Pumpkin Spice Granola Recipe (2024)

Home All Recipes Breakfast and Brunch Pumpkin Spice Granola

By Jess Smith

4.5

Published Feb 11, 2013Updated Mar 29, 2023

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Pumpkin spice granola is made with simple pantry ingredients, and filled with toasted almonds, a touch of sweet honey, and bite-sized crunchy clusters. So easy to make, you’ll never buy granola again.

Have you ever had granola that’s so good you want to eat it by the handful? You know the kind, it has just the right amount of sweetness, saltiness, nuttiness, and crunchiness. This pumpkin spice granola recipe is exactly that kind of granola.

The crunchy granola clusters sweetened with honey, coconut flakes, and toasted almonds are so good you will want to use them as a yogurt or ice cream topper, a breakfast cereal, a packable treat for a school lunch, or just a quick on-the-go snack. Using just a few tablespoons of rich coconut oil in this recipe adds a hint of creamy coconut to the oat mixture, and helps bind everything together so you have perfectly sized, totally snackable clusters, without the oiliness of some recipes.

Adding your favorite mix-ins is easy, and allows you to create your favorite fruit, chocolate, nut, or spice flavored granola.

What Is Granola?

Granola is a classic breakfast food and snack made with a mixture of oats, nuts, fruits, spices, or seeds. The first version of this popular food was created by Dr. James Caleb Johnson at a health spa in New York in 1863. The original recipe was made only with crumbled and baked Graham flour, which is a type of coarse wheat flour. Dr. Johnson dubbed his creation ‘granula’.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that the recipe evolved to its current form, complete with oats, nuts, fruits, and other mix-ins. ‘Granula’ changed to ‘granola’, and the rest is history!

How to Make It

  1. Preheat the oven.
  2. Combine dry ingredients. Combine the oats, coconut flakes, and almonds.
  3. Mix liquid ingredients. In a separate small bowl, whisk the honey, coconut oil, sugar, almond extract, and salt.
  4. Combine the dry and liquid ingredients. Mix until small clumps form.
  5. Bake the granola. Spread the granola evenly on a baking sheet, and bake until light golden and fragrant, 20-22 minutes.
  6. Cool room to temperature.
Pumpkin Spice Granola Recipe (3)

Ingredients

  • Rolled Oats, Quick Cook Oats – Old fashioned rolled oats create a crunchy granola, while quick cook oats provide a little softness. Using both types of oats gives this recipe the perfect balance of crunchiness and chewiness.
  • Unsweetened Coconut Flakes – Unsweetened coconut flakes have a soft, almost buttery flavor, and a pleasant chewy texture. Coconut flakes are totally optional, but if you love coconut, you’ll want to add these flakes.
  • Slivered Toasted Almonds – Opt for toasted almonds, rather than raw almonds. Toasted almonds have a warm nutty flavor.
  • Honey – Honey is a natural sweetener, and its sticky-sweetness is perfect in this granola. If you’re out of honey, you can also use maple syrup.
  • Coconut Oil – Just a touch of coconut oil is all you need to form bite-sized granola clusters.
  • Light Brown Sugar – When light brown sugar is used in baked goods, it develops a molasses-like, caramel flavor.
  • Almond Extract – Almond extract has a slightly sweet flavor that compliments the other granola ingredients.
  • Kosher Salt – Basic pantry ingredient to bring the flavors together.
Pumpkin Spice Granola Recipe (4)

Tips

  • If the coconut oil is a little too thick when you try to combine it with the other liquid ingredients, warm it briefly in the microwave to make it more pourable.
  • Oven temperatures tend to vary, so keep an eye on the granola during the last few minutes of baking, and remove if it gets darker than a golden brown.
  • One of the best tricks for baking granola is to spread the oat mixture evenly across the entire baking sheet. This will give you perfectly baked, golden-brown granola that isn’t too dry.
  • Homemade granola makes a great gift for friends and family. Package pumpkin spice granola in a cute mason jar, attach a simple ribbon, and you’ve got an easy, thoughtful gift.

Variations

  • Make nut-free granola – If you have a nut allergy, or you’re just not a fan of nuts, you can omit the almonds for a nut-free granola.
  • Use some spice – Allspice, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and ginger add so much flavor.
  • Add more mix-ins – Dried fruits like apricots, cranberries, or sour cherries will make a fruit-flavored granola.
  • Make it sweet – For sweeter granola, add chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, or butterscotch chips. If you add a chocolatey mix-in, do so once the granola cools so all of that delicious chocolate doesn’t melt.
  • Swap nuts – Use toasted walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or cashews. Whatever nuts you have in your pantry will work.

How to store

Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze homemade granola for up to 3 months.

FAQs

How do you make granola without burning it?

The secret to making granola without burning it is to stir the granola halfway through baking. By stirring the oat mixture, you guarantee that no pieces get burned, and your granola stays nice and crunchy without getting too dry or too hard.

Why is granola so dry?

Granola can become dry if it doesn’t have a good binding ingredient mixed in, or if it’s cooked on a high temperature for too long. The rich coconut oil in this ginger granola recipe helps to keep the granola moist enough that it doesn’t dry out, but not so moist that it doesn’t achieve a perfectly crisp texture.

