This crunchy Cranberry Granola with Orange Zest is my favorite homemade granola recipe to make in the winter! Rolled oats are combined with toasty pecans and sliced almonds sweetened with orange zest, vanilla, and maple syrup. All baked in the oven on a sheet pan until it has a perfectly crunchy texture and topped off with dried cranberries. 😊
As a dietitian, I love making my own granola, especially around the holidays. It's nice to have it to make one of my favorite quick snacks - Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and granola!
Enjoy it like me as a snack or make a batch and bring it as a gift for your holiday host or friends. It also pairs great on the side of Kale & Mushroom Egg Bites for a healthy breakfast that contains protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
This homemade granola is lower in sugar than the store-bought version and an easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth while also getting lots of nutrients and antioxidants!
If you're looking for more delicious granola recipes, try my Hemp & Date Granola or Apple Cinnamon Granola.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Nutrition - this recipe contains healthy fat and antioxidants from the nuts and seeds to support brain health and hormone health. Whole grain oats provide phosphorus, manganese, and dietary fiber for a healthy gut.
- Customizable - once you have the basic recipe, you can customize cranberry almond granola however you want using what you have in your pantry.
- Simple Ingredients - this recipe is made with simple ingredients, some of which you probably already have in your pantry including nuts, hemp seeds, oats and dates.
- Easy - It's as easy as mixing the ingredients in a large bowl and baking them in the oven for a perfect breakfast!
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This granola recipe is made with wholesome ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for full recipe.
- Rolled Oats - for best results, I suggest using rolled oats instead of quick oats. Rolled oats will maintain their texture and heartiness when baked whereas quick oats are smaller and won’t give the crunch for a good granola. Make sure to use certified gluten free oats if you're sensitive to gluten.
- Nuts - this recipe calls for pecans and sliced or slivered almonds. Pecans go perfectly with the other seasonal ingredients in this orange granola and sliced almonds get nicely browned when baked! I love the combo of crunchy almonds and little bits of pecans. Nuts and seeds contain protein, healthy fats including Omega-3s and antioxidants. They are anti-inflammatory and are good for hormone health, brain health, and heart health.
- Seeds - use your favorite seeds! I used pepitas (green pumpkin seeds), but you could also use chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, or flax seeds.
- Fine Sea Salt - just a pinch of salt is perfect for enhancing the other flavors.
- Cinnamon - adding a touch of cinnamon makes it a more flavorful granola.
- Avocado Oil - I use avocado oil for this granola because it's a heart healthy oil that has a mild flavor. Feel free to use olive oil instead.
- Pure Maple Syrup - this recipe calls for maple syrup, but honey works, too! The natural sugar is what helps to bind the oats together to make clumps.
- Vanilla - vanilla extract adds a depth of flavor that blends perfectly with the other ingredients.
- Orange Zest - use a zester to easily zest an orange peel! I promise this is worth the small bit of extra effort. Plus, it only takes a couple minutes and will have your house smelling uh-mazing. Orange zest is the secret ingredient and the key to the orange flavor for this orange-infused granola!
- Dried Cranberries - added in at the end, dried cranberries go so perfectly with the pecan, vanilla and orange in this recipe. You can find them in the baking aisle or snack aisle at the grocery store. I usually get mine in the bulk section though because they are less expensive and you can buy just the amount that you need!
How to Make Cranberry Orange Granola
Below are the instructions for how to make easy homemade cranberry granola with visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check the recipe card for the full recipe.
Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 325℉ and prep a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, seeds, salt, and cinnamon. Do not add the dried cranberries yet!
Step 2 - Zest your orange. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients including the oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and orange zest.
Step 3 - Add the wet mixture to the dry and stir together until well-combined.
Step 4 - Spread the oat mixture on the baking sheet in an even layer and bake in the pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes. The granola is done when it’s a golden brown. Let the granola cool before adding the dried cranberries. breaking it into clumps. Once the orange granola has cooled, stir in the dried cranberries.
Hint: Don’t stir it right after taking it out of the oven! Let it cool for as long as possible first. The air will help create the granola clusters. 🙂
Variations of Orange Granola
- Nut- Free - if you or someone you are serving is allergic to tree nuts, use 2-3 different kinds of seeds instead of nuts.
- Fancy - add coconut flakes (add these halfway through baking if using), dark chocolate chips (add AFTER baking so they don't melt!) and brown sugar. Mix in some almond butter.
