestion. Soaking and drying the oats makes them easier to digest, which is perfect for little ones with sensitive stomachs.
• Chopped Walnuts and Pumpkin Seeds: These are not just crunch and flavor boosters; they’re also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, important for brain development in children. Plus, they add a nice dose of protein, which is crucial for growing bodies.
• Raw Hemp Seeds: A superfood in their own right, hemp seeds are a great source of essential fatty acids and protein. They’re also gentle on the stomach, making them a perfect addition to our kid-friendly granola.
• Puffed Rice and Puffed Millet: Light and easy to digest, these puffed grains add a delightful texture to the granola without weighing it down while contributing to the overall nutritional profile of the snack.
• Dried Blueberries and Prunes: These fruits are not just for sweetness; they’re packed with antioxidants and fiber. Dried blueberries are known for their brain-boosting properties, while prunes support digestion with extra fiber, making them an ideal choice for maintaining your child’s gut health.
• Coconut Oil, Maple Syrup, and Cashew Butter: This trio brings the granola together, providing healthy fats, additional sweetness, and a creamy texture. Coconut oil is known for its energy-boosting properties, while cashew butter adds protein and healthy fats, essential for children’s growth and development.

Related: Blueberry Pancakes For Babies & Toddlers (Dairy Free & Egg Free Option)

3. Mixing Up Your Dry Ingredients

Start by combining the prepared oats, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, puffed rice, and puffed millet in a large mixing bowl. The variety of textures and flavors here lays the foundation for a granola that’s not just nutritious but also exciting for kids to eat.

4. Preparing Your Wet Ingredients

In a small saucepan, gently heat the coconut oil, maple syrup, and cashew butter, stirring until they’re well combined and smooth. This mixture will act as the binding agent for our granola, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor.

5. Combining Wet and Dry – The Granola Magic Happens

Pour your liquid mixture over the dry ingredients, stirring until everything is evenly coated.

6. Baking Your Granola to Perfection

Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven. You’re aiming for a golden-brown color, which typically takes about 50 to 60 minutes at 250°F, it depends on the oven type. Stir occasionally to ensure even baking.

7. Customizing Your Granola

Here’s where you can get creative. Adding the dried fruits and hemp seeds after baking keeps their nutritional content intact and adds a chewy texture that kids love. If you prefer a simpler version, feel free to customize the recipe to your liking.

Kid-Friendly Granola Variations

Here are some ingredient variations and swaps that keep the granola nutritious, delicious, and inclusive for all little snackers:

Nut-Free Options

• Swap Nuts for Seeds: For those with nut allergies, replace walnuts with an equal amount of sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. Both are excellent sources of nutrients and add a lovely crunch. Or you can add some sliced tigernuts (which are actually tubers. not nuts).
• Increase Puffed Grains: Boost the quantity of puffed rice or puffed millet (being gluten free) or other regular puffed grains to compensate for the bulk and texture that nuts typically provide.

Seed Variations

• Chia Seeds: If hemp seeds are a concern or simply for variety, sprinkle in chia seeds instead. They’re packed with omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.
• Flaxseeds: Ground flaxseeds can also be a great alternative, offering omega-3s, fiber, and a slight nuttiness.

Dried Fruit Swaps

• Raisins or cranberries: Instead of dried blueberries or prunes, consider using raisins or cranberries. They’re naturally sweet and a hit with most kids.
• Dried Apricots: Chopped dried apricots can offer a tart-sweet flavor and a soft texture, making them a delightful addition.
• Dried Cherries: For a tangy twist, dried cherries are an excellent swap for dried blueberries.

Sweetener and Fat Adjustments

• Honey for Maple Syrup: If you’re not strictly vegan and are catering to kids over the age of one, honey can be a natural sweetener alternative to maple syrup. Just keep in mind it’s sweeter, so you might want to use less.
• Avocado Oil for Coconut Oil: For a neutral taste or if there are coconut allergies, avocado oil is a fantastic substitute, offering healthy fats without overpowering the granola’s flavor.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with this recipe. Whether it’s swapping out nuts and seeds or adding different dried fruits, the possibilities are endless. The goal is to create a granola that your kids are excited to eat, so have fun with it!

Serving Suggestions for Every Age

Granola is incredibly versatile. Serve it:

• as a crunchy topping over oatmeal porridge
• over yogurt
• mixed with milk
• as a crunchy topping for fruit purees;

Storing Tips to Keep Granola Crunchy and Fresh

To keep your granola fresh and crunchy, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Properly stored, it can last for weeks, ready to be enjoyed whenever the snack-time hunger strikes.

Creating this granola has been a game-changer in my home, and I hope it brings as much joy to your family as it has to mine. Happy baking!

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