This Crunchy Fall Spiced Granola is filled with all your favorite fall flavors and is made with healthy ingredients like rolled oats, quinoa, apples, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Enjoy this easy, healthy and homemade spiced granola for breakfast, dessert, or as a festive grab and go snack.
Crunchy Fall Spiced Granola Recipe
Granola has always been a huge favorite of mine. Served with yogurt, milk, ice cream or just plain and by the handful, I have granola to thank for surviving the newborn weeks after my son was born (it’s the perfect snack solution when you only have one hand available for eating). Anyway, this (typically) sugar-packed breakfast food is loved by my whole family. It’s there for breakfast, snacks, desserts, or even dinners when the family is away and I just have myself to feed.
While I’ve always loved granola, my true obsession began when I was living in Germany. My host family always kept at least 3 varieties in the house, and, as the Au Pair I would do their grocery shopping, so I got to pick my favorites. Anyway, since most Germans eat a large lunch and a smaller dinner, I would always eat at least 1-2 (very big) bowls of granola for dinner (which is typically my preferred big meal).
You guys, I was literally addicted to German granola.
Upon returning home 6 months later, I learned that this granola I thought to be “healthy” was actually not healthy at all (I couldn’t read the labels on the box, since, you know, I only spoke English). Anyway, turns out that it wasn’t just the beer, wine, sausage, and cheese that helped me gain 10 pounds in 6 months, but actually the GRANOLA!
Long story (somewhat) short, it was time to make my own homemade granola. First I made this Naturally Sweetened Oat Granola and then I made this festive and fun crunchy fall spiced granola recipe. Less sugar, super easy, and completely customizable.
How to make Spiced Granola
Here’s how to make this yummy, warming spiced granola with pumpkin and apples,
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, cooked quinoa, chopped pecans, walnuts, pepitas, dried cranberries, golden raisins, and chopped apples. Toss everything together and mix well. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Brown the butter until small caramel-colored specks appear in the bottom of the pan. Whisk the browned specks from the bottom of the pan and immediately remove from heat. Allow the butter to rest for 1 minute before whisking in the maple syrup, brown sugar and pumpkin puree.
- Add the spices. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt to the pot and whisk well to combine. Finally, stir in the vanilla.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Slowly pour the sweet maple syrup mixture over the dry ingredients and thoroughly mix to combine.
- Spread the mixed granola over the two lined baking sheets and sprinkle with uncooked quinoa. Drizzle with approximately 1 tablespoon of honey per sheet.
- Transfer baking sheets to the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Remove your granola from the oven and allow to cool completely before storing. Store your leftover granola in an airtight container for up to one week in the refrigerator.
How to serve fall spiced granola
There are many excellent ways to enjoy this homemade granola. Of course, a bowl filled with milk is my go-to for breakfast. Sometimes I’ll add pomegranate arils or sliced banana for a little added extra sweetness. If you hate milk, yogurt is a great alternative.
Looking for something a little sweeter? This spiced granola recipe really loves ice cream. It’s like pie, but healthier.
More great ways to enjoy this recipe include:
- Dip apple slices in peanut or almond butter and then dip in your granola. One of my favorite post-workout snacks.
- Sprinkled over smoothie bowls (like this acai bowl or Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie).
- Add it to hot oatmeal for a crunchy sweet surprise.
More breakfast recipes,
- Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe
- Buckwheat Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl
- Easy Naturally Sweetened Oat Granola
- Overnight Oats Recipe (How to Make Overnight Oats)
If you try making these Crunchy Fall Spiced Granola Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
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Crunchy Fall Spiced Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup pepitas
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup golden raisins (or regular raisins)
- 3 apples (cored and chopped)
- 5 tbsp butter (divided)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp uncooked quinoa
- honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, cooked quinoa, chopped pecans, walnuts, pepitas, dried cranberries, golden raisins and chopped apples. Toss well and set aside.
- Add the butter to a small sauce pot set over medium heat. Melt and heat the butter until just browned. Whisk the browned specks off the bottom of the pot and immediately remove from heat. Allow the butter to rest for 1 minute before slowly adding the maple syrup, brown sugar and pumpkin puree.
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt to the pot and whisk well to combine. Finally, stir in the vanilla.
- Slowly pour the sweet maple syrup mixture over the dry ingredients and thoroughly mix to combine.
- Spread the mixed granola over the two lined baking sheets and sprinkle with uncooked quinoa. Drizzle with approximately 1 tablespoon of honey per sheet.
- Transfer baking sheets to the oven and bake for 45-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to insure even cooking.
- Remove granola from the oven and allow to cool completely before storing. Stores well in an airtight container for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Jessica's Notes
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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