The Best Homemade Maple Cinnamon Granola Recipe
This is the best maple cinnamon granola recipe! Packed with warm spices, crunchy clusters, and the perfect touch of maple sweetness, it's an easy, delicious homemade treat for breakfast or snacking."
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Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/4 cup hemp seeds
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Generous sprinkle of Maldon Salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- ½ cup tart dried cherries
Instructions
- Thanks so much for stopping by! If you have questions about this recipe, I've tried to answer them all, so scroll on up for all my suggestions and tips. If you make this, I'd love if you'd leave a comment and rating.....both are a huge help to other hungry readers! Happy Cooking!
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Combine the oats, coconut, almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and hemp seeds in a large bowl. Mix until combined and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, maple syrup, olive oil, honey cinnamon, vanilla extract and apple pie spice. Whisk all the ingredients together until well combined. You should have a smooth, thick syrup like consistency.
- Pour the brown sugar mixture over the oat mixture and stir it all together. I find a spatula works better than a spoon, so you can get to the bottom of the mixture and really get it all combined.
- Spread the granola mixture on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30-45 minutes. While baking, stir with a wooden spoon every 5-10 minutes, so the granola mixture bakes evenly.
- The granola is done when it’s golden brown and toasty. Remove from oven and set the baking sheet on a rack to cool.
- When the granola is cool add the dried cherries and store in an airtight container in your pantry.
Notes
One of my absolute favorite places to source apple pie spice is from SpiceWalla. They have an enormous selection of high quality, ethically sourced spices and I highly recommend checking them out!
Serving Ideas
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- One of my favorite ways to enjoy this is in a bowl topped with greek yogurt (or your favorite yogurt) and fresh fruit.
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- Make yogurt parfaits and alternate a layer of yogurt with a layer of granola
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- Double or triple the batch to make as hostess gifts. Pour into small mason jars, tie with a ribbon and attach a thank you note the next time you go to a friend's house for dinner.
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- Mix in almond butter or your favorite nut butter for a tasty afternoon snack
Substitutions and Additions
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- OTHER NUTS: Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, cashews.....the skies the limit! I would recommend using whole nuts instead of silvered, to ensure the nuts don't burn.
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- Coconut Flakes - if you prefer larger bits of granola, add coconut flakes. But, and this is important, add them after the granola is fully baked, Because they are larger than shredded coconut, if you add them to the granola while it's baking you risk them burning before the granola is done.
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- Light Brown Sugar -- if you don't have dark brown sugar, light brown sugar will work. It will give a more subtle molasses flavor, but still be delicious.
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- Cardamom - A cozy, warm spice that pairs beautifully with cinnamon and lends a cozy flavor.
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- Nutmeg - If you're not ready to leave the warmth of the holidays behind, by all means add some freshly ground nutmeg. It's nutty, warming, spicy and a perfect winter spice to add to your granola.
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- Sunflower seeds - if you crave even more crunch, add some sunflower seeds
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- Dried fruit - cranberries, mango, pineapple, apple -- any dried fruit would work and add a delightful chewy texture.
Troubleshooting and Extra Tips
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- Creating clusters -- In my humble opinion, one of the best things about granola is the clusters. If you feel the same way, be sure to press down on the granola after each time you stir it while it's baking. Then gently press it down right when you take it out of the oven and put it on the cooling rack. As it cools, the clusters will form.
- Stir the ingredients completely before spreading the granola on the sheet pan. You want to be sure all the ingredients, especially the syrup, brown sugar, olive oil and honey, mix together completely. This ensures your granola will get golden brown all over, and every bite is crispy, crunchy and loaded with flavor.
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- Letting your homemade maple cinnamon granola cool is imperative if you want clusters. I know it's hard to wait....trust me!! But if you dig in too early, and your granola hasn't had a chance to cool, it won't have a chance to set which means you won't get those delectable clusters.
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- Don't raise your oven temperature -- Baking your granola at a low temperature is the way to go, or you risk burning your nuts and your granola. And you also don't want the natural sweeteners - the brown sugar, maple syrup, and honey -- to crystalize too early.