Cinnamon Toast Granola

Whip up a batch of Cinnamon Toast Granola for enjoying atop your favorite yogurt, parfait, smoothie bowl, or even cereal. Made with pecans, maple syrup, almond butter, and more!

The perfect sweet morning bite

Take a peak through my blog, and you’ll quickly see a type of recipe that I always find myself sharing: granola. What can I say? I love the flavors and the versatility that it provides!

You can make it so many different ways, and believe me, I have! From cake batter and pumpkin spice to peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, and even chocolate, I’ve made it with so many flavors.

But today, we’re whipping up something new with a delicious cinnamon toast rendition that’s going to taste perfect atop your favorite flavor of yogurt! Ready in under an hour, this mixture satisfies all of your sweet crunchy cravings.

Ingredients used to make cinnamon granola

Cinnamon granola is a hodgepodge of yummy ingredients featuring everything from rolled oats and nut butter to pecans, vanilla, and ginger. The end result? Nothing short of tasty!

• Rolled oats: First up, 3 cups of oats will make up the base of the granola.
• Pecans: 1 cup of roughly chopped pecans will add crunch and texture.
• Cinnamon: Include 3 tsp of cinnamon for flavor. Divide into 2 tsp and 1 tsp, as we will use an extra tsp at the end.
• Ginger: 1/2 tsp of dried ginger is a subtle addition that makes an impact.
• Salt: Include 1/4 tsp of salt for a slight salty x sweet combo.
• Maple syrup: Next, 1/2 cup of maple syrup works to both sweeten the mixture and help the almond butter in binding everything together.
• Almond butter: Our next ingredient is 1/3 cup of almond butter. It needs to be a natural, runny version — my favorites are the Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods brands!
• Vanilla: Include 2 tsp of vanilla.
• Coconut sugar: Last but not least, 2 tbsp of coconut sugar will add that final sweet touch.

Tools needed to make this recipe

This healthy granola recipe requires a number of cooking tools that will help to make the process as smooth as possible. You will also need a few measuring cups to get the correct ingredient mixture.

• Cutting board
• Chopping knife or tool to chop the pecans
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Large mixing bowl
• Stirring utensil
• Small mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Spatula

For measuring, you will need the following increments: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.

How to make cinnamon toast granola

Cinnamon granola involves nothing more than mixing the ingredients, spreading them out onto a baking sheet, baking, and snapping into pieces! Total prep and cooking time amounts to about 45 minutes.

To begin, preheat the oven to 325ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix the oats, pecans, cinnamon, ginger, and salt until well mixed.

Then, use a smaller bowl to whisk together the maple syrup, almond butter, and vanilla.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until completely combined.

Next, pour the mix onto the baking sheet and spread into a flat layer. The granola should take up about 3/4 of the sheet and should all be touching and pressed down flat.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Once out of the oven, let the granola completely cool before breaking into pieces.

Toss with the remaining cinnamon and coconut sugar.

How to use homemade granola

Homemade granola can be used in so many different ways. The cinnamon flavor makes it the perfect addition atop a number of dishes — yogurt, pudding, smoothie bowls, or cereal, to name a few!

You can even enjoy a few spoonfuls with your favorite nut milk, or use it in a trail mix recipe (or as a trail mix, honestly!).

How this easy granola recipe is healthier

There are a few ingredients that elevate this recipe and help secure its position as a healthier option among granola.

Sweeteners
The first place where we turned on the healthy switch is with the sweetener. Rather than using plain granulated sugar, cinnamon toast granola is sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar. These two ingredients lend higher nutritional benefits, one of which is the fact that they’re all-natural!

Nut butter
Many granola recipes include a nut butter because it’s a helpful ingredient in binding the mixture together. I wanted to include one here for the taste, so I decided to go with almond butter! Not only that, but I went with an all-natural version due to the ingredients (i.e. no chemicals!).

Here are some quick tips for adding to your granola and keeping it fresh!

Additional mix ins
Want to stir a few extra treats into your granola? Flavorful options include nuts (like peanuts, walnuts, or almonds), dried fruit (cranberries would be delicious!), chocolate chips, or coconut flakes.

Storage
When it comes to storing leftovers, use an airtight container to maintain freshness. The granola should stay nice and crunchy for about 1.5-2 weeks!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Morning meals feeling bland? Here are some delicious ways to spice things up, featuring my favorite banana baked oatmeal and the best, most mouth watering cinnamon rolls!

• Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
• Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls
• Protein Banana Muffins
• Healthy Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe
• Paleo Lemon Blueberry Muffins