Easy Granola Recipe

Gingerbread Granola

This easy granola recipe has been adapted with Gingerbread flavors for the perfect autumn treat. Nuts, spices and oats are perfect for breakfast with a little milk, sprinkled on yogurt or mixed in with some fresh fruit!

Parfait made with Gingerbread Granola, greek yogurt and fresh peach.

Homemade Granola

Making granola at home is quick and easy! Granola is a healthy and delicious breakfast, snack or even dessert!

I have spiced up my basic Granola Recipe with gingerbread spices to bring in all the fall flavor! I love all things gingerbread so it just seemed natural to add the same spices that I use in my gingerbread cookies to an easy granola recipe!

Three glass jars full of homemade easy granola with gingerbread spices.

Granola is so easy to customize!

One of my favorite things about making granola at home is that it is so easy to customize. This recipe is spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves, just like my super popular gingerbread cookies!

My basic granola recipe includes my two favorite granola ingredients – pecans and pepitas. I use pecans and pepitas in every batch that I make for the flavors and the health benefits.

Some of these benefits include:

  • Heart healthy
  • Improved digestion
  • Helps with weight loss
  • Reduces the risk of some cancers
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Boosts immunity
  • Anti-aging
  • Improves skin
  • Stimulates hair growth
  • Improves mood and sleep
  • Promotes skin and bone health

With all of these benefits, I try to work these ingredients into as many recipes as I can!

Variations on this homemade Easy Granola Recipe

I can eat gingerbread spices on everything, all year long. But not everyone wants spiced gingerbread all the time.

Luckily, this recipe is so easy to customize!

  • For a basic granola recipe, just leave out all of the spices listed in the recipe. The maple syrup provides a bit of needed sweetness and warm flavor.
  • The maple syrup can be replaced with honey and the resulting granola will be a little sweeter and carry the honey flavor to your granola.
  • Switching up the types of nuts in your granola can bring a welcome change to your recipe if you get tired of pecans and pepitas. You can use walnuts, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or any other nut or seed that you like.
  • Adding dried fruit to the granola AFTER the granola has been baked and cooled is a great way to personalize the flavor! Dried cranberries, raisins, figs, and anything else you have on hand adds a sweet and chewy texture. My favorite mixture of fruit is dried pineapple and coconut!

Granola’s shelf-life

Even without the added preservatives that you will find in store-bought granola, granola has a long shelf-life.

If you store the granola in an airtight container, it will stay fresh for a month or longer.

The long shelf-life makes homemade granola a great gift! Put it in a pretty glass jar that seals tightly, tie on a ribbon and take care of everyone on your list!

Easy granola recipe

Serving your Easy Granola

There are endless possibilities for serving your granola. The favorite way to eat it in my house is sprinkle (aka PILE) the granola on top or some greek yogurt and add some chopped fruit.

We prefer peaches for as long as possible! Fresh peaches with this gingerbread granola is a special treat that I often eat for dessert!

You can, of course, just pour some milk over your granola and eat with a spoon. A delicious cereal for breakfast or snack time!

  • Sprinkle the granola on ice cream for dessert
  • Sprinkle on a baked apple
  • Add to applesauce for some crunch
  • Bake it into a quick bread
  • Sprinkle on top of sliced bananas
  • Munch on it dry as a healthy snack

How do you like to eat your granola? Let me know in the comments below!

Watch the video on how to make this easy granola recipe!

Gingerbread Granola

Recipe by Tanya Ott
Servings

25

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

50

minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

  • 1/2 cup pepitas

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1/2 cup canola or coconut oil

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup

  • 2 Tablespoons molasses

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 325F/162C.
  • In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, brown sugar and spices. Mix well to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the oil, water, maple syrup, molasses and vanilla. Whisk with a fork or small whisk until well combined. Pour over the dry ingredients. Stir well to combine.
  • Spread the granola on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper or a silpat sheet.
  • Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for an hour. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
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