Discover ways to make the very best selfmade apple cinnamon granola with this simple recipe! The apples add brilliant pops of pure sweetness, and spices give it a comfy and comforting style. A particular baking trick additionally yields actually large clusters which are completely crunchy and crisp, even with no oil. Poured in a bowl with a splash of milk, sprinkled on yogurt for a breakfast parfait, or munched on plain by the handful… This granola is scrumptious any means you eat it!
I lately learn a novel set on an apple orchard within the English countryside. As I turned its pages, descriptions of straight rows, stately bushes, and delicate blossoms crammed the chapters, and I may virtually scent the aromatic brilliant pink fruit when the plot lastly reached harvest season.
Within the ebook, the proprietor of the family-run farm turned most of her apples into juice and cider, but a number of scenes depicted festivals that she hosted of their fields. These gatherings included stalls promoting different apple-flavored treats, like pies, crumbles, jams, and even fruit-filled crêpes.
In direction of the tip, that very same girl’s granddaughter brainstormed extra methods to develop their household enterprise. She vocalized visions of renovating buildings on their land to accommodate a restaurant and deli, ones that offered extra merchandise, some apple-centered and others that paired properly with the wide range of ciders they already produced.
By the point I completed the epilogue, I craved all kinds of apple treats, and new recipe concepts of my very own bounced round my head. Whereas I’m nonetheless engaged on testing a number of the extra elaborate ones…
This wholesome apple cinnamon granola was the right place to begin! It’s simple and made with simply seven substances, together with two varieties of apples. Paired with milk, yogurt, and even munched on plain… This granola tastes great any means you eat it!
QUICK OVERVIEW – HEALTHY APPLE GRANOLA
Issue: Simple, together with for a lot of newbie bakers.
Style: Very calmly sweetened with plenty of cozy spices, punctuated by brilliant pops of fruity taste and pure sweetness from apple chips.
Texture: Hearty clusters which are completely crunchy, paired with mild and crispy baked apple chips.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY APPLE GRANOLA
Let’s go over what you’ll have to make this wholesome apple cinnamon granola! There’s an excellent likelihood you may have most (if not all!) of the substances in your kitchen already.
Oats. A granola staple! Each old-fashioned rolled oats and instant oats work on this recipe. They’ve the identical well being advantages, like further fiber and micronutrients, so use no matter you have already got available. No want for a particular journey to the grocery retailer!
Tip: In the event you’d wish to make your apple granola gluten free, that’s simple to do! Use certified gluten free old-fashioned rolled oats or certified gluten free instant oats.
Simply keep in mind… Prompt oats are not those that are available in particular person packets with flavors like “apple cinnamon” or “maple brown sugar!” They’re simply smaller and thinner than old style rolled oats. They solely embody one ingredient: oats!
Bonus Tip: As a result of on the spot oats are smaller and thinner, they make glorious gentle and chewy oatmeal cookies. ← Yow will discover all of my oatmeal cookie recipes there! (I’ve shared 60+ of them — they’re certainly one of my favourite issues to make!)
Crisp rice cereal. I like together with this in my granola recipes, and I wager lots of your favourite manufacturers of store-bought granola incorporate it too. Due to its mild and crisp texture, it’s a straightforward, low-calorie means so as to add further crunch to your granola!
I gravitate extra in the direction of brown rice cereal and actually like Barbara’s. One° is a pleasant choice too. In the event you can’t discover the brown sort, common crisp rice cereal (akin to Rice Krispies) additionally works equally properly.
Tip: Many manufacturers of crisp brown rice cereal are licensed gluten free (together with the 2 I listed above!), so in case you use both of these and licensed gluten free oats, your apple granola shall be gluten free too!
Sweetener. I opted for pure maple syrup, which made this apple cinnamon granola vegan. As a fast refresher, pure maple syrup comes straight from maple bushes and solely contains one ingredient: maple syrup! No refined sugar, no corn syrup, and no synthetic substances in it. You may often discover it on the baking aisle in skinny glass bottles or squat plastic jugs (like this!).
I didn’t add very a lot maple syrup… In any case, I wished this to be breakfast granola — not a dessert! Due to this fact, the granola clusters themselves are solely calmly sweetened, however I discovered the apple chips (extra on these momentarily!) added a giant, robust pop of sweetness that boosted the general taste of the granola fairly properly.
I’ve additionally tried sugar free maple syrup, and whereas it produced an identical texture, the granola didn’t style fairly as candy… However you may add just a little further and bake your granola just a little longer to compensate!
Tip: Honey and agave each work too! So similar to with the oats, use no matter you have already got in your pantry or fridge. That’s the fantastic thing about this recipe — it’s simply adaptable to the substances you retain available!
