If you've never made homemade granola, give this nourishing and delicious Hemp Granola with Dates a try! It's easy, delicious, has less sugar than store-bought granolas, and will have your house smelling like you've been baking all day.
The perfect crunchy texture from rolled oats and nutty hemp seeds sweetened with chopped dates and honey. I hope you love this recipe as much as I do!

As a dietitian, I make granola at home whenever I can because I love customizing it with whatever nuts and seeds I have in my pantry. This recipe was inspired by my Orange and Cranberry Granola that I make at the holidays.
Make a batch of hemp seed granola and throw it on top of smoothie bowls or mix it with Greek yogurt and maple-glazed air fryer apples for a great start to your day. It also makes a perfect healthy snack for on-the-go. Or bring a batch of granola as a hostess gift for a friend or to food banks near you!
Next up: Try Date Snickers Bars, a Viral TikTok Recipe
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love this Recipe:
- Video of How to Make Hemp Granola with Dates
- Key Ingredients and Substitutions
- How to Make Hemp Granola with Dates
- More Ingredient Substitution Ideas
- Variations
- How to Store Homemade Hemp Granola
- Expert Advice
- Registered Dietitian Tip
- FAQ
- More Nourishing Dietitian Recipes
- Perfect for Pairing
- Looking for Nutrition Education from a Dietitian?
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You’ll Love this Recipe:
- Nutrition - this recipe contains healthy fats and antioxidants from the nuts and seeds to support brain health and hormone health. Oats provide phosphorus, manganese, and dietary fiber for a healthy gut.
- Customizable- once you have the basics, you can customize hemp granola however you want using what you have in your pantry.
- Simple Ingredients - including nuts, hemp seeds, oats and dates.
- Easy - this recipe is as easy as mixing the ingredients in a bowl and baking them in the oven.
Video of How to Make Hemp Granola with Dates
Here's a video of how to make Hemp Granola that I hope is helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for the full recipe.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
*This hemp granola recipe is made with wholesome ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Rolled Oats - use rolled oats instead of quick oats. Rolled oats will maintain their texture and heartiness when baked whereas quick oats are smaller and won’t give the crunch for a good granola. I use Bob's Red Mill brand. Oats are a source of whole grain and contain dietary fiber which has been shown to have many health benefits, including improving gut health and lowering cholesterol.
- Nuts & Seeds- this recipe calls for sliced almonds and pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Both get nicely browned when baked. But you can use any combination of nuts that you enjoy or have on hand.
- Hemp Seeds - hemp seeds are a good source of plant protein and also contain healthy fats including ALA Omega-3s to support brain health. I use Manitoba Harvest hemp hearts.
- Fine Sea Salt - just a pinch of salt is perfect for enhancing the other flavors.
- Cinnamon - adding cinnamon makes it a more flavorful granola and it also adds antioxidants.
- Oil - I use olive oil for this granola. You could also use avocado oil, but I prefer olive oil because it is slightly more robust in flavor and pairs well with the other ingredients here.
- Sweetener - this recipe calls for honey, but maple syrup works too. The sugar is what helps to bind the oats together to make clumps. Honey is antimicrobial and if you use local honey it's great for helping with allergies.
- Vanilla Extract - vanilla extract adds a depth of flavor that blends perfectly with the other ingredients in this one.
- Dates - chopped Medjool dates get stirred in after this hemp granola is out of the oven. In this recipe, it replaces other dried fruits like raisins or craisins that are often found in granola and tend to be high in added sugars. Dates are a natural sweetener and a popular sugar alternative. Plus, dates also add nutrition including extra fiber and some potassium, iron, Vitamin B6 and magnesium.
How to Make Hemp Granola with Dates
*Below are the instructions for how to make Hemp Granola with Dates with visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 325℉ (160°C) and prep a large baking sheet with greased parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients including the oats, nuts, seeds, salt, and cinnamon. Do not add the dates yet!
Step 2 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients including the oil, honey and vanilla. Then, add the wet mixture to the dry and stir together until well combined.
Step 3 - Spread the oat mixture on the baking sheet in an even layer and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes. The granola is done when it’s golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the granola cool.
Step 4 - Once the hemp granola has cooled, stir in the chopped dates and break it into clumps.
Hint: Don’t stir it right after taking it out of the oven! Let it cool for as long as possible first. The air will help create the granola clusters.
More Ingredient Substitution Ideas
One of the best things about a homemade granola recipe is that you can customize it to your taste and dietary preferences to make your own favorite granola. Below are some ideas for you.
- Nuts and seeds - use any combination of nuts and seeds! Pecans, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, cashews, brazil nuts, chia seeds, flax seeds or sunflower seeds. The combination options are truly endless.
- Dried Fruit - add a different dried fruit if dates aren’t your thing. I love using chopped dates in homemade granolas for natural sweetness since dates don't have added sugar. But you could also use dried cranberries, regular raisins or golden raisins. Dried apples, dried blueberries, or dried apricot, cherries, mango, pineapple or papaya are options, too!
- Oil - use whatever oil you prefer to bake with. As a dietitian, I recommend using either olive oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil for hemp granola.
- Vegan - the recipe isn't vegan since it uses honey as a sweetener. But you can easily replace it with maple syrup to make this recipe vegan. If you like a sweeter granola, you can bump up the amount a bit.
