Pumpkin Spice Granola

This healthy and tasty granola is loaded with oats, quinoa, a variety of nuts and seeds and you guessed it – pumpkin pie spice!

So I wasn’t originally planning on sharing a post today, but circumstances gave me a reason to make this pumpkin spice granola. Like a ton of my recipes, this was adapted from Half Baked Harvest’s cookbook. Sadly our good friends, Kate and Brian, are moving out to California. It’s a funny story how we all became friends. My wife, Lauren is a Physical Therapist. It was almost two years ago when we moved into our new house and Lauren started her new job. I knew people from my work but otherwise we didn’t know anyone else. And for those of you adult age, you realize how hard it is to meet new people! Anyways, Kate was a patient of Lauren’s coworker. Kate and her husband, Brian had moved to Maryland a few months prior and just like Lauren was looking to meet people. So one day Kate told Lauren they were going to get a pedicure or manicure… I’m not sure which one. Anyway I remember when Lauren got home she came in with a big smile on her face saying I made a new friend! It’s the little things… haha.

So to the funny part of this story. Kate then went on Facebook and saw we had some mutual friends and then realized one of my friends, Poletick, was her best friend from high school. He also happened to be my roommate for two years in college. Keep in mind I’m from Florida, which obviously isn’t anywhere near Maryland. Oh and he was also at both of our weddings. It’s crazy how small of a world it can be. Long story short, we fast became friends. With them leaving, I said I’d make some dinner and we’d enjoy some wine because oh yeah the four of us all love wine! But Lauren and I also wanted to make some snacks for their road trip as they’re driving across country.

And that’s where this pumpkin spice granola comes in. We made it a year ago when my mom was in town but I neglected to take pictures. As I’m always in the lookout for anything new to post on the blog, I had to make sure I took pictures this time. If you’re like Lauren and just snack on granola all the time, this one might be gone in week’s time. And why did I share today? Well I need to make sure it’s out there before people’s obsession with pumpkin comes to a close in November. So go make it!

What Ingredients are in Pumpkin Spice Granola?

• Old-fashioned oats
• Quinoa
• Mixed raw nuts – almonds, cashews, pecans, pistachios
• Sweetened flaked coconut
• Pepitas
• Sesame seeds
• Maple syrup
• Coconut oil
• Vanilla extra
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Salt
• Dried cranberries

What if I Don’t Have Pumpkin Pie Spice?

You can actually make your own. Just use 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp ground clove and a 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg.

Other Granola Recipes:

• Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Granola
• Fruit and Nut Granola

5 from 1 vote

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Pumpkin Spice Granola

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

50 mins

Total Time

1 hr

 

This healthy and tasty pumpkin spice granola is loaded with oats, quinoa, a variety of nuts and seeds and you guessed it - pumpkin pie spice!

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Pumpkin Spice Granola

Servings: 24

Calories: 261 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup cooked quinoa (1/3 cup uncooked)
• 2 cups mixed raw nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans and pistachios)
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup raw pepitas
• 1/3 cup raw sesame seeds
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, toss together the oats, cooked quinoa, nuts coconut, pepitas and sesame seeds to combine.

2. In a small saucepan, heat the maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice and salt for 2-3 minutes until everything is melded together. Pour the mixture over the oats and toss for a couple of minutes to make sure everything is fully combined.

3. Spread the granola out in an even layer on baking sheet. Bake for 45-50 minutes, stirring 2-3 times, until the oats are starting to brown and smell toasted. Remove the granola from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Once slightly cooled, press the granola down to make a flat slab of granola and let cool for an hour.

4. Break the granola into clusters and stir in the dried cranberries. It can be stored for 1 month.