5-Minute Raw-Nola

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Two bowls of our gluten-free Rawnola served with dairy-free milk and fresh fruit

Anyone who has been around Minimalist Baker for a while knows we have a thing for dates. Lots of dates. And we also have a thing for granola.

So it was only a matter of time before the two collided into one delicious, raw, 5-minute granola.

Food processor with pulsed walnuts and freshly pitted dates

The base for this delicious granola is raw (or sprouted) nuts and LOTS of dates. Mmm, nature’s candy.

Next comes plenty of delicious add-ins like shredded coconut, seeds, and cinnamon. You can also add oats, but to keep it grain-free, sub more coconut or omit.

All the ingredients in the food processor for making our gluten-free raw granola recipe
Food processor with freshly pulsed plant-based Rawnola

For serving, the options are endless. We love topping ours with DIY coconut milk and plenty of fresh fruit. But coconut yogurt would also be delicious.

You can also choose to blend in more “flavors” to the raw-nola, like cacao powder or dried fruit such as strawberries or blueberries.

Pouring coconut milk into a bowl of gluten-free vegan granola with fresh fruit

We hope you all LOVE this raw-nola. It’s:

Nutty
Naturally sweet
Seedy
Wholesome
Satisfying
Portable
Customizable
& SO delicious

This would make the perfect quick breakfast or on-the-go snack. It’s delicious as “cereal,” but it’s also a tasty topping for things like banana nice cream and smoothie bowls!

If you’re into granola, also be sure to check out our Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Granola, Banana Bread Granola, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola, and 7-ingredient Quinoa Granola.

If you try this recipe, let us know how it goes! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Close up shot of a bowl of our Rawnola showcasing its nutty texture

5-Minute Raw-Nola

An easy-to-make, 1-bowl, 5-minute raw version of granola with dates for natural sweetness, nuts for crunch and protein, and plenty of seeds for healthy fats!
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Pouring dairy-free milk into a bowl of Rawnola topped with fresh fruit
4.95 from 56 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 14 (1/4-cup servings)
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 month
Does it keep? 2-3 weeks

Ingredients

RAWNOLA

  • 1 1/2 cups raw walnuts (I subbed 1/3 of this amount with sprouted almonds)
  • 15 – 17 pitted dates (I prefer medjool / fresh sticky dates work best here*)
  • 1 heaping Tbsp hemp seeds
  • 1 heaping Tbsp flaxseed meal
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (I prefer desiccated)
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats* (omit or substitute to keep truly raw)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp maca powder (optional)
  • 1 pinch sea salt

FLAVORINGS (optional)

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
  • 2 Tbsp cacao nibs
  • 3 Tbsp roughly chopped dried fruit (e.g. bananas, cherries, or blueberries)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (or half this amount in vanilla powder)

FOR SERVING (optional)

Instructions

  • To a food processor (which will work better than a blender), add nuts and pulse a few times to roughly chop. Then add dates and pulse about 5 times to loosely combine.
  • Add remaining ingredients and pulse to combine. The mixture should resemble a chunky granola.
  • At this point, you could add extra “flavor” in the form or cacao powder and cacao nibs, dried fruit of choice, or vanilla extract or powder. My preferred is cacao powder and nibs!
  • Enjoy as is, on top of coconut yogurt, or with dairy-free milk! This would work in just about any scenario regular granola would.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks or in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. Transfer to the freezer for longer-term storage (up to 1 month).

Video

Notes

*If your dates aren’t fresh and sticky, soak in warm water for 10 minutes and then drain before adding to mixture.
*To keep this recipe grain-free and raw, omit oats or sub with more coconut.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without additional flavor or serving options.

Nutrition (1 of 14 servings)

Serving: 1 quarter-cup servings Calories: 139 Carbohydrates: 10.9 g Protein: 4.4 g Fat: 9.7 g Saturated Fat: 1.4 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 48 mg Fiber: 2.6 g Sugar: 5.8 g

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  1. Bri says

    This raw granola is a game changer for me. I will not be going back to baked granola anytime soon. I used a mixture of 1/2 cup raw walnuts, 1/2 cup raw almonds, and 1/2 cup raw pistachio/pecan mixture. I used 12 dates instead of the recommended 15-17 which may have to do with the size of the dates. I did not add any of the optional flavorings or the mac powder. I love the texture and how all the ingredients mingle together just right. So delicious!

