It’s hard not to love granola. It was first introduced to the world in 1863 by James Jackson, who operated a health spa and enjoyed creating healthy snacks for his clients. Today, granola is one of the most popular snacks and breakfast foods on store shelves.
However, not all granola is created equal. Some granola uses lower-quality grains or contains non-vegan ingredients like honey or dairy by-products. Thankfully, there are some best vegan granola brands out there.
Today, I’m going to show you some of my top picks for vegan granola! Whether you’re looking for something light and simple or sweet and savory, you’re guaranteed to see something you’ll love…
What Is Vegan Granola Made Of?
Granola is traditionally made from toasted grains. The most common grain used for granola is oat. Cooked oats are toasted and then tossed in spices, sweeteners, and other flavors to create granola.
Vegan granola also uses oats. However, it’s also common to see “ancient grains” and other healthy whole grains used to create vegan granola. You also won’t find any non-vegan additives like dairy or honey in these products.
It’s also fairly easy to make your own vegan granola at home:
Watch Out For These Non-Vegan Ingredients In Granola
For the most part, vegan granola is very similar to non-vegan granola. The main difference is that vegan granola doesn’t have any animal-derived products and typically uses higher-quality grains.
Here are some of the main non-vegan ingredients to look out for in mainstream granola brands:
- Honey (which isn’t vegan, by the way)
- Milk chocolate chips (contain dairy)
- Whey protein (a dairy by-product)
- Refined white sugar (which is filtered through animal bone char)
As long as you stay away from these primary non-vegan ingredients, you shouldn’t have a problem with your granola!
The Best Vegan Granola Brands To Try In 2024
If you’re ready to up your breakfast game, then you need to try one of these delicious vegan granola brands! Below, you’ll find some of the best-tasting vegan granola you’ll ever try.
1) Erin Baker’s Homestyle Granola, Chocolate Coconut Crunch (link)
- Flavor Rating: 10/10
If you’re the type who enjoys an extra kick of protein with your breakfast, then you’ll really enjoy Erin Baker’s Homestyle Granola! Each serving contains 7 grams of protein, thanks to the added pea protein chips.
Pea protein is a complete protein that’s used for a number of vegan protein shakes and mass-building supplements.
Although the company offers several varieties, I’ve found that the Chocolate Coconut Crunch is, by far, my favorite.
It’s made with real whole grain oats, pea protein crisps, flax seeds, coconut flakes, and chunks of chocolate.
Before you write the chocolate off as unhealthy, it’s made with real cocoa and is naturally low in sugar. It’s a great mood-booster that won’t mess with your blood sugar too much!
This granola is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or just snacking on throughout the day!
Pros:
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Contains natural cocoa-based chocolate
- Added protein from pea protein crisps
- No refined sugars
Cons:
- It’s a bit expensive for granola
2) Wildway Vegan Granola (link)
- Flavor Rating: 8/10
If you’re looking for a vegan and gluten-free granola, then Wildway Vegan Granola is a solid choice. Unlike most granola that’s made with oats, wheat, and other grains, Wildway Granola is 100% grain-free.
Instead, it’s made from a mixture of dates, chopped nuts, seeds, spices, and natural flavorings. It doesn’t contain any artificial sugar or sweeteners whatsoever. It’s a pure, all-natural, plant-based snack.
Of course, the downside of this is that Wildway Vegan Granola isn’t quite as sweet as other vegan granolas you may be used to. Because it’s made mostly of nuts and seeds, it’s also a lot more calorie-dense. This means you’ll really need to watch how much you eat.
This nut-based granola tastes incredible, but a single 1/4-cup serving contains 140 calories. This is perfect if you’re out hiking or doing something active. However, if you’re just lounging around the house and snacking, the calories can quickly add up!
Pros:
- 100% grain-free
- Made from dates, nuts, and seeds
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
Cons:
- Calorie-dense due to nuts and seeds, so you’ll need to watch your intake
3) Purely Elizabeth, Blueberry Hemp, Ancient Grain Granola (link)
- Flavor Rating: 9/10
If you’re looking for something light and nutty, then Purely Elizabeth’s Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grain Vegan Granola is a great option for breakfast or a snack.
Unlike your typical granola that’s made solely with oats, this vegan granola also contains amaranth seed, quinoa, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds.
All of these ancient grains and seeds are incredible for your health and provide lots of dietary fiber, healthy fats, omega-3s, and plant-based protein.
All-in-all, it’s a perfectly balanced vegan breakfast food!
As far as sweeteners go, this is relatively low-sugar granola. It’s lightly sweetened with a bit of organic coconut sugar (which blends really well with the nuts), but it isn’t overpowering.
This granola also includes plenty of dried blueberries, which are naturally high in antioxidants and vitamins.
Pros:
- Added ancient grains
- Added seeds
- Low-sugar, naturally sweetened with coconut sugar
- Contains antioxidant-rich blueberries
Cons:
- None!
4) Bear Naked Fit, Vegan Granola, V’nilla Almond (link)
- Flavor Rating: 10/10
Bear Naked Fit makes some of the best-tasting vegan granola that I’ve ever had. It’s also really easy to find, as it’s sold in most major grocery stores and even in Wal-Mart! That being said, you’ll still get a better deal if you order online.
Bear Naked Fit granola is made with whole grain oats, almonds, oat bran, brown rice, flax seeds, and natural flavors. It’s naturally sweetened with brown rice syrup and natural unrefined cane sugar, so you don’t have to worry about any refined sugars.
It’s available in several awesome flavors, but my favorite is the V’nilla Almond. I love how the natural vanilla flavoring pairs with nutty granola and almonds.
Pros:
- Easy to find in grocery stores
- Great-tasting, moderately sweet
- Affordable
- No refined sugar
Cons:
- It contains a little bit more sugar than some of the other vegan granola brands I’ve tried
Conclusion – What’s The Best Vegan Granola?
If I had to choose one, I would say that Erin Baker’s Homestyle Granola is, by far, my favorite vegan granola brand.
While it does cost a couple of dollars more per bag than some of the cheaper brands I’ve tried, the flavor and quality of the ingredients are hard to beat. Plus, I love the added pea protein!
If you’re looking for another healthy breakfast option, then be sure to read my post on the best vegan cereal brands next!
