With Halloween Candy around every office corner, I thought it might be a good time to bring in a bit of a healthier recipe this pumpkin-spice season. Though I must warn you, this Cranberry Walnut Granola might be more addicting than mini Reese’s cups. This home baked treat is bursting with the healthy fall flavors of rolled oats, walnuts, maple syrup, coconut, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries. It pairs perfectly with yogurt for breakfast, over ice cream for a late night treat, or my personal favorite, straight from the bag by the spoonful to my face. It’s really just that dang good.
This granola recipe is unreal. I have a solid base recipe that I’ve been modifying with different flavors. Last fall I made Pumpkin Spice Granola, and then this Snickerdoodle Almond Butter Granola, and most recently this summer I made Blueberry Pecan Granola. Every version has the same base with rolled oats, brown sugar, maple syrup and olive oil, and then I just modify the nuts, fruit, seeds and whatever else I feel like throwing in there.
And every time, it is just so dang good. My mom affectionately dubbed this “crackola” because once you start snacking on it, it’s so addicting you won’t stop until the batch is gone. Speaking of my mom, this recipe is also naturally gluten free, so celiacs rejoice! Most gluten-free health food tastes like cardboard and styrofoam had a baby and called it gluten free, but this granola is on the total opposite side of the delicious food spectrum.
There are two things that I absolutely love the taste + smell of toasted: walnuts and coconut. And this granola has both. Especially with the maple syrup and brown sugar, it’s like my Uncle Jimmy always says “forgetaboutit.” This is definitely forgetaboutit good.
I would keep a mason jar or zip-loc bag of this granola in my freezer if I could trust myself to not eat it all in one night, so instead I gave it to one of my friends in my apartment building to take as soon as I finished photographing the recipe. But if you’re unlike me and actually have self control, you can keep this longer in the fridge or put some in the freezer for safe keeping. So the next time you’re looking for a delicious fall breakfast or flavorful snack, bake up a batch of this super easy Cranberry Walnut Granola. Enjoy!
Yield: 5 Cups
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Total Time: 40 Minutes