This honey oat walnut granola is really good...and so incredibly easy to make!
Forget store-bought granola bars. Try these next time you want to stock up on a tasty, nutritious grab-and-go snack. The best part? You can customize the ingredients to match your own health needs.
With this recipe, form granola bar shapes for an easy snack or simply bake a granola crumble to sprinkle over yogurt, desserts, or whatever your heart desires!
Rolled and steel-cut oats are naturally gluten-free, but it's important to remember that, while oats themselves don’t contain gluten, they are often processed in facilities that also handle wheat, barley, and rye, which can lead to cross-contamination. Look for certified gluten-free oats, which are processed in dedicated facilities to avoid contamination
Keep scrolling for variations of this honey oat walnut granola...
Why I Love This Recipe: Let’s Talk TCM
In Chinese medicine, low energy and poor digestion are symptoms that often point to qi deficiency. It can show up as fatigue that lingers, bloating after meals, or the sense that you’re eating “well” but not really absorbing what you need. Rolled oats are one of my favorite foods for this. They’re super easy to digest, supportive to the spleen and stomach, and provide steady energy that doesn’t ask the body to work too hard.
From a Western lens, oats are a complex carbohydrate and also rich in fiber, which help keep blood sugar steady and energy more even. Adding honey gives a gentle boost — some quick and accessible energy — while the almonds and walnuts slow things down with their healthy fats and protein, so you don’t crash an hour later.
I also love this recipe for how nourishing it is on a deeper level. Blood deficiency is another pattern I see often, especially when people feel foggy, anxious, dry, or worn thin. Walnuts, almonds, and flaxseed are deeply supportive here — they nourish the blood and the brain, helping restore focus and steadiness. Nutritionally, they’re rich in omega-3s, vitamin E, magnesium, and plant-based iron, all of which support circulation, cognitive health, skin, and overall resilience.
The warming spices — cinnamon and nutmeg — gently encourage circulation and warmth, which can be especially comforting if you tend toward cold hands and feet or low libido. At the same time, coconut oil, flaxseed, and honey bring in the moistening, soothing qualities that help ease dryness and tension from the inside.
Granola Ingredients by Pattern:
For blood deficiency patterns,
Try adding dried apricots, Chinese red dates, black sesame seeds, pine nuts, or a dash of blackstrap molasses.
For qi deficiency patterns,
Try adding dried cherries, raisins, shredded coconut or amaranth flour.
For yin deficiency patterns,
Try adding dried blueberries, goji berries, or black sesame seeds.
For yang deficiency patterns,
Try adding dried strawberries, pine nuts or crushed pistachios.
For dampness patterns,
Try adding dried papaya chunks, dried plums, pumpkin seeds or crushed roasted seaweed.
For excess heat patterns,
Try adding amaranth flour, a dash of spirulina or chlorella, crushed roasted seaweed or crushed banana chips.
For qi stagnation patterns,
Try adding crushed banana chips, amaranth flour, or crushed roasted seaweed
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Honey Oat Walnut Granola Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup tapioca flour
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Why You'll Love This Recipe: Blood & Brain Support
Nourishes Qi & Blood: Oats are considered warming, blood nourishing and help build spleen and stomach qi, supporting digestion and overall energy levels.
Supports Digestion & Resolves Dampness: The fiber in oats helps move food through the digestive system, aiding those with sluggish digestion, bloating, or damp accumulation. They are also easy to digest, which is helpful for nutrient absorption.
Calms the Shen (Spirit): Oats have mild calming properties, making them beneficial for stress, anxiety, and restlessness.
Moistens the Intestines: Their high fiber content and yin-nourishing properties of honey help to relieve dryness in the body, particularly in cases of constipation due to yin deficiency.
Supports Cognitive Health: The nuts & seeds in this recipe help nourish the kidneys and brain, supporting memory, energy, and longevity (from a TCM perspective).
How to Make This Honey Oat Walnut Granola (Summary)
Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix oats, tapioca flour, flaxseed, nuts, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together coconut oil, honey, and vanilla, then combine with the dry ingredients.
Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheet or shape it into bars. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Let cool before serving.