  2. Trina says

    I was looking at a recipe from minimalist baker that arrived in my inbox and clicked on another recipe, which lead me to your raw nola recipe! Oh my…..so good. I don’t actually like granola, but loved this. Used 10 dates cause they are so fresh and buttery, subbed sunflower seeds for the oatmeal. Did not have walnuts, so used almonds, pecans and pistachio.
    Thank you for this. I had it on some yogurt with fresh berry medley.
    Trina

  3. Michelle C says

    Yummy!! This was so easy, super fast. I used 1/2 cup walnuts, 1/2 cup Brazil nuts and 1/2 cup almonds. Can’t wait to eat it for breakfast. Thank you

  4. Cass says

    WOW – this recipe is a gem! I don’t have access to an oven right now, so this raw recipe was perfect to get my granola fix satisfied. Instead of walnuts, I used pecans and macadamia nuts which worked just fine. I topped a cosmic crisp apple with this goodness, and it reminded me of an apple crisp!

  5. Rob says

    I love Raw-Nola!!! This recipe has made breakfast a meal I look forward too!! It’s delicious and everyone I’ve served it to wants the recipe, which by the way is pretty forgiving. I’ve left out the coconut and reduced the amount of dates and it’s still yummy. This has now become a must have in our house and I make sure we never run out of the ingredients!!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Jenbas!

  6. Michelle says

    This recipe is a dream! I love granola but always feel I have to be careful with it because of the added sugar–this recipe solves that issue with dates. Hooray for date-sweetened recipes! I make this recipe now on a weekly basis, my sneaky way to get in extra dates during my third trimester of pregnancy. My one trick is to actually blend the dates and walnuts at the same time, since I’ve never found that the dates only need 5 pulses to break up (more like pulsing on high for 30-60 seconds to get small pieces that match the rest of the granola chunks). I find this gives bigger walnut chunks as an added bonus, which provides a nice chew that isn’t anything like your typical granola crunch but is honestly just as delightful with some yogurt and berries in the morning.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoy it, Michelle! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your method!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you like it! The nutrition info is for 1/4 cup of raw-nola, not the whole batch. Perhaps that’s the confusion?

  7. Dimitri says

    Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    I usually eat granola with my oatmeal in order to add some crunch, but would this work with this recipe you think as it doesn’t look like “normally” granola as it doesn’t have any chunks?

    Thank you, will definitely try it out soon, but will most likely substitute walnuts for pecans.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Dimitri, it doesn’t have quite the same crunch as a baked granola, but you could use roasted pecans for more crunch. Hope that helps!

  8. Maria says

    Wow, such a great taste. So easy to make and delicious! I am forever looking for easy granola recipes. The granola you buy in the grocery store have a stale smell or taste. This will now be my “go to granola” recipe! Thank you!!!

  9. Brooklyn says

    Oh my word, I just found your blog and I’m hooked! I’m always excited to find new websites with healthy recipes. And I can say that I share that same passion for dates, lol! They really are so caramel-y and delicious. Can’t wait to try this recipe out!

  10. Tanja says

    I am always looking for new breakfast ideas and stumbled across your Naw-Nola recipe. Glad I did! So easy to make and so delicious! This will definitely become a go to morning treat with yoghurt and fruit.

  11. Hope says

    This is ridiculously easy and SO GOOD. I struggle with finding breakfast foods that I truly love but this will definitely be one of my go-tos from now on. Thank you!

  12. Jesse says

    Omg this is sooooooo good! I just tested for a grain free diet and was kinda bummed because I love granola with oats. But my nutritionist pointed me in your direction and I’m so happy she did. Thank you so much!

  13. liz says

    yum! I just made this using your recommended add-ins for flavor (cacao+cacao nibs) and wow! it’s delicious and so easy to make! i subbed the oats for pumpkin seeds and it turned out great. thanks for sharing :)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Liz! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications!

  14. Annebelle says

    Loved this! I used pecans, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and pure cacao chips with some sea salt and it tasted a bit like cookie dough! Will definitely make again with other combinations & have already shared with all my gluten free friends!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Annebelle! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications!

  15. Diana says

    This is excellent! So delicious in yogurt and look forward to trying it in milk (or as a snack on its own!). I like a bit more body to my granola so I doubled the oats. I also didn’t mind if it was raw or not so I toasted the walnuts first, which added a nice full flavor. I left out the coconut and maca. My mix-ins were chopped golden raisins and apricots as well as a tsp of vanilla. Delicious!

    This is going to go into the rotation. Thanks!