Spices. Sure, plural! I combined cinnamon and nutmeg into this granola. The cinnamon added that acquainted cozy taste, whereas the nutmeg supplied a deeper richness and comforting style. I extremely advocate utilizing each!
Tip: One thing else I extremely advocate? Saigon cinnamon! It has a stronger, richer, barely sweeter taste than common cinnamon. I’m obsessive about it and infrequently use anything in my baking recipes! I purchase it on-line here, and it’s cheap and actually reasonably priced.
Unsweetened applesauce. That is the primary apple product you’ll have to make this apple cinnamon granola. It acts because the binder that glues all the things collectively into these large crunchy clusters everyone knows and love.
As just a little backstory, I’ve used egg whites to try this in my granola recipes for years. They work superbly as a binder, and I liked how they add a protein increase too! However due to some relations’ dietary wants, I wished to develop an egg-free granola recipe that they may get pleasure from too. After how properly my eggless pumpkin spice granola turned out final fall, I made a decision to offer applesauce (one other frequent egg replacer ingredient!) a attempt…
And it labored completely! Nonetheless, applesauce barely provides any apple taste, so that you’ll combine in a second ingredient to offer this granola its irresistible fruity style, which is…
Baked apple chips. I used to be shocked at how a lot of a taste punch these bits packed. It mainly felt like biting right into a recent apple… Simply with out all the juice!
Bare’s Fujis & Reds are the baked apple chips I take advantage of probably the most. Another manufacturers add spices, sweeteners, or preservatives to their apple chips, however Naked’s solely embody one ingredient… Apples!
Tip: Baked apple chips aren’t all the time the best factor to search out (they had been out of inventory at my regular grocery shops, however I discovered a good quantity at Goal!). In the event you’re having problem finding them, you may get them organized online. Freeze dried apples are an awesome substitute, and common dried apples work too.
No oil? That’s proper! This apple cinnamon granola incorporates no oil, but it surely nonetheless has plenty of large crunchy clusters. I take advantage of a particular baking trick to try this, which I’ll share with you in a minute!
No butter? Proper once more! I’ve discovered you don’t essentially want any oil or butter to make superbly crisp and crunchy granola clusters. And because of utilizing unsweetened applesauce — however no dairy or eggs — this apple granola is vegan, dairy free, and egg free too!
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST APPLE GRANOLA
Now that you just’ve assembled your substances, let’s cowl make the very best apple granola. This recipe is easy and easy, however I nonetheless have some ideas so that you can guarantee you find yourself with the most important, coziest, and crunchiest clusters!
Combine gently however rapidly. It’s a one-bowl recipe, which I all the time admire… Primarily as a result of it means fewer dishes to clean! 😉 After stirring collectively the moist substances, you’ll combine within the oats and rice cereal. You’ll hear that iconic “snap, crackle, pop” (similar to the jingle!) when including the latter, so it’s essential to work rapidly so the rice cereal doesn’t flip soggy and disintegrate — however be light! You don’t wish to utterly mash the rice cereal so it deflates and disintegrates that means both.
Principally… Take a semi-Goldilocks strategy. Shortly + gently = excellent!
Giant rimmed baking sheet. That is my first trick for giant crunchy granola clusters! I used to bake selfmade granola in both a sq. or rectangular cake pan, however I usually ended up with clusters that had been both {a} a bit too gentle and chewy or {b} crunchy ones that had been teensy tiny. Then I attempted the baking technique from my good friend Phi’s five-ingredient cookbook…
Complete game-changer!
She really useful a large rimmed baking sheet as a substitute. It has a bigger floor space, which suggests you may unfold out the granola in a thinner layer. This achieves a number of issues: it {a} prevents the granola from steaming (aka soggy or chewy clusters!), {b} requires much less stirring (aka teensy tiny clusters!), and {c} finishes baking in much less time (aka you get to eat it that a lot sooner!).
Win-win-win!
Minimal light stirring. After its first stint within the oven, you’ll break aside the enormous granola layer. I goal for substantial, considerably outsized clusters — as a result of it’s a lot simpler to interrupt these aside into smaller bite-sized items on the finish than it’s to determine a method to stick teensy tiny granola bits again collectively. 😉
Once more, be minimal and mild! An excessive amount of or too vigorous of stirring will make your clusters collapse. Transfer them round simply sufficient in order that they bake evenly but nonetheless stick collectively.
Bake till crunchy. The granola will solely crisp up just a little bit extra because it cools to room temperature on the baking sheet, so proceed baking till it feels agency and exhausting. If it nonetheless feels soggy or gentle, even after the period of time given within the Directions, it’s okay to go away it within the oven longer! The period of time your granola wants to complete baking does rely on the scale and thickness of your clusters. Bear in mind…
Larger + thicker (or taller!) clusters = require longer to bake.