More Granola Recipes

  • Slow Cooker Granola
  • Nutella Granola
  • Stovetop Granola with Goji Berries
  • Cranberry Pecan Granola

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Pumpkin Spice Granola Recipe (7)

4.50 from 2 votes

Pumpkin Spice Granola Recipe

Pumpkin spice granola is made with simple pantry ingredients, and filled with toasted almonds, a touch of sweet honey, and bite-sized crunchy clusters. So easy to make, you’ll never buy granola again.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Servings: 10

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowls

  • Half Sheet Pan

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup quick cook oats
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 cup slivered toasted almonds
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, quick-cook oats, coconut flakes, and almonds.

  • In a separate small bowl, whisk together the honey, coconut oil (warm it briefly in the microwave if it is not pourable), light brown sugar, almond extract, and salt.

  • Pour the liquids over the dry ingredients. Mix together until it comes together in small clumps.

  • Spread the granola out on the parchment. Bake, stirring halfway through, until light golden and fragrant, 20-22 minutes. Watch the granola carefully in the last few minutes of baking and remove if it gets darker than a golden brown.

  • Allow to cool completely at room temperature. (The granola will be soft when it comes out of the oven but will crisp as it cools.)

  • Once cooled, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $6.00

Calories: 133

Keyword: easy breakfast recipe, easy snack, gluten free, granola, vegetarian

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Categorized as:
All Recipes, Breakfast and Brunch

About Jess Smith

Jess is the recipe creator and photographer at InquiringChef.com. She spent nearly a decade as the Chief Recipe Developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Her colorful, healthyish recipes have been featured in popular online publications including Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost.

Read More About Me

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Pumpkin Spice Granola Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are homemade granola not crunchy? ›

Baking time: Increase the baking time for your granola. The longer you bake it, the drier and crunchier it will become. Keep a close eye on it to avoid burning, and stir it occasionally during baking to ensure even toasting.

What ingredient makes granola stick together? ›

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

What is the binder in granola? ›

The binder is what helps the base ingredients clump together into clusters. Traditionally this is usually a sugar syrup, but it's possible to use any ingredient that has the power to bind. Egg - Egg whites are a great binder for granola if you are trying to avoid sugar.

How do you make granola taste better? ›

Use yogurt and cream cheese as your base, then add fruit like kiwi, banana, orange and frozen berries. A bit of honey and cinnamon rounds out the flavors and excites the taste buds! If you're in a hurry, you can also try this Maple Sea Salt Granola Parfait, which calls for just two ingredients!

What ingredients should you avoid in granola? ›

Check the ingredient list, avoiding products that list sugar or sweeteners —including natural sweeteners like honey — within the first few ingredients. Instead, the first few ingredients should be whole foods, such as oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. You may also want to look for varieties high in protein and fiber.

What was the downside to granola as a food? ›

On the downside, granola can be high in added sugars, hidden calories, and saturated fat, making some options less healthy.

What is granola with a hint of cinnamon? ›

Kellogg's® Granola Crunchy. Indulge with the delicious Kellogg's® Granola Crunchy. It is the perfect combination of rolled oat clusters with shredded coconut and a hint of cinnamon.

How can I get my homemade granola to clump? ›

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Egg White

The egg white is whisked until frothy (20 to 30 seconds will do it), then stirred into the oat mixture. The idea is that the egg's protein will help the oats bind to each other and create delicate clusters.

How do you keep homemade granola crispy? ›

Whether it's homemade or store-bought, properly storing granola will help extend the shelf life and maintain crunchiness. Store granola in an airtight container or tightly sealed zip-top bag in a dry, dark place away from heat.

What does granola do to your digestive system? ›

Granola is almost unrivaled as a digestive aid. It is popular among people who want to increase their fiber intake because it contains soluble and insoluble fiber. Dietary fiber is an essential part of anyone's diet because it regulates digestion.

Why does my granola taste bitter? ›

Spoiled granola is usually recognizable by a change in smell and taste. If you notice an off smell - something musty, sour, or just not quite right, it's best to toss it. The taste will also be noticeably different, often becoming bitter.

Why do my homemade granola bars fall apart? ›

If your granola bars are falling apart or seem too crumbly, here are a few tips. Make sure you use honey or another sticky sweetener such as maple syrup in the liquid part of the recipe; this recipe calls for honey. This will help bind together the ingredients and keep that signature bar shape.

Is granola better with milk or yogurt? ›

The best blend is Greek yogurt with granola, which is high in protein and fiber.

Why does my granola taste fishy? ›

The oxidation products have strong rancid off-flavors including the typical “fishy note”, and the oxidized oil has a reduced nutritional value.

Why does my granola taste burnt? ›

Higher temperatures can cause ingredients like nuts, seeds, and coconut to burn before the batch has a chance to properly dry out and crisp up, Perry says. Stick with a low temperature, keep an eye on your mixture, and stir it from time to time to help it brown evenly.

How do you make homemade granola crisp? ›

Not only can you transform that soggy, chewy granola back to being blissfully crunchy, but it's easier than you might think. All it takes is spreading the granola in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and heating it in a 400 degree oven for five minutes — essentially re-baking it.

Why is my granola still soft? ›

I aim to let it hit room temperature, whatever that may be; the real point is to give it ample time to shed excess heat and steam. This should take about 45 minutes; if left out indefinitely, the granola can turn sticky or soft, so do try to put it away as soon after cooling as you can.

Why is my homemade granola dry? ›

You need fat. If you're not using some type of fat to make granola, you're going to have a pile of dry oats. We use olive oil at Marge, and it gives the granola a toasty quality I really love.

Does homemade granola harden as it cools? ›

NOTE: The granola will clump and harden while cooling - not during baking. Allow to cool before stirring in the raisins, cranberries, or craisins. If stored in an airtight container, your granola could last for 2 weeks.

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