      • Shannon says

        This recipe is very good! Quite simple, easy to put together, doesn’t take long to make and I had all ingredients except walnuts on hand which is a plus. I am not a fan of walnuts and this was the only ingredient not in my pantry so I mixed pecans and cashews. I reduced the dates and cocoa for our taste. I will definitely be using this recipe in the future and as a basis to tweak it for the seasons. Thank you!

  16. Marci says

    This is so yummy, thank you for the awesome instructions and photos it truly made it so simple to make. My dates were a little chunky but I must say it was so satisfying to bite into a good size sweet morsel of natures sugar, I think it might just be my favorite part.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Marci! Agreed- dates are so yummy! Thanks so much for the lovely review!

  17. Christine Benjamin says

    I got home from my sister’s house around 9pm and wanted to have granola, but didn’t want to eat store bought. So I made this quick and easy version. It’s so super yummy. I’ll be making many batches of this.

  18. Lisa says

    While the recipe looks very tasty, it is not truly raw. I get so frustrated with so many recipes labled “raw” that when you research the ingredients used they are not truly raw. Many of the ingredients are heated even those labled raw, like almonds ( all almonds by law must be heated in the US ,but can still be falsely labeled raw) , cashews ( most are heated to get them out of their shells) , dates ( can be sun dried at temperatures too high to be raw) , cocoa( they lie raw cocoa is often not raw) and you mention peanut butter as far as I know most peanut butter is roasted. Kind of disappointing to be honest. Is it possible to have a truly raw recipe anywhere? Can you make one?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Lisa! I hear you. I don’t adhere to strict “raw” food practices, but rather when ingredients come raw from the store (or are labeled as such) and I don’t heat them, I consider a recipe raw, but I hear you! I suppose only truly raw recipes are vegetables and fruit ones?

  19. Karen says

    Wowww!!! This was DELICIOUS!!! I couldn’t believe it really looks like Granola. Thank you so much for this. I just started on this raw food journey. I love it!

  20. Vicky says

    I made this to switch up our breakfast a bit and oh my! We loved it, even my picky toddler loved it as soon as she realized there was ‘chocolate’ in it lol
    This is so good, and filling, and healthy, it will definitely be adopted in our household.
    I’m really grateful for these type of recipes, Thank you!
    PS: I put only 5 dates in it and it turned out great!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay, we’re so glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Vicky!

  21. Sarah says

    This is fantastic! I added some shatavari, dried blueberries and used only 10-dates and it is so so good! That’s for this recipe :-)

  22. Elizabeth G. says

    This is the recipe I make more than anything! I started making this recipe a long time ago and LOVE it so much. Today I thought, ‘I should go figure out how to rate that Rawnola recipe so that others can find it’. So that’s what this is. I LOVE THIS RECIPE.
    *tip: you won’t regret dumping a whole lot of extra cinnamon on there

  23. MaryAnndrea says

    I just made this and it was delicious! I only added 12-13 dates and left out the oats, will be making this again! Thank you for all of your delicious recipes!

  24. Martha says

    Hello! I made this recipe a while ago and loved it. It was crumbly and not sticky and made the perfect sub for granola. However, I’ve recently tried to make it again without such luck. I’ve kept the recipe exactly as the original and only added cocoa nibs. But it comes out almost more like dough and not crumbly at all. Am I using too many dates (16?). I loved this recipe when it worked. Help! Thanks!

  25. LA says

    This is the best granola!! I just made it and am already wishing I had made a double batch. I followed the recipe but used raw cashews for the nut and also added pumpkin seeds. I added a healthy splash of vanilla and probably 2 TB of cinnamon. So yummy!! I’ll be making it again soon

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed this granola! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  26. Amy says

    I made this today and it’s so delicious! Next time I think I will reduce the amount of dates I use so I can get the end product to be a bit more crumbly and bit less sticky. I’m excited to make this again and experiment with different flavors and nuts! I left out the cacao powder but added in some dried cranberries. I also added in more oats than the recipe recommends because frankly, I just love oats so much.

    I’m excited to eat this for breakfast/snack on this for the coming week! I think it will be great with yogurt, almond milk, or just by itself! Thanks for the fun recipe.

  27. Ashley says

    This was delicious! I cut the recipe in half because I have a small food processor. It’s a wonderful texture for when you’re not in the mood for the crunch of traditional homemade granola but still want the deliciousness and wholesome benefits of nuts and seeds and dates. I had to soak my dates in hot water for a bit in order for them to blend and I even added about 2 tablespoons of the leftover date-soaked water into the mix to help it stick together. Thanks for another amazing recipe!

