Does granola actually *need* sugar/maple syrup/whatever sweetener?

I’ve been sugar free for more than 18 years because of a yeast intolerance ( longish story but yeast feeds on sugar in my system aka Candida albicans). It was painful to wean myself off sugar but the payback is an heightened ability to find sweetness in food without any form of sugar. There’s no need for additional sweetener in a dish that includes coconut and/or dried fruit. Dried fruit are sugar bombs unfortunately. Dates are likewise sugar intense but a whole food which changes how it’s processed. I don’t use any of the 237 types of sugars found in processed food and I am grateful beyond belief to be free of the habit!

Cocoa nibs.

Sarah Wilson has a recipe (which I've fiddled with), but it also has flaked almonds and flaked coconut. Yummy served with yoghurt and some sort of berry, depending on what's cheap. Blueberries are great, as are strawberries.

As one poster suggests, add more butter, and how about adding cinnamon? If you don't have much of a sweet tooth, that might do the trick without adding honey or agave syrup. Also, a little bit of molasses goes a long way, especially if you have lots of dried fruits.

You could make muesli instead. You can toast the oats and nuts or seeds and add dried fruit for a similar dish

Thank you all! I'm definitely going to give it a go.

I've come across recipes with the creator saying "I've used as little as possible" but it's still quite a bit & I want to remove all added sweeteners from my diet (for example dates & raisins are fine, agave & monkfruit are not). I know sugar is needed in baked goods for a variety of scientific reasons, but I haven't been able to find why it might be needed in granola. I knew this would be The Best place to ask!

If I remember correctly (haven’t made granola in a while), adding some lightly beaten egg whites to granola makes it wonderfully clumpy/crunchy and adds no sweetness. Never tried it without another sweetening agent, though.

You don't need a sweetener but you should have a bit of fat if you want "crunchy" granola. I would also recommend a very small amount of salt.

A small amount of honey,sugar etc is sort of the 'glue' that helps keep it together.

No. Yes.