Gingerbread Granola
Forget the stovetop simmering spices and air fresheners. I’m turning my house into a magical, holiday-scented wonderland by baking continual batches of Gingerbread Granola.
The aromas of ginger, molasses, maple syrup, and toasting nuts that fill the kitchen as the granola bakes are positively intoxicating. I now see why the witch tempted Hansel and Gretel with a house made of gingerbread, versus any other cookie. I nearly burned my second batch, purely because I didn’t want the smell to end.
With the help of a prolific supply of Bed Bath and Beyond coupons, I secured a bargain-priced, powerful gingerbread-scented candle, which fulfills my apparent need to smell gingerbread baking at all hours and should prevent a granola-induced oven fire. It also has the side effect of causing me to crave Gingerbread Granola whenever it is lit (all the time).
I’m viewing this side effect as a positive, because the sooner we run out of granola, the sooner I have an excuse to bake another batch and transform our kitchen into an enchanted gingerbread bakery once more.
As much as I love homemade granola, I’m sometimes tempted to purchase it from the grocery store. Store-bought granola is alluring. It’s in sleek packaging, usually has a hipster brand name, and makes me feel athletic in the checkout line. It’s also expensive and often loaded with sugars and unhealthy oils. Making it at home is ridiculously easy, less expensive, and because you can control the ingredients, much better for you too.
In addition to being addictive in the best possible way, Gingerbread Granola is truly healthy. It’s whole grain, naturally sweetened, gluten free and vegan too. The base of the granola is a power mix of oats, flaxseeds, and millet, an inexpensive, fiber-rich whole grain that adds killer crunch (if you don’t have access to millet, you can swap uncooked quinoa or additional oats). For gingerbread flavor, I used a trio of warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, and cloves), deep dark molasses, and candied ginger. To bind and sweeten the granola, I used a touch of pure maple syrup and coconut oil.
Because I’m of the opinion that granola should be super-chunked with nuts, this granola recipe is packed with three that are especially festive with the gingerbread theme—pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts—but feel free to use any kind of raw nuts you enjoy or have on hand.
Holiday spiced, irresistibly crunchy, and healthy, Gingerbread Granola is perfect for lazy weekends, rushed Monday mornings, or “Hey, I’m within 10-feet of the kitchen, so clearly I need a snack” situations. Make a batch for you, one for a friend, and one for Santa.
Then, make a fourth batch just so you can smell it bake one more time. After all, this is the perfect time of year to live in a gingerbread (granola) house.
Gingerbread Granola
Ingredients
For the Granola:
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup uncooked millet — or uncooked quinoa, or substitute additional rolled oats
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed — or substitute rolled oats
- 3/4 cup raw nuts — (I used a mix of almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil — or olive oil
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Mix-ins:
- 1/4 cup chopped candied ginger
- 1/4 cup golden raisins — dried cranberries, or diced dried apricots
Instructions
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Place rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat.
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In a large mixing bowl, stir together the oats, millet, flaxseed, nuts, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Drizzle the coconut oil, maple syrup, molasses, and vanilla over the oat mixture, then stir until well combined and evenly moistened.
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Spread the granola in an even later on the prepared baking sheet, then use the back of a spatula or your fingers to press it into a flat, even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, remove from oven, stir in the candied ginger and golden raisins, then press back into a flat layer. Bake 10 additional minutes, until golden and fragrant (the granola will still be a little moist). Remove from oven and let cool completely. The granola will continue to crisp and dry as it cools.
Recipe Notes
Did you try this recipe? I want to see! Follow Well Plated on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag it #wellplated. I love to know what you are making!
More healthy homemade granola and gingerbread recipes:
- Pumpkin Spice Granola
- Chocolate Almond Olive Oil Granola
- Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Gingerbread Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
About Erin Clarke
I’m fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food taste incredible. Wearer of plaid, travel enthusiast, and firmly convinced that sweets and veggies both deserve a place at the table. MORE ABOUT ERIN…
I had a good laugh about the prolific bed, bath and beyond coupons! So true. I have a giant stack of them. AND since they seem to accept coupons that are long expired, I never throw them away! This granola looks amazing. I want gingerbread flavor in everything right now!
This looks amazing–all of the gingerbread recipes out there right now are actually torturing me because I haven’t managed to find molasses in France yet…but I’m not giving up!
Jess, I admire your resolve! If you can’t find it, please console yourself with a buche de noel on my behalf;-)
We are traveling this week and I think I just found the perfect road trip snack. IT’S THIS (in case that wasn’t obvious).
Oh heavens – I want my house to smell like a magical, holiday-scented wonderland so I better get to baking me some of this heavenly scented granola – though your forgot to include tips on how to exercise portion control!!!!! :)
I was just thinking…I can’t believe I haven’t made anything with gingerbread yet this year. Can’t even…that needs to change now.
Thanks for reading my mind girlie! Looks like amazing breakfast now!
The flax seed and millet make this unique and healthy while the candied ginger and array of spices make it totally holiday appropriate! I like that this is a healthy way for me to get that traditional gingerbread flavor!
You have the whole idea Trish! Thanks so much :-)
What a brilliant idea!! I’m sure this would be perfect on my morning yogurt or sprinkled on top of pumpkin pancakes. Just sayin. xoxo
Whoo-hoo!!! Totally making this for our road trip back to ICT!!!
This looks so good! I have everything on hand except for molasses so I’m off to the store! Will have this mixed into my oatmeal…and maybe a few chocolate chips too…
Yay Ann! I hope you absolutely love it, and chocolate chips would be just fantastic. Enjoy :)
My sister and I love making homemade granola. And I mean, if it makes your house smell amazing, it’s a two-fer. And don’t give in to the granola at grocery stores– it’s absolutely loaded with sugar, too! No need, no need.