  28. Janell says

    This recipe makes so much sense! And offers so many options!
    I made one batch (so far!) and my husband and I have eaten it for breakfast since.
    Day 1 – mango and banana
    Day 2 – strawberries and banana
    Day 3 – diced apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon
    All so so good!
    Will make again and again.

  29. Jennifer says

    Hope this isn’t a dumb question but because of long standing gut problems I’m having to limit sugar intake- yip, even nice, natural sugar! Can the dates here be subbed for blueberries?

  30. Nanette says

    I just made this and it’s super easy and so delicious. I tagged you on IG ?
    Thanks for a great and simple recipe

  31. Chris Walker says

    This is a terrific breakfast that keeps me satisfied all morning. A new family favorite. I just keep changing the fresh fruit options, sometimes I add a bit of maple syrup to my bowl. Lots of ways to enjoy.
    Thank you for the great recipes.

  32. Lyn says

    This looks delightful! Question though, what could I sub for the coconut? I personally like coconut but my fiancé HATES coconut with a fiery burning passion. So what would be a good substitute? Additional nuts of other sorts?

  33. Kelly says

    This is insanely good. Made it this morning and had it with my almond milkenwith berries which was so good. Now the best part is I just put a spoonful of peanut butter and rolled in this rawnola….!!! OMG! This is dangerous. It was so good and I had too many! Haha! Yummm~ I afraid to make more~ :) this recipe is so versatile, I eliminated some ingredients I didn’t had but sub with other seeds and such. Bring down dates amount since I like things less sweet. This is a great easy recipe that anyone can try.

  34. Kate says

    Excellent topping to have on hand for quick breakfasts, snacks or for your yummy banana split desert!

    Thank you for all of your wonderful, health recipes!

  35. Claire says

    This is delicious! I don’t eat processed food anymore and have missed a cereal type option. I’ve adapted this to be a little less sweet and use about: 1c Wanuts, 1c Cashews, 1c Pumpkin Seeds, 1c Oats, a bit more flax, 1/4c raw cacao, coconut and only 6 dates and serve with non dairy milk as a dessert. Thank you!

  36. Taryn F. says

    New favourite breakfast or snack!

    Had a go at making this today (had to leave out the cacao as I didn’t have it in the pantry) but it was still SO good.

  37. mimi says

    Unique and good. To describe your recipe : impressive. The combination of ingredients strikes me as intelligent. Merci beaucoup!!

  38. Danielle says

    Just made this and my 4 year old and 1 1/2 year-old both inhaled it! So delicious! Can’t wait to make more. I ran out of walnuts or I would have made more!

  39. Erin says

    I just made this and really enjoyed it with some soy milk. Although it was a tad sweet for my tastes. Any tips on getting it to clump together with less dates… I was thinking some melted coconut butter and then refrigerating… What about cashew butter? Just wondering how to get it to stick together just as well with less dates. Thank you so much !

  40. Katie says

    Absolutely delicious and satisfying! Really good with almond milk.
    I used raw almonds as the nut base, and didn’t add cinnamon nor any other flavors.

  41. Jessica Pierce says

    Better than any store bought cereal/granola I have ever tried and I am a cereal junkie! I made it with the optional cacoa powder, cacoa nibs and dried blueberries. I top with banana and black berries and served in original unsweetened almond milk. Addicting! My dates were extra sticky but I didn’t mind. Gave me the idea that these can also be rolled into balls like those granola power bite things. I even squished some together and it looked like a Cliff bar but tasted 100 times better. Can’t wait to experiment with more flavor options.

  42. Barleigh Boonfeathers says

    Great recipe, but my question’s about the fab music for this recipe! Any idea what it’s called?

  43. Lauren says

    I must first confess that I made a bit of an error when originally trying this recipe — I tried to pulse the dates in my Vitamix because I didn’t have a food processor, and well…that was a stupid idea. However, I recovered by turning the recipe into date balls, and WHOA, so delicious. I ended up finally buying a food processor (no idea what took me so long) just so I could use up the rest of the dry ingredients (stored ’em in a mason jar in my fridge in the meantime) to make more balls! SO GOOD.

    I HIGHLY recommend using the same recipe (maybe adding more dates?) to make date balls because the flavor is amazing. I did use cacao, cacao nibs, and dried cherries in my combo, and kept the walnuts in slightly larger pieces. I will be making this regularly for snacks, and will definitely try the actual granola next time!

