This Cranberry Orange Granola is a delicious quick breakfast. This granola is a perfect addition for Christmas time… festive, but easy to make and healthy. It is loaded with gluten-free crunch and clusters.
Healthy Easy Breakfast
There are so many confidence foods out there, but most don’t work if you are trying to be healthy, or are on a restricted diet. Cereal is probably one of the most convenient breakfast foods on the planet. It is, however, over priced, lacking in nutrition, and full of additives, GMO’s, and glyphosate… not to mention loaded with sugar.
My go to solution to combat with all of those issues is to make granola. Granola is easy to make, versatile, and healthy. This Cranberry Orange Granola recipe has quickly become one of my favorites.
Cranberry Orange Granola Ingredients
Granola is wildly versatile. Small changes can create an entirely different granola recipe, like my Chocolate and Sea Salt Granola. Actually I use the same base granola recipe for all my granola. This Cranberry Orange Granola is no exception.
The combination of red dried cranberries and green pumpkin seeds makes this the perfect granola recipe for the holiday season. I love adding healthy dishes to the daily routine that also add a touch fun. This makes it easier to avoid the desire to make more Christmas treats than I ought to be making, or eating.
The orange zest gives this granola a fun burst of flavor that is sure to please your palette. While the cinnamon dominates the initial taste, the orange rounds it out at the end of each bite.
I love adding different types of dried fruit to my granola recipes. Not only do the cranberries give this recipe a fun pop of color they also pair perfectly with the orange and cinnamon flavors. Just remember to add them after cooking the granola. You don’t want your dried fruit to be too dry.
The cranberry orange granola is made with honey. I’ve found that honey tends to make better clusters than maple syrup but either can be used. If you need a vegan granola maple syrup will indeed do the trick.
We also use coconut oil in this recipe to help create lasting clusters. We all want nice clusters right? The other trick for good clusters is to leave the granola in the pan until it is completely cooled. Then break apart gently and store in an air tight container.
Cranberry Orange granola
Ingredients
- 31/2 cup Oats gluten-free
- 1 cup Almonds chopped
- 1 cup Walnuts chopped
- 1 cup Coconut shredded
- 1 cup Pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup Cranberries dried
- 1 Orange for zesting
- 3 teaspoons Cinnamon ground
- 6 Tablespoons Coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup Honey
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a rectangular baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry oats, almonds, walnuts, coconut, and pumpkin seeds, together in a large mixing bowl.
- Heat the coconut oil and honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the oil is melted stir in the orange zest, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt
- Pour the liquids over the dry ingredients. Stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture onto a prepared pan in one even layer. Bake for 75 minutes.
- Remove from the oven. Sprinkle the top with dried cranberries and gently press them into the granola. Let cool. It will become crisp as it cools.
- Break apart and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Notes
I hope this recipe becomes a staple in your kitchen like it is in mine! If you love granola, check out our Chocolate and Sea Salt Granola Recipe.
