Christmas is in a few weeks. What does that mean? One of my favorite flavours is in season! Yep, gingerbread! Because I love gingerbread and also love making granola, a gingerbread granola had to be made at some point.
This granola has a deep gingerbread flavour thanks to blackstrap molasses and delicious spices. It will also make your house smell a-m-a-z-i-n-g. The dried cranberries add a bit of festive color and their tart flavour is great with the sweet & spicy granola. It might be my favorite granola, although I think I say this every time I make granola…
It is also packed with tons of healthy ingredients! Let’s look at some of them:
- Blackstrap molasses: tons or iron! + a good source of antioxidants, manganese, calcium, potassium, magnesium and copper. Blackstrap molasses is notably good for your hair, helps keep your bones strong and can help in improving your sleep quality!
- Cloves, ginger and cinnamon: extra-rich in antioxidants and among the healthiest foods by weight, these spices are also anti-viral and may help reduce inflammation.
- Nuts: rich in antioxidants, protein and healthy fats, nuts may aid weight lost, reduce inflammation and reduce cholesterol.
- Flax seeds: the best source of lignans and a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, copper, calcium, protein, potassium, magnesium, folate, and soluble fiber, flax seeds may help prevent cancer and diabetes and are good for your skin.
Although delicious in a parfait, my favorite way to eat this granola is the easy, simple way: with some almond milk! Make it as a treat for yourself, or put it in mason jars to give as a homemade Christmas or hostess gift for the Holidays.
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup raw buckwheat groats
- 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tbsp flax seeds, grounded
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 3 tbsp blackstrap molasses
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 325°F.
- In a large bowl, mix oats, buckwheat, pecans, almonds, ground flax seeds, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
- In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, molasses and vanilla. Pour on dry ingredients and mix until well coated.
- Spread the mixture on your baking sheet.
- Bake at 325°F for 15 minutes. Take out of the oven, reduce heat to 300°F, stir the granola on the baking sheet and bake for 10 additional minutes.
- Let the granola cool on the baking sheet. It will be soft when you take it out of the oven, but it will get crisp while cooling.
- When completely cooled, transfer to a large bowl and stir in dried cranberries.
- Store in an airtight container.
Thank you for this recipe! I made it this morning. I did add 1/4 C. of coconut oil, thinking you may have left that out, and didn’t use the cranberries after I tasted it and loved it. I also added about 1/2 tsp. more ground ginger, as mine is not real strong. It is a very nice and easy recipe. Homemade granola is the best, and so easy and affordable. Thanks again!
Thanks for your comment Wendy; I’m glad you liked the recipe! I didn’t use oil in mine but I’m sure it was delicious with coconut oil 🙂