Perfect Granola Pairings: Fruit, Veggie, Nuts/Seeds, and Dairy-Free Milk

Sometimes you wake up and just want something sweet with your coffee. No judgment to everyone who’s been eating pumpkin pie for breakfast over the holidays (ahem, us), but it’s not always the best nutritional choice first thing in the morning.

Enter Alter Eco granolas! Our  granolas are made with no added sugar and  sweetened only with organic fruit, making them a healthy and deliciously sweet choice for breakfast. They’re great all on their own, but if you want to elevate your breakfast we have some delicious (and nutritious!) fruit, veggie, nut, and alternative milk suggestions that will bump your granola breakfast up a notch.  

Fruit Pairings

Fruit and granola, what could be more perfect? The dark chocolate granola is delicious in its own right, but try pairing it with sweet, tangy fruits that offset the savory chocolate flavor.  Pomegranates, blueberries, and raspberries are not only a delicious addition, but they’re packed full of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C.

The cashew butter granola makes a perfect pairing with citrus, so try it with tangerines, blood oranges, or any citrus that is in season near you. 

Apples are a classic addition to the cinnamon raisin granola but if you want a warmer treat, try roasting the apples first and topping it with the granola once warm and gooey. 

Veggie Pairings 

When you think of granola, you may not immediately think, “What kind of vegetables am I going to put on this?” Trust us, though, veggies will take your granola game to a whole new level.  If you’re not into raw veggies or the texture of the vegetables, try roasting your vegetables before adding the granola.  For vegetables that are traditionally too mushy when cooked, like zucchini, you can dehydrate them first for a little added crunch.

Pair the dark chocolate granola with cinnamon, shredded coconut, and shredded carrots for a chocolatey version of carrot cake for breakfast.  

If you’re looking for something a little more savory, try the cashew butter granola with roasted sweet potato, squash, or beets. 

Roasted butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots are also delicious topped with the cinnamon raisin granola, and all of these vegetables have the added benefit of being in-season during the winter months.

Seed & Nut Pairings

Alright, you’ve stretched your culinary expectations by pairing your granola with vegetables, so let’s get back to something a little more traditional and discuss nut and seed additions to your bowl.  

It’s really hard to go wrong with adding any kind of nut to your granola, but each granola has a unique flavor and therefore calls for unique seeds and nuts.  The dark chocolate granola is delicious with roasted pumpkin seeds, pecans, and creamy macadamia nuts.  Try the cashew butter granola with chia seeds, hemp seeds, or even sesame seeds.  With cinnamon raisin, try walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts to complement the delicious cinnamon taste. 

Dairy Free Milk Pairings

Granola is crunchy, delicious, and makes the perfect compliment to cold milk, but it’s also delicious as a topping to ice cream and yogurts.  We’re always looking for plant-based, climatarian alternatives to dairy products, and our granolas pair perfectly.  

Scoop up some coconut milk based ice cream and top it with our dark chocolate granola for the perfect amount of sweetness without all the added sugar.  Bonus points if you add some fresh strawberries or raspberries to the top!

Ice cream also makes the perfect pairing for the cinnamon raisin granola, so experiment with different flavors. I doubt you’ll regret pairing it with peanut butter ice cream.

If you’re really in the mood for traditional yogurt with granola topping, try some almond milk based yogurt with our cashew butter granola and add a drizzle of nut butter or bananas on top.  

Milk and granola is a classic combo, and there are plenty of plant-based alternatives out there for you to try.  Hemp milk, almond milk, oat milk, flax milk, cashew milk, rice milk, and more all pair deliciously with each flavor of granola.  

There you have it! Everything you need to take your granola game to the next level.  Do a little bit of experimentation and you’ll be sure to find your favorite pairings that elevate each flavor and bring delicious, healthy, plant-based ingredients into your breakfast routine.