Easy Sourdough Granola with Crunchy Clusters

This sourdough granola is crunchy, lightly sweet, and easy to customise with your favourite spices, seeds, nuts, and dried fruit. Whether you’re looking for a delicious yogurt topping yogurt or a delicious and healthy snack to enjoy by the handful, this is a solid base recipe you’ll want to return to again and again.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

What Is Sourdough Granola?

Sourdough granola uses active sourdough starter or discard to bind old-fashioned rolled oats together. The sourdough adds a delicious tangy flavour to the granola, but also helps it bake up crisp and crunchy without needing any oil or egg whites.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The mild sourdough tang perfectly balances the sweetness of the maple syrup and dried fruit
• Big crunchy clusters with minimal effort, no need to whip egg whites
• It’s quick and easy to make
• Easy to customize with whatever nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or spices you like
• Versatile for breakfast, snacking, or as an ice cream topping

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Sourdough discard or active starter binds the granola together and helps it bake up crisp and crunchy. If you don’t already have some, read this post to learn how to make your own sourdough starter from scratch.
• Maple syrup or honey provide just enough sweetness to balance everything out.
• Vanilla extract adds complex base flavour to round everything out.
• Old-fashioned rolled oats are the heart of this recipe. Their large flakes create the perfect texture, so be sure to avoid quick oats or steel-cut varieties.
• Chia or flax seeds are optional but boost both nutrition and texture.
• Cinnamon adds a warm and cozy flavour to the granola.
• Fine sea salt enhances the flavour of the granola.
• Dried fruit adds natural sweetness and colour.
• Nuts and seeds add crunch, healthy fats, and protein. Use your favourites!

How to Make Sourdough Granola Step-by-Step

1. Preheat the oven to 325˚F (160˚C) and line a baking sheet with parchment or a baking mat. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sourdough discard, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract until smooth.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together the rolled oats, chia or flax seeds, cinnamon, and salt until combined.

3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the sourdough discard, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract until combined.

4. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir through until the oats are evenly coated.

5. Spread the oats out on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. You may want to stir the granola part way through to help it bake evenly.

6. Leave to cool on the baking sheet for 15-20 minutes, then break the granola into bite-sized clusters and add the dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Wait until it cools completely to room temperature before storing in an airtight container.

Flavour Variations to Try

This recipe is so easy to customize for any flavour you like or to make use of whatever nuts, seeds, spices, and dried fruits you have on hand! Here are just a few ideas you could try, including some nut-free variations for your sourdough granola:

Flavour Variations with Nuts

• Maple Pecan Chai Use maple syrup in the liquid ingredients. Add chai spice blend (i.e. cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and clove) to the oat mixture, and toss in some chopped pecans and dried apples or raisins after baking.
• Cranberry Orange Add orange zest and extract to the liquid ingredients, and sweeten with honey. Toss in sliced or slivered almonds and dried cranberries after baking.
• Fig Walnut Add orange extract to the liquid ingredients, and sweeten with maple syrup. Add chopped dried figs and walnuts after baking.
• Pistachio Apricot Use honey, and optionally add a small amount of rosewater to the wet ingredients. Add pistachios and chopped dried apricots after baking.

Nut-Free Flavour Variations

• Coconut Mango Lime Sweeten with honey, and add lime zest to the wet ingredients. Add dried mango and coconut flakes after baking.
• Piña Colada Sweeten with honey, and optionally add some rum extract to the wet ingredients. Toss in chopped dried pineapple and coconut flakes after baking.
• Pumpkin Spice Sweeten with maple syrup, and add pumpkin spice blend to the oat mixture. Toss in some pumpkin seeds and raisins after baking.
• Blueberry Lemon Sweeten with either honey or maple syrup, and add lemon zest and extract to the wet ingredients. Toss in dried blueberries and sunflower seeds after baking.

You should also try my Peanut Butter Sourdough Granola recipe!

Ideas for Serving Sourdough Granola

• Use it to top a smoothie bowl along with some fresh fruit
• Layer it with Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and drizzles of maple syrup or honey for a breakfast parfait
• Sprinkle it over ice cream
• Pack into baggies and eat it as trail mix for a delicious and healthy on-the-go snack

How to Store Sourdough Granola to Keep it Crunchy

• At room temperature Let your granola cool down completely and store it in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
• In the freezer in an airtight freezer bag for up to 3 months. Your granola should be cooled completely to room temperature before storing it in a bag, otherwise steam could collect as condensation and make your granola soggy.
• Do not store in the fridge. The humidity in your fridge can soften your granola.

Frequently Asked Questions