Leaves are falling, harvest scents are diffusing and this Easy Pumpkin Spice Granola is baking… or at least it should be in your oven!
Warm spices, maple sweetness, crunchy nuts and hearty oats make this granola the perfect yogurt topping or by-the-handful snack. And this one is simple to make, using only a few handfuls of pantry and fridge staples.
My family enjoys eating granola most weekday mornings on top of a big bowl of plain whole fat greek yogurt and berries. This breakfast fills them up and supplies them with energy and brain power all morning long (I usually turn yogurt into an afternoon snack!). But recently I decided to add a little extra spice and flare to my usual batch of granola. This Easy Pumpkin Spice Granola recipe has received a two thumbs up from my kiddos, along with some of my ‘mom friend recipe testers.’
For myself and so many of my friends we want easy recipes that taste great, are easy on the budget and are full of great nutrition.
This Easy Pumpkin Spice Granola has some pretty impressive nutrition perks with 3 grams of fiber, only 5 grams of added sugar (much less than most brands!), 4 grams of protein and is full of healthy fats from the nuts and seeds. But, there is even more…
Some Sweet & Crunchy Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin Seeds are rich in magnesium, a nutrient many people don’t get enough of in their diet. Magnesium is involved in blood sugar control, muscle contraction and relaxation, blood pressure regulation, nerve function and bone formation. Interestingly, some research indicates that people experiencing migraine have low levels of magnesium compared to those who do not. For this reason, magnesium is a prevention and treatment option for those living with migraine. Magnesium is also involved in healthy brain function and may help reduce or manage stress and anxiety. A 1-ounce serving of pumpkin seeds (the equivalent of 2 tbsp) has 37% of your daily magnesium needs!
Old Fashioned Oats have beta glucans, a specific type of fiber that has been shown to have benefits with lowering cholesterol, improving heart health, lowering blood glucose and supporting healthy immune function.
Maple Syrup has a lower glycemic value (54) per serving compared to granulated sugar (65), honey (58). Interestingly, one Canadian study indicated that maple syrup has 24 different antioxidants. It also happens to boast amazing flavor! Whenever possible, choose grade B which is darker in color and thus higher in nutrients.
Almonds boast ¾ of your daily needs for Vitamin E, an important antioxidant to fight off free radicals (which can damage cells). It also plays a role in cardiovascular and blood vessel health.
Chia Seeds are a good source of essential fatty acid ALA. These types of fats cannot be made by the body and must be consumed through food sources.
Avocado Oil is a neutral flavored oil that is rich in monounsaturated fats known to be heart healthy. In one small study, participants were given the same meal with either 25g of butter or avocado oil. Those consuming the avocado oil had lower LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose and inflammatory cytokines in their blood 4 hours post meal.
Raisins are rich in antioxidants, including phenolic compounds. These compounds are associated with benefits in cardiovascular health and specifically, preventing atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries.
Mixin’ It Up
This Easy Pumpkin Spice Granola is pretty perfect as is, but it’s also a flexible recipe that allows you to make swaps in and out based on what you love and what you have available. The key is keep the general quantities the same.
Here are a few swaps you could make to mix it up:
- Nuts & seeds- add pecans or flaxseed or walnuts
- Sweetener- try honey if you are out of maple syrup
- Extract- add an extra maple punch with maple extract instead of vanilla
- Oil- any type of neutral oil will do including canola or vegetable oil but I usually recommend cold pressed avocado oil as a high quality but neutral flavor cooking/baking oil.
- Dried Fruit- dried cranberries would be fantastic in this granola!
And because you can make this Easy Pumpkin Spice Granola your own, you can always amp up or reduce the pumpkin spice flavor. Add a little more for an extra robust flavor or add a little less if you want just a hint of pumpkin spice.
Happy munching!
Easy Pumpkin Spice Granola
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- ½ cup slivered almonds roasted, unsalted
- ¼ cup shelled pumpkin seeds roasted
- ¼ cup + 1 tbsp of maple syrup
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- ¼ cup raisins or dried cranberries
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp kosher salt*
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a small bowl combine the oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Combine oats, nuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin spice and salt in a separate bowl. Stir the liquids into the dry mixture and combine well making sure all the oats and nuts are coated. Spread the granola evenly on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir the granola mixture, add the coconut, and then pat back into an even layer. Return to the oven for an additional 12-15 minutes or until the granola is light golden brown on top. The granola will still look a little wet or moist but it will dry out as it cools.
- After removing the granola from the oven add the raisins (or your preferred dried fruit) to the top and lightly pat down. Allow to cool for 45-60 minutes.
- Once cooled, you can crumble or keep the granola in chunks. Store the granola in an airtight container (like a mason jar) at room temperature for up to 1-2 weeks.
Notes