- Fruity granola - add a different dried fruit if cranberries aren’t your thing. I love using chopped dates in homemade granolas for a more natural sweetness since dates don't have added sugar. Dried apples, golden raisins, dried blueberries, apples or cherries are options, too!
Dietitian Tip
Did you know that oatmeal contains a dietary fiber called beta-glucan? Beta-glucan may help lower cholesterol levels, can help support your digestive system and gut health, and stabilize blood sugar levels. Just a half cup of oats contains around 15% of your daily fiber intake for the day and 5 grams of protein. Using oats in recipes like this Apple Pie Granola is a delicious way to nourish your body with care and stay full and satisfied until your next meal.
Storage
Granola is at the peak of freshness a day or two after it's made. But one of the great things about granola is that it stores well for a long time.
- Fridge (or room temperature) - store it for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature.
- Freezer - store granola in an airtight container for 3-6 months in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for about an hour.
Expert Tips for Homemade Orange Granola
- When zesting the orange, just go over the surface once. You just want the top layer of the skin to be zested so stop when you get to the white part of the fruit. The white part is much more bitter, but the orange outer skin is sweet!
- When the granola mixture is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature before stirring it or breaking it apart. This is what helps form the clumps.
- Add in the dried fruit (cranberries in this case) after the granola has baked and cooled.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this cranberry granola is a nutrient-rich option. It contains dietary fiber for a healthy gut, and heart-healthy fats that also support brain health and hormone health. This recipe also contains several vitamins and nutrients including antioxidants, potassium, iron, Vitamin B6 and magnesium.
Homemade granola doesn't have the preservatives that store-bought granola has so it doesn't last as long. But it still lasts for a long time which is why it's one of my favorite things to make! In fact, homemade granola lasts for up to 3 weeks. To store it, use an airtight container and keep it away from moisture, heat, or direct sunlight. Since this orange granola has orange zest and dried fruits, it's even better to store it in the refrigerator.
Absolutely! Once it is completely cooled, you can freeze granola in an airtight container for 3-6 months. To thaw it, either keep it in the refrigerator overnight or let it sit out at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
As long as you use gluten free oats, this granola recipe is gluten free! If you are buying a store-bought granola, be sure to check the nutrition label to make sure it is gluten free. In general, the main ingredient in granola is oats. Oats are a naturally gluten free food. However, many oats are processed in a facility that also processes gluten-containing foods so there is a risk of cross-contamination. The best way to tell if the oats you use are gluten free is to make sure that gluten or wheat is not listed under the "may contain" statement on the nutrition facts panel.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this one? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite recipes to pair with Cranberry Granola:
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Crunchy Cranberry Granola Recipe with Orange & Maple
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup dried cranberries *add after baking
Wet Ingredients
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon orange zest (zest of 1 orange)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325℉ and prep a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, seeds, salt, and cinnamon. Do not add the dried cranberries yet!
- Zest your orange. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients including the oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and orange zest.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry and stir together until well-combined. Spread the oat mixture on the baking sheet in an even layer and bake in the pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes. The granola is done when it’s a golden brown.
- Spread the oat mixture on the baking sheet in an even layer and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 8-10 minutes. The granola is done when it’s a golden brown. Remove from the pre-heated oven and let the granola cool before breaking it into clumps. Once the granola has cooled, stir in the dried cranberries.
- Let the granola cool for at least 10 minutes before adding the dried cranberries. Then break it into clumps.
Notes
- When zesting the orange, just go over the surface once. You just want the top layer of the skin to be zested so stop when you get to the white part of the fruit. The white part is much more bitter, but the orange outer skin is sweet!
- When the granola mixture is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature before stirring it or breaking it apart. This is what helps form the clumps.
- Add in the dried fruit (cranberries in this case) after the granola has baked and cooled.
- Fridge (or room temperature) - store it for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature.
- Freezer -store in an airtight container for 3-6 months in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for about an hour.
Nutrition
References: savorysuitcase.com, bakeorbreak.com
Sarah
This was actually my first time making homemade granola of any kind. I really like that you shared such helpful tips and made it easy. Thanks for the recipe!
Mallory
Thank you so much for taking time to leave a review!! I am so happy to hear that you loved the granola. 🙂 I will probably post more flavor options in the future so I'll let you know when I do!