Don’t panic. Your granola could flip very darkish brown whereas it bakes — and that’s okay! Some sweeteners caramelize extra rapidly than others, which suggests your granola could look a lot darker in coloration than what you see in bins on the grocery retailer, and even in comparison with the granola in my images. So long as your granola isn’t black like charcoal, you haven’t burned it! 😉
Break aside large clusters. As soon as the granola is cool sufficient to the touch, break any ginormous clusters into extra bite-sized items to make it simpler to eat. I suppose that is non-obligatory… I’m somebody who picks out the most important clusters to get pleasure from first, so I wouldn’t blame you one bit in case you left all of them further massive!
Wait so as to add the apple chips. I like to attend till the granola has cooled utterly to room temperature so the baked apple chips don’t flip soggy or gentle from the nice and cozy cereal. Relying on the precise model you purchase, chances are you’ll wish to break the apple chips into smaller bits earlier than sprinkling them over the granola clusters too. (A number of the ones in my luggage of Bare’s Fujis & Reds had been the width of whole full-sized apples!)
FAQS ABOUT APPLE GRANOLA
Is that this apple cinnamon granola gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan, or low calorie?
Sure — to all the things! It’s naturally dairy free, egg free, and vegan. In the event you use certified gluten free oats and rice cereal, your apple granola shall be gluten free. It’s additionally clear consuming, low fats, low calorie… And nut free too!
Can I take advantage of a distinct type of oats?
Completely! Old school rolled oats and on the spot oats (the common or gluten free variations!) each work equally properly on this apple granola recipe. I don’t advocate substituting steel-cut oats although; they don’t bake the identical means and alter the granola’s texture.
What can I substitute for the rice cereal?
In the event you can’t discover crisp brown rice cereal, common crisp rice cereal (akin to Rice Krispies) is the subsequent smartest thing. Evenly crushed rice pocket cereal (ie Rice Chex) may also work.
In a pinch, you may substitute further oats… Simply keep in mind that they’ll considerably change the feel. (See the “crisp rice cereal” header within the “Elements to Make Wholesome Apple Granola” part above for more information!)
Can I take advantage of a distinct sweetener?
You wager! I’ve included the very best options within the Notes part of the recipe.
What if I don’t have unsweetened applesauce?
Sweetened applesauce can be the very best various! In any other case, you should utilize the egg whites trick I take advantage of in lots of my granola recipes. See the Notes part for substitute these as a substitute!
What are the very best apple chips to make use of?
I actually like Bare’s baked apple chips, particularly their luggage of Fuji’s & Reds. They solely comprise apples — nothing else! — and have an awesome naturally candy fruit taste. Freeze dried apples and common dried apples (the gentle and chewy sort, not the crisp and crunchy dried “chip” sort!) additionally work!
How ought to I retailer this apple granola? And the way lengthy does it final?
Retailer your granola in an hermetic container. When left at room temperature, it ought to maintain for at the very least 5 days, if not longer!
Can I freeze this apple granola?
Yup! Simply freeze the clusters although, and wait so as to add the apple chips till after you thaw it. After thawing, the granola shall be on the gentle aspect, but it surely’ll flip simply as crisp and crunchy as earlier than in case you pop it within the oven on a baking sheet for a bit. See the Notes part of the recipe for more information!
So… Does anybody else attain for the most important clusters first? Or is that simply me??
Then if you make your individual, keep in mind to snap an image and share it on Instagram utilizing #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the picture itself! (That ensures I’ll see your image! 🙂 ) I’d like to see your wholesome apple cinnamon granola!
Wholesome Apple Cinnamon Granola
This apple cinnamon granola is simple to make! The apples add brilliant pops of pure sweetness, and spices give it a comfy and comforting style. A particular baking trick additionally yields actually large clusters which are completely crunchy and crisp, even with no oil. Poured in a bowl with a splash of milk, sprinkled on yogurt for a breakfast parfait, or munched on plain by the handful… This granola is scrumptious any means you eat it! The granola will maintain for at the very least 5 days (if not longer!) if saved in an hermetic container at room temperature.
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat (extremely really useful!) or parchment paper.
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In a big bowl, stir collectively the applesauce, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour within the brown rice cereal and oats, and gently stir till each cereals are evenly coated.
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Unfold the combination into a skinny even layer on the ready pan. Bake at 325°F for 20 minutes. Gently stir to interrupt up the granola and transfer the clusters across the pan to forestall the bits closest to the sting from burning. Bake for an extra 10 minutes, then gently stir once more. Bake for an extra 6-10 minutes (for a complete of 36-40 minutes) or till the granola is crunchy. (See Notes!) Let the granola cool for 3-5 minutes earlier than breaking up any further massive clusters. Cool the granola utterly to room temperature on the pan earlier than sprinkling the chopped apple chips on prime and transferring to an hermetic container.