  44. Matija says

    Hi Dana! This is the first recipe of yours that I made and it turned out absolutely great! I was too lazy to go to the store and buy some ingredients that I didn’t have, so I made the raw-nola with what I had: walnuts, hazelnuts, dates, raisins, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. In the end I added some cocoa powder and amarant popcorn that I had made earlier that day (also for the first time. So this is not completely a RAW-nola hm :-) ). So delicious! The popcorn adds that extra crunchy and roasted flavor that fits perfectly. Thanks for the recipe, you are truly an inspiration for me! Matija

  45. Julia says

    Thank you for this recipe. I love cereal but it doesn’t love my stomach and this is a great substitute when I’m craving cereal or something sweet. My husband really likes it too. :)

    Also, I ended up putting 8 dates in mine and it was just enough sweetness!

  46. Courtney Glausi says

    This is SO good!! I made a small batch last night for a snack and loved it so much, so I’ll definitely be making a full batch soon. I’m obsessed with cereal, so it’s nice to have a quick and easy option on hand when the craving strikes!

  47. Claire says

    Made this today. It was so good! Didnt even have to add the cocoa powder or dried fruit. I also used around 10 dates. It’ll be a staple, and I’m bringing this with me on my upcoming trip. Thank you so much for the recipe!

  48. Abbie says

    This is seriously delicious. I served it with some vanilla pea protein milk topped with fresh raspberries and it was simply heavenly. I’m going to have to make a even bigger batch of this next week ;)

  49. Nursen says

    I made this but it was really sticky and the batch was too much for my little tabletop food processor. I guess I would need a full sized one or to half the recipe? I missed the crunchiness that I love from granola, this seemed more like dough for homemade lara bars. However, I will say that it tasted amazing and had better texture when I added about 1/4 cup TJ’s freeze dried strawberries to half of it! and to the other half I added maca powder and cacao, and it tasted great with the pomegranate seeds, which gave it the crunch I’d been missing. Is it possible that I processed the nuts too much, since it wasn’t really crunchy?

  50. Donna in Inwood says

    Here is some feedback for you — this is really good! I added some sprouted sunflower and pumpkin seeds for a bit of crunch. With that addition, this is very much like the toppings they sell at Hu Kitchen to go on top of their “Mash Bar” selections (they always have chia pudding and taro root pudding as choices). I’ve been wanting to find a way to approximate their toppings, and this is pretty much it! (if you add the crunchy seeds). If you don’t know Hu Kitchen, check em out online. My go-to place in NYC that keeps me fed when I don’t have time to cook.

  51. Mimi says

    I’m pretty sure this is the breakfast/snack combo I’ve been looking/waiting for – I’m absolutely addicted to dates as well (may have bought 3x the amount needed for this recipe so I “don’t run out”). I had to sub in peanuts and sunflower seeds for almond/walnuts (allergy) and it still held together super well! Thanks – it was so easy to make!

  52. Piikea Miller says

    This was Raw-tastic! I only used half of the dates called for and thought it was sweet enough. Next time I might hand mix in the coconut, flax and hemp seeds so the consistency isn’t so fine.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Cici! Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks or in the fridge for several weeks. Transfer to the freezer for longer-term storage.

  53. Dana says

    Just wondering where y’all buy your dates? They are getting harder to find…I can’t seem to find the less expensive (non-Medjool) at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods anymore.

    • Safa says

      Hi there! For someone that comes from the Middle East, I found that medjool dates of Natural Delights to be the best for enjoying on their own or in recipes, they’re juicy, sticky and fresh! I’m in Canada, so here we find them at; Save on Foods, Superstore, and Walmart. Walmart has them at lowest price!
      You might be able to find them at Whole Foods possibly.
      Hope that helps!

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

        Thanks for sharing! I like Trader Joe’s, or for Organic, natural delights from Whole Foods or New Seasons (in the PNW).

    • Diana says

      Have you tried Costco? They usually have a large bag for a pretty good price. I’ve also bought them online at 7hotdates.com. They sell different varieties according to their season.

  54. Linsday says

    really delicious! made it this afternoon and my dates are very sticky and the final product sticks together a touch more than would have liked but SO NICE nonetheless. would recommend!

  55. Pooja Haney says

    I love how I learn things from your blog! I never knew oats weren’t truly raw (I’m assuming that has something to do with their processing) AND I never thought about the idea of sprouted nuts! I have only heard of sprouted beans and lentils… it makes me want to learn more and try new things!! Thank you.