This sweet and spicy gingerbread granola will put you in the holiday spirit. The pecans, cashews and pepitas create the perfect granola clusters.
Do you have that one thing, that when you go clothes shopping, no matter how many you already have, you always gravitate towards more? For me it was always hoodies and now it’s basically any kind of work out clothes #RealClothesAreForSquares.
I’m that way in my kitchen too. Whether I’m buying it or making it, I just can’t seem to have enough granola. You’d think we were living in the great granola shortage of ’15 and I was some crazed woman trying to stash away my ‘nola. But no. No shortage. The crazed woman part might be true though.
At any given moment I have at least 2 or 3 different types of granolas a-flowin. Some of my favorite brands include: Purely Elizabeth, Oat My Goodness, My Favorite Indulgence, & Nature’s Path. My main granola requirement is that there must be epic clusters. Nothing makes me sadder than a bag of crushed granola.
Not to toot my own, but I think I make the best damn granola on the block. This gingerbread variation is a twist on a recipe I’ve been perfecting over the years. In my experience of striving for the perfect clusters, your dry ingredients should always include some chunky nuts, like pecans, cashews, walnuts and some tasty seeds like pepitas, and sunflower seeds. To create that sweet crunchy awesomeness I like to use coconut oil, honey (or maple syrup) and a little bit of nut butter.
I might just be making this holiday version all year-round. The sweet mellow molasses paired with spicy ginger and the pumpkin pie spices just cannot be beat. In fact I’m considering making big ‘ol batches for holiday gifts for friends and family because the world needs this granola in their life. Look under your tree…. YOU GET GRANOLA AND YOU GET GRANOLA. Sorry to ruin the surprise if any of my family are reading this…
[Tweet “My gra-no-la don’t want none unless you got clusters hun. Gotta make this Gingerbread Granola “]
I will warn you though, If you don’t want your house to smell like a magical gingerbread wonderland, I would caution against making this scrumptious granola. If that does sound like your jam, than whip out your mixing bowls and get you some oats and nuts…. ‘cuz it’s granola time.
- 2 1/2 cups of old fashion oats
- 3/4 cups of pecan halves
- 3/4 cups of shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup of raw unsalted cashews
- 1 tsp of cinnamon
- 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp of ground ginger
- 1/4 cup of honey (sub agave if vegan)
- 1/3 cup of creamy almond butter
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil, melted
- 2 tbsp of molasses
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 350ºF
- In a large bowl combine dry ingredients (oats, pecans, coconut, sunflower seeds, cashews, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice & ginger)
- Mix together until well combined
- In a small bowl heat coconut oil so it is liquid (about 30 seconds)
- In a medium size bowl combine melted coconut oil with honey, almond butter, molasses and vanilla extract – whisk or mix with fork until liquid mixture is well combined
- Pour wet mixture over dry mixture, mixing slowly until all dry ingredients are evenly coated
- Pour granola onto large (greased) baking tray and spread out evenly
- Bake for 15 minutes, take out of the oven, stir granola, put back in the oven
- Check every 10 minutes until lightly brown (35-40 mins total)
Your Turn:
- What’s one product (clothes/food or both) you always buy when you’re shopping, even if you’ve already got it
Yay for the start of gingerbread season!! Im loving the huge clusters!
Huzzah! The most wonderful flavor of the year
I really enjoy a good hip-hop pun so thank you for making me look cool on Twitter. PS: making this for my fam! Gorgeous!
Haha gotta make it a lil sassy 😉
I would be MORE than happy to open a present of granola for Christmas…make it GF for me 😉 Oh and always workout clothes, even though I can’t workout now. I still wear them 24/7
Done and done! Oh yeah 75% I’m wearing workout clothes it’s just because they’re so damn comfy… and nicer than my real clothes lol
I pretty much own either work clothes or workout clothes. No real pants.
Luckily my work is super casual so I never really got adult clothes. I keep telling myself “oh yeah when you find that pile of money you can buy real clothes” and it hasn’t happened yet 😉
Granola twins!
Not having granola in the house is a tragedy (and must never happen)! I love gifting it too though! So much love…and yumminess!
We must have been picking up the same granola vibes! <3
Yessssss gingerbread time!!!!
Well since I’m in college and I’m Greek, I seem to amass waaaaay more t-shirts than I have room for. Oops
Haha college struggles! Free tshirts and free pizza everywhere. Everywhere.
Clusters are a MUST…I mean what is the point in buying granola if there are no clusters…The bigger the better!
Right?! My thoughts exactly
There’s no way I’m NOT trying this!…as soon as I get molasses haha
Haha you better stock up cuz it’s gonna be a gingerbready couple of weeks 😉 <3
This looks HEAVENLY!
Thanks Sara! Granola is my faaaav
Hey Georgie – YOU had me at granola! Oh yum – this sounds incredibly scrumptious. In a free moment I must try your recipe. Thanks a bunch for the sweet shout-out too!!!