Homemade granola is the best! I need to make a batch of this asap!
I have such a love affair with granola and would MUCH rather smell up my house with deliciousness than cheating methods… aaaand pecans, almonds,and hazelnuts are definitely my favorite granola-nut combination. So basically you’re my Monday-hero :)
I am always hypnotized by all the fancy granola packages at the store and their oh so fancy names! And I just made a batch of granola this morning…but this gingerbread is next up!
I was so excited to see this recipe this morning – still can’t get enough of the gingerbread!! I’ve pinned this granola and will be trying it this week!
I’m a huge fan of putting granola in my yogurt for breakfast, and I SO have to try this gingerbread granola!! It looks so amazing!! :)
Once you granola, there is just no going back! Thanks Christina :-)
Oh wow! This look completely amazing! Perfect for breakfast everyday from now until Christmas!
YES Tori!! I might even be ambitious and go for twice a day, hehe.
this is how i’d like to spend next saturday – both baking and eating these granola.
BRILLIANT plan! I like where your weekend is headed :-)
I’m with you on nutty granolas–I just want more nutty chunks in my granola! I could eat this by the handful!
We’re hosting our annual Christmas party this weekend, and this would be a fun treat! YUMMM
I’ve never done Gingerbread granola and I should definitely change it., because is looks very tasty:)
This looks fantastic! I plan to make this once I get to my parents’ house – they make their own granola all the time and I’m sure they’ll love this holiday version :) Thanks for the recipe!
Mmm! I love anything gingerbread, and your granola looks perfect! Would love a big bowl right now.
I need this in my life NOW! But I’m in a hotel room now, so it will have to wait till the end of this week. Sigh…
I love that you used all different kinds of nuts here. I can imagine this making my entire apartment smell super Christmas-y!
This looks like a granola I can seriously get on board with! Love all the flavors you have in here and I wish there was a way to smell it through the computer…I can only imagine how amazing your house smelled :)
Oooh, I am ALL over this! I want my house to smell like this forever.
Oooo yum!!
I’m a huge fan of making my own granola, but haven’t done so in so long!! Definitely need to get back to it and make this delicious recipe!!! So perfect for the holidays!
{Teffy’s Perks} X
I can just smell this already! My homemade granola stash from my Mom at Thanksgiving just ran out. Guess this is up next! :)
I’ve never made homemade granola — what’s wrong with me? I’m totally missing out, I want my house to smell like a winter wonderland!
I love everything gingerbread! This granola wouldn’t last 5 minutes in my house : ) YUM!
I love reading the little narratives that accompany each of your recipes! Thanks for the chuckles, and the festive recipe! :D I’ve never made granola, but I am totally all about making stuff from scratch to save money and eat tastier, healthier, more high-quality food. ^_^b Thanks for the inspiration! :D
Angie, thank you so much for your sweet comment, and you should absolutely make your own granola! It’s so easy, and if you like making things from scratch, you’d be all over it :)
Bed, Bath and..coupons are quite something. if one doesn’t work, there are many more :).
Love ginger based flavors and this is so perfect for the holidays! And I love that the granola is a healthier version than a cookie.
Thanks for sharing, Erin…
So true about the coupons! I think I have about six in my car right now. Thanks so much for your kind words and have a very happy holiday!
I need that candle!! Seriously. I’m baking anything and everything I can that’s gingerbread-flavored… Scones, muffins, loaves, cookies, you name it! And now I’m craving granola. I love how healthy and delicious yours looks! Pinned!
This granola sounds a-mazing! I love gingerbread this time of year and can’t wait to try this combo!
Oh man.. this granola has all of my favorite granola things! I love the gingerbread spices, too (I recently completed my first gingerbread house, and yes, the smell was almost too much to handle). I wish I’d had a batch of this granola on hand to keep me from snacking on spare house pieces!
mmmmm…..This granola looks delicious and would go great in some oatmeal or vanilla yogurt.
Hello Erin, this looks amazing! I have though a question: can Molasses be replaced by something else?
Hi Afaf! I’m afraid molasses is pretty essential to this recipe’s gingerbread taste. You could try swapping extra maple syrup–the granola will just have a different flavor profile than gingerbread.
In the U.K. Black treacle is very similar to molasses and can be a direct swap?…………
Hi Wendy! I’m not familiar with black treacle (I don’t know that we have it in the US) but if you’ve used it as a substitute for molasses in baked recipes in the past and were happy with the results, I think it would work here too. If you decide to experiment with the swap, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Love it – left out the sugared ginger pieces & put chia seeds instead.
That sounds delicious Tracie! Thanks for leaving this wonderful review!
This granola is killer! I’ve been obsessed with making my own delicious, healthy granolas for over a year now..and this is a perfect Christmas one! My husband and I are both obsessed – I’m whipping up a batch for the second time this week! :)
YAY! So excited to hear that Alex. Thank you for taking time to leave this review. It means a lot!
Lovely granola, I, ❤❤❤❤❤gingerbread anything, this hits the spot!! Thanks for sharing. C. Cude
YAY Carmen! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking time to leave this wonderful review!
This was an easy recipe to make. So easy that my 3 year old triplets helped make it and eat almost all of it! LOL! Full of flavor and easy to make. Win, win for this recipe!
SOOO HAPPY to hear that Lara, thank you! (Also triplets, WOW! So many cute helping hands :). Their approval is the best!)
Just pulled the granola out of the oven! The house smells delicious. I’m looking forward to breakfast tomorrow. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, Star! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the granola!
Can you explain the uncooked Millet? Is it hard? Does it blend in enough or is it like eating hard quinoa?
Alicia, it is hard and crunchy. I love the texture it adds! You could use uncooked quinoa if you prefer.