This Homemade Apple Cinnamon Granolarecipe will make you want to hop out of bed in the morning! Pure maple syrup and brown sugar combine to lightly sweeten whole-rolled oats and get mixed together with apple chips, toasted pecans, and coconut flakes. Plus, a secret trick shows you how to get those big clusters of granola instead of tiny pieces!
Homemade Apple Cinnamon Granola Recipe
I know I’m not alone when I say granola is one of the BEST snacks. It’s full of good-for-you ingredients, it’s super portable, and it’s delicious.
And this recipe is one of my absolute favorites.
I found the secret to getting those big chunks of granola every time, thanks to thisHealthy Homemade Granola Recipe.
ThisApple Cinnamon Granolais full of those big chunks, but perfectly flavored with warm, fall spices. And it only needs a handful of ingredients.
I love to meal prep this ahead of time and have it ready for healthy snacks or breakfasts on the go! There are so many different ways to enjoy your own granola, too. Add some whole grain goodness to a Greek yogurt or a yogurt parfait, or eat it by the handful.
Table of Contents
- Homemade Apple Cinnamon Granola Recipe
- Ingredients
- How to Make Apple Cinnamon Granola
- Is granola good for you?
- FAQs
- Recipe Tips
- More Oat and Granola Recipes
- Homemade Apple Cinnamon Granola
Ingredients
- Old-fashioned rolled oats.If needed, look for certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola. Avoid quick oats or steel-cut oats, as you won’t get that traditional texture.
- Sweetener. A combination of pure maple syrup and brown sugar is needed to create a rich and slightly sticky base that holds the granola together. Coconut sugar can be substituted for the brown sugar, if needed.
- Olive oil.It might sound surprising, but this ingredient adds a unique flavor.
- Apples.You’ll want to cut dried apples into bite-sized pieces. Be sure to get dried fruit, as fresh apples have too much moisture that will affect the granola texture.
- Mix-ins.While this recipe calls for cinnamon, raw pecans, coconut flakes, and dried cranberries, you can add other spices, nuts, and dried fruit if you like.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Granola
Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.
1. Make the Syrup Base
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Start by adding the oil, maple syrup, and brown sugar to a small or medium-sized skillet or saucepan, then warm it up over medium heat.
Cook the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes, just until it starts to boil. Then, reduce the heat to low and let it cook for another minute. Remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and sea salt.
2. Add the Mix-ins
Pour the oats into a large mixing bowl, then carefully pour the sauce over them. Toss gently to fully coat.
Stir in the dried apples, coconut flakes, and pecans. Be sure all of the ingredients are mixed as evenly as possible.
3. Bake in the Oven
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a spatula to spread the granola mixture across the pan as evenly as possible.
Bake in the 350℉ preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes. The granola should turn golden brown. Remove the baking tray from the oven and let it cool to room temperature.
4. Break into Pieces
This is the most important step! Be sure NOT to disturb the granola until it’s completely cool. Otherwise, you won’t get those big, beautiful pieces of granola.
Use your hands to break the granola into big chunks, then stir in the dried cranberries. Store the cinnamon apple granola in an airtight container on the counter.
Is granola good for you?
Generally, granola is considered healthy, as it contains a good amount of fiber from the oats along with healthy fats and antioxidants. However, be careful of added sugar! Store-bought granola generally has quite a bit of it.
FAQs
What is granola?
Granola is a baked mixture of oats, nuts, seeds, and/or dried fruits. Cooking it results in a crunchy texture. It’s perfect as a snack or even for breakfast over yogurt.
Recipe Tips
- Make it work.You can swap out the pecans for walnuts or almonds.
- Cut it out.Coconut sugar can be used instead of brown sugar for a completely refined sugar-free granola.
- Reduce and enjoy.Additional nuts and coconut can be used in place of the cranberries to decrease the overall sugar content.
- Be patient.Do NOT stir the granola while baking or cooling for big clusters.
More Oat and Granola Recipes
Oats are such a satisfying part of SO many recipes—and healthy, too! Give these a try next:
- How to Make Overnight Oats
- No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
- Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Baked Oatmeal with Berries
- Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
- No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Tap stars to rate!
5 from 4 votes
Homemade Apple Cinnamon Granola
This Homemade Apple Cinnamon Granolarecipe will make you want to hop out of bed in the morning! Pure maple syrup and brown sugar combine to lightly sweeten whole-rolled oats and get mixed together with apple chips, toasted pecans, and coconut flakes.
Yield 20 servings
Prep 7 minutes mins
Cook 23 minutes mins
Total 30 minutes mins
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Ingredients
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ Tbsp. brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats gluten-free if needed
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¾ cup dried apples cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¾ cup pecans raw, pieces
- ½ cup coconut large flakes
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Make the Base: Add oil, syrup, and sugar to a small to medium-sized skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture starts to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring for an additional minute. Remove from the heat and mix in the cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
⅓ cup olive oil, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, ¼ Tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. vanilla, ¼ tsp. salt
Mix with Oats: Pour the sauce over the oats in a large bowl and toss to coat. Add dried apples, coconut flakes, and pecans.Stir until well combined.
2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats, ¾ cup dried apples, ¾ cup pecans, ½ cup coconut, ½ cup dried cranberries
Bake the Granola: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.Spread granola mixture evenly into the pan. Bake granola in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and let sit until it reaches room temperature.
Break Into Pieces: Once it is completely cooled, break apart the granola into large pieces and mix in the dried cranberries.Enjoy!
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!
Tap stars to rate!
5 from 4 votes
Notes
Prep-Ahead Instructions
Granola can easily last for a few weeks, so the entire recipe can be made days early.
Storage Directions
Keep granola in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks at room temperature. Freezing is not recommended as it will affect the taste and texture.
Recipe Tips
- Make it work.You can swap out the pecans for walnuts or almonds.
- Cut it out.Coconut sugar can be used instead of brown sugar for a completely refined sugar-free granola.
- Reduce and enjoy.Additional nuts and coconut can be used in place of the cranberries to decrease the overall sugar content.
- Be patient.Do NOT stir the granola while baking or cooling for the best results.
Nutrition
Calories: 137kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 28mg, Potassium: 89mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 3IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Categorized as:
, Back-to-School Recipes, Breakfast, Christmas Recipes, Dairy-Free, Desserts, Finger Foods, Gluten-Free, , Random Treats, Recipes, Refined Sugar-Free, Soy-Free, Thanksgiving Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian
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