One of the most deceptive snacks, granola can be a total healthy food imposter. Some brands can hide spoonfuls of sugar and fat amid the more wholesome nuts and oats. But it doesn’t have to be that way (we’ve even rounded up the best store-bought granola bars to prove it).

The homemade granola recipes below focus on hearty, whole ingredients and favor natural sweeteners over processed sugar. More specifically, they contain no more than 12 grams of sugar per (1/2 cup) serving, at least three grams of fiber per serving, and no more than ten ingredients (not counting pantry staples). (We realize everyone’s definition of healthy is different, but we consider these parameters to be both reasonable and realistic.) Now let’s get to the good stuff.

1. Homemade Granola With No Refined Sugars

Applesauce replaces oil as a binder, while honey provides more antibacterial benefits than your average spoonful of sugar. But don’t be fooled by what this recipe doesn’t have—it’s still plenty satisfying thanks to all the fiber-filled oats and healthy fats from the nuts, seeds, and coconut. (11.5 grams sugar, 11 grams fiber)

2. Double-Chocolate Almond Joy Granola

With big flakes of coconut and crunchy almond bits tossed in a cocoa-based mixture, this granola tastes just like its namesake confection. Oh wait, there’s one bigger, better difference: One serving of this cuts down the added sugar by almost a third, making it perfectly acceptable to eat for breakfast—can’t say that about a candy bar. (9 grams sugar, 15 grams fiber)

3. Paleo Chocolate Fudge Coconut Granola

A velvety—but wholesome—sauce coats a fiber-packed combination of nuts, chia seeds, and coconut to yield this chocolaty concoction. While most recipes with “fudge” in their title go crazy on the butter and sugar, this one uses neither, relying instead on just three tablespoons of cancer-fighting maple syrup for the perfect sweet touch. (3 grams sugar, 8 grams fiber)

4. Chocolate Granola With Tahini and Honey

The slightly bitter note of tahini (sesame paste) is a perfect complement to the chocolate and honey in this Middle Eastern-inspired granola. With its sesame and chia seeds, a bowl of this dessert-like granola will give you a nice calcium boost. (12 grams sugar, 7 grams fiber)

5. Vanilla Honey Granola

Calling for only five ingredients most healthy eaters will have on hand, this recipe is your go-to for a simple, low-fuss mix. Gluten-free oats make it suitable for those with allergies, while the addition of an egg white adds a touch of protein. (11 grams sugar, 3 grams fiber)

6. No Sugar Added Banana Nut Granola

Peanut butter does triple duty here as a binder, a source of healthy fats, and a hearty flavor booster. Meanwhile, bananas and no-sugar-added applesauce add plenty of natural sweetness—not to mention more potassium and magnesium.Find us a store-bought banana nut muffin that does that! (5 grams sugar, 5 grams fiber)

7. Pear Granola

We’ve seen pear crumbles, pear crisps, and pear cakes—so why not pear granola? Just one of the large vitamin C-rich, gut health-promoting fruits provides plenty of sweetness, helped only with a few sprinkles of stevia. The puffed rice adds volume to allow for large servings, while hemp hearts and chia seeds make sure you’re getting in quality, cancer-combatting alpha-linolenic fatty acids. (3 grams sugar, 3 grams fiber)

8. Blueberry Granola

With two types of nuts, sunflower seeds, coconut flakes, and almond butter, this wheat-free granola is super filling. A full cup of blueberries provides a zippy, light contrast, bringing with it not just candy-like sweetness but also heart-protecting flavonoids. (8 grams sugar, 6 grams fiber)

9. Grain-Free Granola

Made only with nut-based ingredients and seeds, this vegan and gluten-free recipe is definitely heavier on the fats. The good news is they aren’t just empty calories: From the depression-curbing properties of the pumpkin seeds to the iron in the cashew butter, each ingredient comes with its own impressive benefits. (4 grams sugar, 3 grams fiber)

