This Chai Spice Granola is a quick and simple granola recipe with tons of chai spice flavor. It’s gluten-free, vegan, and makes the perfect breakfast or snack.
One of my favorite things to make is granola. It’s quick, simple, and at this point, ritualistic for me to make. It’s so easy to customize homemade granola to accommodate which ingredients you have on hand, the flavor varieties seem endless (check out my list of granola recipes for a start), and best of all: your house will smell like an absolute dream.
Last year in college, when I lived with five other girls, the smell of me making granola would always drag them out of bed in the morning. They would come in wondering what I was making that smelled so good, and it would always bum them out to see it was granola. Because the granola I make? It’s mine. It’s one of the few things I make that I don’t share, unless it’s being made for a specific person (you’re welcome, family). Of course, I would always let them steal a handful – I’m not a monster.
I had the thought to make a chai spice granola a few weeks ago, and I haven’t been able to get the idea out of my head since. I’ll be honest, one of the main drivers was that I knew my apartment would smell like a chai tea latte while it baked and I was all sorts of okay with that.
I wanted this chai spice granola to have big chunks, so I skipped stirring the granola at all while it was in the oven. Instead, I pressed it down firmly in the pan before it went in, baked it low and slow until crunchy and golden, and then the hardest part – let it cool completely before you touch it.
I’m normally one of those people whose eaten a quarter of the granola before it’s cool, so not touching it while my house smelled so delicious was self-inflicted torture. But after a half hour, I was rewarded with big clusters of homemade, spiced, crunchy granola. It was worth it!
As I mentioned, granola is super customizable. Switch up the nuts, or use honey instead of maple syrup. Just keep the dry to liquid ratio in tact, and you’ll have delicious granola on your hands. Serve with Greek yogurt and berries like I do every single morning, some milk, or just snack on it. Enjoy!
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Remember to #bakerita if you try the recipe!
Chai Spice Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
- 1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
- 1 cup pecans coarsely chopped
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF.
- In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, coconut, pecans, and almonds. In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the coconut oil, maple syrup, spices, salt, and vanilla extract. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir until the dry ingredients are all moistened. Spread the granola in an even layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and press down with the back of a spatula.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through to ensure the granola bakes evenly. When it is browned and feels dry to the touch, remove from the oven. If want big chunks of granola, let the granola cool completely before disturbing so you get big clusters.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
February 19, 2016 at 4:16 amGranola is one of my favorites to make, too! I love that there are endless flavor combinations. This chai version looks delicious! Chai lattes are my absolute fave, so I know I would devour this in no time!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
February 19, 2016 at 4:57 amOh man, I LOVE chai spices in my granola so much! Like, I will eat the entire batch in one sitting because it’s that good. I am ALL over those big gorgeous clusters you’ve got going on in this granola—totally swooning over here, Rachel!
Shadi says
February 19, 2016 at 7:49 amThese photos are so super gorgeous Rachel! I love them so much! I need to learn more from you asap!I have never made granola myself but now I’m dying to make some!!
Rachel says
February 19, 2016 at 8:18 amThanks so much, Shadi! When you come back to Seattle to visit, we’ll have to have another baking day :)
marcie says
February 19, 2016 at 2:50 pmI discovered chai spice with my overnight oats this year, and loved it. This is such a great way to liven up granola, and I love the maple syrup and coconut oil in it too. I’m a big fan of chunky granola, so I can’t wait to try this!
Rachel says
February 19, 2016 at 3:23 pmOooh overnight oats with chai spice sounds delish – I must try that! Thanks, Marcie! :)
Kristi @ My SF Kitchen says
February 19, 2016 at 4:03 pmI have a confession to make…I have never tried to make my own granola at home!! Your recipe is going to change that :D pinning!
Rachel says
February 19, 2016 at 4:21 pmNo way! You’ve got to try it :) it’s life changing! Thanks, Kristi.
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says
February 20, 2016 at 4:41 amI LOVE all things chai!!!! This granola looks incredible and life changing Im sure!
[email protected] says
February 20, 2016 at 7:08 amI just recently became a fan of chai – (thank you Oprah!)…so I know this is something I would adore. I can imagine your roommates following their noses to the kitchen when this is baking! Glorious…not to mention – beautiful!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
February 20, 2016 at 8:42 amHomemade granola is the best – I need to make more actually. My kids have started loving it as much as I do so a batch doesn’t last too long around here anymore! This version looks fantastic!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
February 20, 2016 at 5:20 pmWow, this granola looks delicious! What a combination!
Lisa @ Chocolate Meets Strawberry says
February 20, 2016 at 7:25 pmRachel, this granola looks fantastic! I’ve been obsessed with everything any anything chai-spice lately, so this is looking mighty fine to me! Pinned!
[email protected] says
February 21, 2016 at 10:33 amThere is seriously nothing better than the smell of homemade granola baking. The chai spice is in this sound so cozy!
Rachel says
February 21, 2016 at 11:56 amThanks so much, Erin!
Amanda says
February 22, 2016 at 7:41 amAs soon as I saw this I knew I was going to have to try it. Firstly, I’m granola obsessed. Secondly, chai tea lattes are so freaking good! The ideas of having the whole place smell like chai is really exciting to me.
Kelly says
February 24, 2016 at 3:02 amI want a big bowl of this granola! It looks gorgeous, Rachel! Love the chai flavors in here!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
February 24, 2016 at 10:13 pmYes! Chai spice everythinggggg!