Spiced Cranberry Granola

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This spiced cranberry granola recipe is a family favourite. Along with the oats I add nuts and seeds for crunch and texture. Cinnamon, ginger and a little vanilla flavour the granola, and I add dried cranberries once the granola mixture has cooled.

A bowl of Greek yogurt topped with spiced cranberry granola and passionfruit with a jar of granola set alongside.

I love granola, but always find store bought granolas to be lacking, and the good quality ones are often very expensive. By making my own granola I have total control over what I put in and how much sugar I add.

This is my daughter's favourite granola, made with her favourite nuts, almond and walnuts. She also loves the flavour of dried cranberries which have a sweet, slightly tart flavour. Cranberries add a nice chewy texture to balance with the crunchy nuts and seeds.

Table of Contents

Why you'll love this recipe

Refined sugar free as the granola is sweetened with a little honey and the dried cranberries.
Homemade granola is far less expensive to make than buying expensive store bought granola.
Feed a crowd as one batch of granola goes a long way.
With a few swaps this granola can be gluten free and vegan too.

Recipe ingredients

Oats - I use regular porridge oats (rolled oats) as the base for this granola recipe. Use gluten free oats if needed.
Nuts - I used flaked almonds and chopped walnuts in this recipe.
Seeds - sunflower and pumpkin seeds add great crunch and texture to the granola.
Oil - I used coconut oil to help bind the ingredients together but you can use any light flavoured oil.
Unrefined sugar - I use honey, but maple or agave syrup would work well too.
Spices - I used a combination of ground cinnamon and ginger.
Salt - I add a touch of salt to balance out the sweet flavors.
Vanilla - I use vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste as it has the best flavor.
Cranberry - I like stir through some dried cranberries once the granola has baked

How to make cranberry granola

A saucepan of melted coconut oil and honey.

Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°CFan/320°F. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment or a silicone baking mat.
Mix the oats, nuts and seeds together in a large bowl, and stir to combine.
In a small saucepan, add the coconut oil, honey, ground cinnamon, ginger, salt and vanilla. Warm slightly to allow the coconut oil to become liquid.

A bowl of dry granola ingredients with coconut oil and honey mixed through.

A lined baking sheet covered in granola mixture.

Pour the coconut oil and honey mixture over the dry oat mix. Stir together until fully incorporated and all the oats, nuts and seeds are covered evenly with the oil and honey mixture.
Pour the mixture onto the lined baking sheet and spread evenly across the sheet in a single layer.

A lined baking sheet with cooked and cooled granola with dried cranberries being stirred through.

Place the tray in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven, turn the oats over, to break the mixture up, then place the tray back in the oven for a further 15 minutes.
Remove the tray from the oven and set on a wire rack to allow the granola to cool on the tray, then stir through the dried cranberries.
Place the granola into an airtight container. Place in a cool dark place and store for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe variations

Nuts - You can use any combination of nut in this recipe, try whole almonds rather than flaked, walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, cashews, pecans or pistachios.
Seeds - I use a mix of sunflower and pumpkin seeds as I always have them in my stores and they add great crunch and texture. You could also use flaxseeds, chia seeds or a blend of mixed seeds.
Dried fruits - I've added dried cranberries, but you can use the dried fruits of choice. Try raisins, golden raisins, sultanas, goji berries, apricots, figs, dates or prunes. If adding larger dried fruits I recommend chopping them up first.
Spices - Adjust the spiced to suit your own tastes, you could also add a pinch of ground nutmeg, cloves or allspice.
Vegan - Make vegan granola by swapping the honey for maple syrup, or agave syrup.
Gluten free - For gluten free Christmas granola ensure you use gluten free porridge oats.

Serving suggestions

Keep things simple and enjoy a bowl of this delicious granola with ice cold milk, a perfect start to the day. However, I enjoy granola over Greek yogurt, along with some fruit. I've opted for passion fruit, but you could add berries or sliced fruits like mango, peaches or kiwi fruits.

Useful hints and tips

Line the baking tray with a silicone mat or baking parchment, this will stop the granola from sticking to the tray.
Stir the cranberries through once the granola is baked. If you add the cranberries earlier they will dry out too much and possibly catch and burn in the oven. By adding them at the end they retain their chew.
I recommend using 2 baking trays if you plan to make a double batch of granola. Two thinner layers of granola will crisp up better than one thick layer which you will need to bake for longer.
For vegan diners, swap honey for maple or agave syrup.
For coeliacs or gluten free diners, ensure you use gluten free porridge oats.
Allergy advice: dairy free, egg free, soya free and peanut free. For comprehensive and detailed allergy advice go to Allergy UK.

FAQs

Is homemade cranberry granola healthy?

Yes, my homemade granola is a healthier option than store bought which often contain high amounts of sugar. There is no refined sugars in my homemade granola, I use coconut oil and just a little honey to get all the ingredients to stick together. Whilst dry fruits like cranberries are high in sugar, I only add a little in moderation.

Is cranberry anti-inflammatory?

Yes, cranberries contain high levels of antioxidants like PAC's and other polyphenols which help reduce inflammation and regulate the immune system.

How to store cranberry granola?

To keep your homemade granola crunchy, store in an airtight container with a tight fitting lid which will keep any moisture out. It can be stored in a dry place on the counter top for up to 2 weeks.

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Additional recipe suggestions

If you like this recipe then try some of these easy breakfast recipes:

Find all my favourite breakfast and brunch recipes in once place in my Ultimate Guide to Brunch.