10. Pumpkin Granola

Here’s one to add to your pumpkin-spiced-everything list—but don’t wait until autumn to make the seasonally inspired granola. The sweet, vitamin K-packed canned veggie is available year-round, so you can whip up this simple, subtly spiced mix whenever you feel like it. (And with just three tablespoons of maple syrup between six servings, you will). (8 grams sugar, 6 grams fiber)

11. Chunky-Monkey Granola

True to its name, this one features bananas, chocolates, and walnuts—but unlike the famous ice cream, the granola version is vegan-friendly, easier on your cholesterol (thanks to peanut butter and coconut oil instead of heavy cream), and has only 7 grams of sugar per 1/2 cup serving as opposed to Ben & Jerry’s 28. (7 grams sugar, 4 grams fiber)

12. Sugar-Free Cinnamon Coconut Granola

That’s right, you won’t find a hint of sugar—refined or otherwise—among the six ingredients in this recipe. Instead, this blogger looks to the spice rack for inspiration, using cinnamon and allspice for natural sweetness. (0 grams sugar, 3 grams fiber)

13. Orange Chia Granola

Using the zest gives this granola a hint of refreshing citrus flavor, which perfectly offsets the other, denser ingredients like pecans, oats, and coconut oil. Plus, the zest is where you’ll find all the D-limonene, which may prevent certain cancers, so it’s got medicinal and taste benefits.D-Limonene: safety and clinical applications. Sun J. Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic, 2008, May.;12(3):1089-5159. (12 grams sugar, 5 grams fiber)

14. Apple Pie Granola

It may not be mom’s traditional pie, but in some ways, this granola is even better. Oats provide lots of fiber, while essential fatty acids in the flax, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds make sure you’re getting cholesterol-regulating goodness in every bowlful. (6 grams sugar, 5 grams fiber)

15. Crunchy Quinoa Granola With Goji Berries

Add granola to the ever-growing list of ways you can use quinoa. The miniscule but mighty high-protein seeds are baked raw—with almonds, oats, and a touch of agave—until crunchy. Little red gems of goji berries tossed in at the end add a pop of color as well as eyesight-boosting benefits. (3 grams sugar, 4 grams fiber)

16. High-Protein Granola

Whole-grain oats are filling enough on their own, but coat them in protein powder (we’ve got an article on how to find the one that’s best for you), and you’ve got a formidable breakfast to keep you full for hours. Feel free to play with add-ins and spices—the blogger has plenty of suggestions. (9 grams sugar, 3 grams fiber)

17. No-Bake Granola

Granola is already one of the easiest recipes to pull together, but this blogger takes simple a step further with a no-bake version. Just pour the lightly sweetened peanut butter “sauce” over the dry ingredients and refrigerate until set. With just two tablespoons of honey and a cup full of nuts and seeds in the entire batch, it’s a lower-sugar and higher-protein answer to cookie dough. (11 grams sugar, 4 grams fiber)

18. Mocha Granola

This caffeine-powered granola kills two morning essentials—coffee and breakfast—with one recipe and throws in unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolaty, antioxidant upgrade. (5 grams sugar, 3 grams fiber)

19. Chia Egg Coconut Granola

Using juice-soaked chia seed mixture as a healthy fat and a binder helps keep this granola free of dairy, eggs, and oil, plus gives it the added benefit of meeting almost 40 percent of your daily fiber needs. (11 grams sugar, 10 grams fiber)

20. 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola (With or Without Chocolate Chips)

As with many peanut butter-flavored recipes, this stuff is hard to keep away from. Thankfully, it’s also filled with healthy fats and fiber. A slightly sweet and salty blend of peanut butter and maple syrup is stirred into oats and topped off with crunchy of chocolate and peanuts. Enjoy it with milk, on top of yogurt, or by the handful. (7 grams sugar w/o chocolate chips, 14 grams sugar with chocolate chips, 3 grams fiber)

Want More? Low-Sugar Granola Recipes for Healthier Breakfasts