- Spice - if you don’t like cinnamon, take it out or replace it with a spice you do enjoy. Nutmeg or cloves are yummy options.
Variations
- Nut-free - if you are serving this granola to someone with a nut allergy, leave out the almonds, which are tree nuts. Instead, use 3 different kinds of seeds.
- Fancy hemp granola - add coconut flakes (add these halfway through baking if using), dark chocolate chips (add AFTER baking so they don't melt) or brown sugar. Mix in some peanut butter.
- Fruity granola - if you like it more fruity, add golden raisins, tart dried cranberries or cherries, and dried apples along with the dates.
- Ginger hemp granola - add ½ teaspoon of dried ginger or 1 ½ tablespoon of freshly grated ginger to give it a simple ginger flavor.
How to Store Homemade Hemp Granola
Granola is at the peak of freshness a day or two after it's made. But one of the great things about granola is that it stores well for a long time.
- Fridge (or room temperature) - store it for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature.
- Freezer - store hemp granola in an airtight container for 3-6 months in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for about an hour.
Expert Advice
- When the granola mixture is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature before stirring it or breaking it apart. This is what helps form the big clusters.
- Add in the dates after the granola has baked and cooled. I tried adding it with the other ingredients and I personally thought it was too chewy and it hardened a bit when bakes. Adding it after the granola bakes keeps the dates nice and tender.
Registered Dietitian Tip
Hemp seeds are full of nutrition! They contain 10 grams of plant-protein per 3 tablespoon - nearly as much as 2 large eggs. The protein in hemp seeds is a complete protein which means they contain all 9 essential amino acids. Hemp seeds are also high in dietary fiber for gut health and heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to support brain health and hormone health. Plus, they contain antioxidants, magnesium, vitamin E, and phosphorus.
The key to eating more nutrient-rich ingredients like hemp seeds is to make them taste amazing! This Hemp Granola with Dates is one of my favorite ways to eat them and I hope it becomes a favorite of yours, too.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this hemp granola is a nourishing option. It contains dietary fiber for a healthy gut, and heart-healthy fats that also support brain health and hormone health. This recipe also contains several vitamins and nutrients including antioxidants, potassium, iron, Vitamin B6 and magnesium.
Homemade granola doesn't have the preservatives that store-bought granola has so it doesn't last as long. But it still lasts for a long time, which is why it's one of my favorite things to make! In fact, homemade granola lasts for up to 3 weeks. To store it, use an airtight container and keep it away from moisture, heat, or direct sunlight. Since this hemp granola has dates, it's even better to store it in the refrigerator.
Absolutely! Once it is completely cooled, you can freeze granola in an airtight container for 3-6 months. To thaw it, either keep it in the refrigerator overnight or let it sit out at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
As long as you use gluten-free oats, this is gluten-free granola! If you are buying a store-bought granola, be sure to check the nutrition label to make sure it is gluten-free. I use Bob's Red Mill Rolled Oats. In general, the main ingredient in granola is oats. Oats are a naturally gluten-free food. However, many oats are processed in a facility that also processes gluten-containing foods so there is a risk of cross-contamination. The best way to tell if the oats you use are gluten-free is to make sure that gluten or wheat is not listed under the "may contain" statement on the nutrition facts panel.
More Nourishing Dietitian Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Hemp and Date Granola:
Looking for Nutrition Education from a Dietitian?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Hemp Granola with Dates, Healthy and Easy Recipe
Equipment
- airtight container for storage
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (200g)
- ¼ cup hemp seeds (40g)
- ¼ cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds) (35g)
- ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds (20g)
- ¼ cup honey (75ml or 2.5 fl oz)
- ¼ cup olive oil (50ml or 1.5 fl oz)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (3ml)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt (3g)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon (3g)
- 3 dates, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325℉ (160°C) and prep a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients including the oats, nuts, seeds, salt, and cinnamon. Do not add the dates yet!
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients including the oil, honey and vanilla. Then, add the wet mixture to the dry and stir together until well combined.
- Spread the oat mixture on the baking sheet in an even layer and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes. The granola is done when it’s golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the granola cool.
- Once granola has cooled, add in the chopped dates and break the granola into clumps.
- Hint: Don’t stir it right after taking it out of the oven! Let it cool for as long as possible first (about an hour). The air will help create the granola clusters.
Video
Notes
- Use rolled (old-fashioned) oats instead of quick oats. Rolled oats will crisp up better in homemade granola. I use Bob's Red Mill brand.
- When the granola mixture is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature before stirring it or breaking it apart. This is what helps form the big clusters.
- Add in the dates after the granola has baked and cooled. I tried adding it with the other ingredients and I personally thought it was too chewy and it hardened a bit when baked. Adding it after the granola bakes keeps the dates nice and tender.
- Fridge (or room temperature) - store it for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature.
- Freezer - store in an airtight container for 3-6 months in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for about an hour.
Nutrition
Resources: Medical News Today
Mary
I've made this recipe 3 times now and every time I make it it's SO good. I love that it uses dates instead of craisins or other dried fruit cause I'm cutting back on added sugars. I always throw a handful of the granola in my smoothie in the AM. Thank you for a new favorite!