Cranberry Almond Granola (Maple-Sweetened!)

Modified: Feb 21, 2026 · Published: Mar 28, 2019 by Tera Gigot · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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This recipe for homemade cranberry almond granola is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and made with wholesome ingredients. It's baked at a lower temperature so the cranberries can be baked in right with everything else. It's both easy and portable, perfect for breakfasts or snacks throughout the week!

Almond cranberry granola spilling out of bowl onto spoon.

This cranberry almond granola was one of the first granola recipes I ever made, and it's still a favorite to this day!

If you love a good morning yogurt bowl, this is wholesome, naturally sweetened granola you can feel good about topping it with. While granola is for all seasons, this is one I tend to enjoy most in fall and winter months because it's SO cozy.

The distinguishing ingredient in this granola is one of my all-time favorite baking ingredients: almond extract. That, combined with the cranberries and almonds, makes this granola a truly delicious snack or yogurt topper (especially good with these apple pie yogurt bowls).

Rotate this granola recipe with cozy maple pecan granola recipe and maple cinnamon walnut granola recipe, and you'll have different cozy baked granolas on hand each week!

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Key Ingredients
Step-by-Step Instructions
The Best Granola Ratio
Serving Ideas
Cranberry Almond Granola FAQ
Recommended
📖 Recipe

Key Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make cranberry almond granola.

Whole rolled oats - These are the best cut and shape for granola!
Flour - A bit of flour helps bind the oats together to form clusters. You can use a gluten free flour here if needed.
Sliced almonds - These add the best texture to granola, plus they contribute to that signature almond flavor.
Dried cranberries - For more texture, flavor, and energy.
Coconut oil - This is my preferred oil for this granola, but you could also use avocado oil or another neutral-flavored oil.
Almond extract - This is the secret to the BEST granola! It makes this cranberry almond granola taste like a cookie. You could totally use it in other granola recipes too, like my coconut chia granola.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Dry granola ingredients combined in a bowl before being mixed.

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Combine dry granola ingredients into a bowl and stir to evenly distribute.

Melting coconut oil and maple syrup together in a small pot.

Step 2: Melt coconut oil and maple syrup together in a pot until just boiling. Remove immediately, and stir in almond extract. It smells SO good!

Mixing granola ingredients together with a spoon.

Step 3: Pour the coconut oil and maple mixture into the granola ingredients. Stir to get everything nicely coated. Make sure to use a big enough bowl with room to stir (clearly I did not here! Just a small mess).

Spreading granola onto sheet pan before baking.

Step 4: Transfer granola to a parchment-lined sheet pan in a thick, even layer.

Giant granola cluster with cranberries and almonds.

Step 5: Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, gently stirring halfway through (but not too much! This is how we get big clusters). Let the granola cool completely before breaking into clusters.

Pour milk into bowl of cranberry almond granola.

Step 6: Serve immediately with milk or yogurt, or a snack! Store in an airtight container to enjoy all week.

The Best Granola Ratio

Whenever you're making granola without an exact recipe, just remember this formula, swap out variations of ingredients to obtain different flavors, and you'll be golden.

3 cups rolled oats + ¼ cup flour + ½ cup coconut oil + ½ cup natural liquid sweetener + ¼ teaspoon salt + ~2 cups add-ins

Serving Ideas

Most of us know granola and yogurt as a classic combination, but granola can actually be used in a lot of dishes for sweetness, texture, and crunch. Here are some ideas:

Overnight oats - Yep, double down on the oats. Crunchy oats + soft, yogurt-soaked oats is delicious. These protein overnight oats are a blank flavor canvas, perfect for adding granola!
Salads - Putting granola on salads is like using candied pecans... but naturally sweetened, and with oats too. Don't knock it till you try it!
Smoothies - Top your morning smoothie or smoothie bowl for extra texture and flavor.
Snack - Spread peanut butter onto apples, and then sprinkle this granola on top. You're welcome.

Heart drawn into cranberry almond granola on sheet pan.

Cranberry Almond Granola FAQ

Do you add cranberries before or after baking granola?

You could do either, but I usually add them before. Since granola is baked at a gentle temperature, the cranberries don't get hard, plus they take on more of the granola flavors. That said, you can certainly add that afterwards.

Can you freeze granola?

Yep! Place completely cooled granola in an airtight container, then freeze for up to three months.