Notes
UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE NOTES + ALTERNATIVES: Unsweetened applesauce may also be known as “no sugar added” applesauce. The applesauce primarily acts as a binder; it doesn’t add very a lot apple taste. (That’s what the baked apple chips are for!)
Sweetened applesauce could also be substituted for the unsweetened applesauce. Different flavors of applesauce (ie cinnamon, strawberry, blueberry, and so forth) also needs to work. Alternatively, substitute 3 massive whisked egg whites for the unsweetened applesauce. (The baking temperature and time will stay the identical with any of those choices!)
I don’t advocate Granny Smith unsweetened applesauce; it usually has a noticeable tart style that may change the flavour of your granola.
SWEETENER NOTES + ALTERNATIVES: As written, this granola isn’t very candy. For sweeter granola, use 6 tablespoons (92g) unsweetened applesauce and seven tablespoons (105mL) pure maple syrup as a substitute. The baking temperature will stay the identical, however chances are you’ll have to bake the granola just a little longer.
Honey or agave could also be substituted for the pure maple syrup.
Relying on the sweetener you utilize, your granola could find yourself a darker brown than what you see in my images. That’s regular and okay! So long as your granola is darkish brown — however not black! — you haven’t burned it.
SPICE NOTES: I like a powerful spice taste, so I add extra of every! I take advantage of 2 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg. In the event you additionally get pleasure from them, I extremely advocate rising each!
I additionally extremely advocate utilizing Saigon cinnamon! It has a stronger, richer, barely sweeter taste. I not often use anything in my baking recipes now, and I purchase it on-line here.
OATS ALTERNATIVES: Quick cooking oats (additionally known as “on the spot” or “one-minute” oats — and the gluten free version, if essential!) could also be substituted for the old style rolled oats. I don’t advocate substituting metal reduce oats.
RICE CEREAL NOTES + ALTERNATIVES: The crisp brown rice cereal provides a giant crunch to your granola clusters with none oil or butter. It’s such an awesome trick, and I take advantage of it in all of my granola recipes! (In the event you test the substances in your favourite store-bought granola cereals, I wager a few of them use rice cereal as properly!) I like Barbara’s, and One° is analogous.
Common crisp rice cereal (i.e. Rice Krispies) could also be substituted instead of the brown rice cereal. In a pinch, an alternative choice can be rice pocket cereal (like Rice Chex) that you just’ve calmly crushed so it’s about ¼ of its authentic dimension.
Chances are you’ll substitute further oats for the rice cereal, however your granola gained’t be as crunchy.
BAKED APPLE CHIPS NOTE + ALTERNATIVES: I actually like Bare’s Fujis & Reds baked apple chips. They solely embody one ingredient: apples!
Freeze dried apples or common dried apples could also be substituted for the baked apple chips.
DAIRY FREE + VEGAN OPTION: No modifications wanted!
NUT FREE OPTION: No modifications wanted!
GLUTEN FREE OPTION: Use licensed gluten free brown rice cereal (I like Barbara’s, and One° is analogous) and licensed gluten free oats (these are my favourite old style rolled oats and these are my favourite quick-cooking oats!).
HOW TO STORE: Retailer the granola in an hermetic container at room temperature. It ought to final for 5 days (if not longer!).
HOW TO FREEZE: Wait so as to add the baked apple chips till after the granola has been thawed and reheated! To freeze, line a baking sheet with foil (for straightforward clean-up!). Prepare the totally cooled granola in a single layer on the foil. Place within the freezer for two hours or till totally frozen. Switch to a zip-topped bag lined with a paper towel, and squeeze out as a lot air as you may earlier than sealing the bag and inserting it within the freezer. (I really suppose it tastes actually good frozen!)
After thawing the granola, it’ll be just a little bit chewy, so unfold it out on a baking sheet in a skinny even layer. Bake at 325°F for 6-9 minutes or till it turns crisp and crunchy once more. As soon as totally cool, sprinkle the baked apple chips excessive.
{gluten free, egg free, dairy free, vegan, clear consuming, low fats, nut free}
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
You may additionally like Amy’s different recipes…
♡ The Ultimate Healthy Homemade Granola
♡ Healthy Pumpkin Spice Granola
♡ Healthy Peanut Butter Granola
♡ Healthy Chocolate Granola
♡ Healthy Almond Butter Granola
♡ Healthy Blueberry Granola
♡ Healthy Vanilla Almond Granola
♡ Healthy Maple Pecan Granola
♡ …and the remainder of Amy’s healthy granola recipes and healthy apple-flavored recipes!
