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You’ll love the aroma of fall spices wafting through your kitchen as you bake this delicious Cinnamon Apple Granola. It’s filled with crunchy clusters, the flavors of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg, plus chewy dried apples and creamy white chocolate chips. With just a few minutes of prepping the ingredients and a half hour in the oven, it’s easy to make your own granola at home for an autumn breakfast or snack.
Why You’ll Love Cinnamon Apple Granola
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free option, Dairy-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
Everyone will come running to the kitchen as this Apple Cinnamon Granola bakes in the oven, releasing the warm smells of fall throughout your home. And just wait until you taste it. With the freshness of apple in every bite plus lots of autumn spices balanced out by the perfect hint of vanilla from a sprinkling of white chocolate chips, it evokes reminders of digging your spoon into a serving of apple crisp topped with a scoop of ice cream. Here’s why you have to make it…
- Nice and chunky. If you are like my boys and love lots of crunchy clusters in your granola, this is the recipe for you. It uses the same technique as my Maple Brown Sugar Granola Clusters, but with a few additions to give it that irresistible apple-cinnamon flavor.
- Easy to make gluten free. If you can tolerate oats, you can make this recipe with certified gluten free oats so you can enjoy gluten free granola, unlike may of the brands from the grocery store that add wheat products for binding or cross-contaminated oats.
- Incredibly versatile. From yogurt parfaits to adding crunch to a fall-inspired ice cream sundae, there are many ways to use this apple cinnamon granola. You can even package it up for gifts! Keep reading for tips and ideas.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a brief rundown of the ingredients to make this Apple Cinnamon Granola recipe. Keep reading for information and possible substitutions you can make, as well as plenty of tips. The full ingredient amounts and detailed instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Oil. Avocado oil is a neutral-tasting oil. You can also use canola oil or even melted coconut oil, though that does contribute a bit of a coconut flavor.
- Egg white. This is one of the key ingredients for forming yummy granola clusters. It helps to bind the ingredients together.
- Applesauce. This also helps to form the chunks while adding a hint more sweetness and apple flavor.
- Coconut sugar. An unrefined sweetener, but brown sugar works just as well.
- Kosher salt.
- Vanilla. I always recommend using a pure vanilla extract versus imitation for a richer flavor. If you are gluten free, be sure you use a vanilla extract that is gluten free, such as Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract.
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Warm spices add the quintessential fall flavors.
- Old fashioned oats. I do not recommend quick oats in granola, and if needed be sure to get certified gluten free oats.
- Ground flaxseed. This is a great way to sneak in some extra superfood goodness, like omega-3s.
- Walnuts. You can omit these to make it nut-free, or use another type of nuts such as pecans or cashews.
- Chopped dried apples. These are the chewy style of dehydrated apples, not the crispy freeze-dried ones, though really you could use either, or even my Air Fryer Apple Chips.
- White chocolate chips. These are optional, but I like the little creamy pockets they add. Feel free to omit them or substitute with vegan chips to make this recipe dairy free. Ghirardelli white chocolate chips are NOT gluten free, so I usually stick with Nestle White Chocolate Chips.
Tips for Success
Want to create those big, crunchy clusters just like you find in a bag of grocery store granola? Here are the things you need to remember.
- Line the pan. Since you are going to press down the granola to form chunks, you must be sure to line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet to prevent it from sticking.
- Don’t skip the egg whites. They may not be a common ingredient in granola, but it really helps bind the ingredients together.
- Press it down. Pressing the mixture into a single layer on the baking sheet and stirring gently only once will ensure you get those nice, crunchy clusters.
- Let it cool. You want to granola to be golden and dry but not burnt. You’ll let it cool on the pan to fully crisp up.
- Add the mix-ins. Do not add the dried apples or white chocolate chips until after rit is fully cooled or the apples will burn and the chips will melt.
- Store it properly. Be sure it is fully cool before transferring it to an airtight container so that it does not retain any moisture. The Cinnamon Apple Granola will keep at room temperature for up to several weeks.
- Give as gifts. Package in jars or cellophane bags and tie with a nice ribbon to give out to family, friends, teachers, and others as holiday gifts.
Make it a Meal
While it’s great to just grab a handful or enjoy from a bowl with a little milk, there are so many more ways to use this Cinnamon Apple Granola. Here are some serving suggestion.
- With yogurt. Sprinkling granola over yogurt is classic, but you can also turn it into fall-inspired Apple Yogurt Parfaits.
- On breakfast. Whether you made Gluten Free German Pancakes for a crowd or prepped chia pudding for a busy morning, a sprinkle of granola is a nice touch of crunch.
- For snacks. If you like to eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas, use this granola recipe when you make these Easy Banana Snacks. Or add it to your Ants on a Log like on this kids snack platter.
- Over creamy desserts. It’s always nice to add a little texture to something smooth like Pumpkin Pudding or Pumpkin Dip.
- Make sundaes. Scoop some Dulce de Leche Ice Cream over Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts with a drizzle of Dulce de Leche for an epic autumn treat.
More Homemade Granola Recipes
Cinnamon Apple Granola
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup avocado oil or canola, or melted coconut oil
- 1 large egg white
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed meal
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup chopped dried apples
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, egg white, apple sauce, sugar, vanilla, salt, and spice.
- In a large bowl, toss together the oats, flax seed meal, and walnuts.
- Pour the wet mixture over the oats mixture, and toss to combine.
- Spread granola on the prepared baking sheet, and spread into an even layer.
- Bake 350°F for 15 minutes. Stir gently, being careful not to break up large clumps.
- Bake for another 10-15 minutes, or until golden and dry. Cool on the baking sheet.
- Once completely cool, sprinkle the dried apples and white chocolate chips over the top and transfer to an airtight container.
- Then make this Apple Crisp Yogurt Parfait.
Notes
Did you make this?
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Holy yumminess!! This is basically like eating dessert for breakfast!! Checking out the recipe now!
Exactly!! Always a good thing!