Chai spiced granola is an easy, make ahead breakfast recipe that's filled with warm & cozy chai spices. Make a batch of crunchy granola to last all week long. Toss onto your morning yogurt or grab a handful as a snack.
Making your own granola at home is surprisingly easy! This homemade spiced chai granola is made with just 5 minutes of prep and 30 minutes in the oven.
My chai spice blend is made with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and pepper. Any homemade or store bought brand works perfectly in this recipe. These spices give your granola a warm, lightly spiced fall flavor that I think you'll enjoy. Oats, shredded coconut, and chopped nuts make this granola hearty and filling!
Granola makes a fantastic weekday breakfast. Top your morning yogurt with granola and berries for a nutritious and filling breakfast. Add milk and sliced bananas for an instant breakfast cereal.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Old fashioned oats - I recommend using old fashioned oats. They have the best texture for granola. Quick cook oats can be used, but they're thinner and have a powdery texture. This will change the texture of your finished granola. They'll also bake faster. (see the recipe card for substitution baking times)
- Maple syrup - Can be substituted with honey or brown sugar.
- Shredded coconut - Can be sweetened or unsweetened, depending on how sweet you'd like your granola.
- Walnuts - Feel free to use any chopped nuts you have on hand, like pecans, almonds, or macadamia nuts.
- Chai spices - You can use a homemade chai spice blend or any store bought brand in this recipe. You can also find it on Amazon: Spicewalla Masala Chai Spice 3.7 oz
- Vanilla - Adds flavor to the granola. Vanilla could be omitted without affecting the recipe texture.
- Coconut oil - Unrefined or refined coconut oil works in this recipe. I recommend unrefined coconut oil for additional coconut flavor.
Tips and tricks
Stir sparingly - If you'd like big granola clusters, resist the urge to stir your granola while baking. Instead, rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure even browning.
Allow to cool completely - Allow your granola to cool completely before breaking into clusters. This helps crisp up your granola and creates big clusters.
Add more maple syrup as desired - For a sweeter granola with even bigger clusters, add another ¼ cup of maple syrup. The stickiness of the syrup helps your granola stick together and assists with browning in the oven.
Storage
Homemade granola will keep for about two weeks in a sealed container at room temperature.
Granola can also be frozen in a tightly sealed container for up to three months.
Frequently asked questions
Granola makes a great topping for plain yogurt, pudding, and ice cream. You could also add it to a bowl with some sliced banana or berries and pour milk on top to enjoy as a cereal. Turn granola into a trail mix by adding equal parts dried cranberries and almonds.
The key to making big granola clusters is to not disturb your granola once it's spread onto your baking sheet. Simply rotate your baking sheet once during baking instead of stirring. Once your granola is done baking, allow it to set, undisturbed, until cooled completely. Then, scoop into your desired storage container until ready to enjoy.
My homemade chai spice blend is made with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and pepper. Some blends also include star anise, coriander, and nutmeg. Chai is made differently all around the world, and even differs by family in the same regions. If you're making your own chai spice blend for this recipe, feel free to customize it however you'd like.
For more information, check out this article: The Spruce Eats: The History of Chai Tea
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📖 Recipe
Chai Spiced Granola
Ingredients
- 4 cups (356 g) old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup (113 g) chopped walnuts, or pecans
- 1 cup (85 g) shredded coconut
- 1.5 tablespoons chai spice blend
- ½ cup (156 g) maple syrup
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add oats, nuts, coconut, and chai spice. Set aside.
- In a bowl, combine maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Pour over oat mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, rotating pan once halfway through.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on baking sheet. Granola will harden as it cools. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Old fashioned oats are highly recommended, but can be substituted with quick cook oats. They'll take less time to cook because they're thinner - about 20 minutes.
- Maple syrup can be substituted with honey or brown sugar.
- Coconut can be sweetened or unsweetened - depending on how sweet you'd like your granola.
- One serving = about ½ heaping cup of granola
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