Cozy up with a Fall pantry Staple; Pumpkin Maple Pecan Granola with Cranberries. Crunchy clusters with all the Fall flavors, a delicious grab n go snack or breakfast. vegan + gluten free
Fall is the most grounding time of year. The longer days allow time for lingering indoor activities. Time to reflect, write, be inspired through cookbooks long overdue for browsing.
While writing this morning, I heard distant calls of wintering residents. I pondered the Cackling Geese as their flight pattern brought them over the rooftop. Was this flock just arriving to their wintering grounds from the northernmost reaches of Canada and Alaska? Could they be looking for a place to rest their weary wings and feast on leftovers from recent harvests?
It is finally starting to feel like fall. Comfort food beckons attention again while squash, in all its glorious color, welcomes the season.
Since pureeing my first pumpkin of the season, I’m craving anything with pumpkin… or any squash for that matter. How are you feeling about pumpkin?
In addition to this post being my first ‘official’ pumpkin post, I want to share some great news with y’all! I’ve partnered with Rodelle Kitchen, the crafter of Rodelle vanilla and other pantry staples like cocoa, various extracts and spices, to bring even more deliciousness to your inbox! Just in time for baking season too!
I first started using Rodelle vanilla beans when I received them as a gift from a friend. When Rodelle contacted me regarding brand ambassadorship, I was thrilled and honored! I received a little goodie box full of inspiring ingredients and after opening each container, nosing them one by one then trying the extracts and beans in recipes, I was smitten.
Speaking of delicious ingredients, Rob and I were out at Gordon’s Family Farm in Skagit Valley last weekend for a bit of apple picking and pumpkin gawking.
We picked lots of apples and saw some of the most beautiful heirloom squash varieties. It was all I could do not to buy hoards of squash and pumpkin!
I left the farm with inspiration beyond compare and came home to whip up some delicious pumpkin granola, my third batch in a week….
It had to be just right before I sent it to y’all!
The flavors in this granola are all about Fall. The pumpkin, pecans, cranberries, pepitas and vanilla beans shine in this recipe.
And crunchy… ooooh the texture is over the top!
the recipe
Pumpkin Maple Pecan Granola with Cranberries
Ingredients
- 4 C Thick Rolled Oats 485g Regular or Gluten Free - not the quick cook variety
- 1/2 C Pepitas 80g
- 1/2 C Sunflower Seeds hulled 80g
- 1 1/2 C Pecans shelled 188g
- 1/3 C Brown Sugar packed 62g
- 1 tsp Cinnamon ground
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg ground
- 1/2 tsp Cloves ground
- 1/4 tsp Ginger ground
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
- 3/4 C Pumpkin Puree' canned or homemade 188g
- 1/2 C Maple Syrup
- 1/4 C Coconut Oil melted and cooled
- 1 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste
- 1 C Cranberries dried 106g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275F. Optional: line sheet pan with parchment paper (do not use a silpat here).
- Chop 1/2 the pecans to a fine chop.
- In a large mixing bowl mix the dry ingredients: oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas, pecans, brown sugar and spices.
- In a small sauce pot, warm the pumpkin, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla bean paste just to over room temperature. Whisk well.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Using a wooden spoon, mix well, incorporating all the ingredients so that every little oat grain is coated with delicious pumpkin spice mix.
- Pour mixture into the prepared sheet pan, pushing the granola into the corners. Spread evenly, then using the back of wooden spoon, firmly press the granola into the pan.
- Bake at 275F for 60 minutes. Do not stir. Rotate the pan, and increase the temperature to 300F for 20 minutes.The granola will be fragrant and toasty golden brown. Don't be tempted to stir if clustering is desired.
- Remove from oven and allow the granola to cool completely (if you can) before gently tossing in the cranberries. Handle the granola gently if clustering is desired.
- Store in a covered container for up to two weeks.
Notes
Disclosure: Rodelle Kitchen sent me a sample of their vanilla bean paste. All opinions are my own.
I’ve now made this granola twice and we just love it. I always have a container of homemade granola on hand and this has quickly turned into our favourite. A delicious start to the day with some almond milk and stewed apples from my trees. I made some muffins with the pumpkin puree I had left over………which were also yummy
Hi Sue! You’ve totally made my day! No doubt one of my favorite Fall granolas. If you like this one, you’re sure to love my ultimate year round favorite: Maple Pecan Granola ! I love your addition of stewed apples from your trees. Your morning breakfast sounds divine! Thank you for sharing with us! :D
Stewed apples with breakfast cereal is something I loved from my childhood and still one of my favourite breakfasts! Unlike my Mum, I don’t sweeten my apples as they are sweet enough, don’t cook them to a pulp and add cinnamon and/or other spices. Will definitely try your Maple Pecan granola when the pumpkin season is over
AMAZING recipe!
Thank you for the inspiration, I just made a spin off of it with a touch of southern as the secret ingredient.
Maybe you will venture out and see what that is later!
XoXo
-Jenny
Hey Jenny, day made! Looking forward to your Southern twist! :D
I love granola and yours looks delicious! I always tell myself it is good for me as well……
Hi Anna! Thanks so much! Yeah, its always good to reinforce when something is good for us! Thanks for stopping by! :)
I’m glad you had fun there Traci! This granola looks so hearty and delicious, I love it. Will get some vanilla bean paste and cranberries and try your recipe next time ! Pinning!
Hi Mira! Thanks for your pin love! I hope you like the recipe!
Your pumpkin patch trip looks like so much fun too! Fall is one of my favorite seasons too! Except it was 90 degrees here the other day! I am not ok with that, haha! I ate my soup anyway and turned the AC up and pretended like it was still cold outside! That is awesome about the partnership! I’ve never cooked with vanilla bean pasta before, but it sounds so good! I need to head to Amazon to check it out, ha! I love this granola and can definitely see myself eating it everyday all day!
:D I got a good chuckle out of ‘need to head to Amazon..’ LOL! I have to say, the granola is a bit addicting. I’ll portion some out… munch on it while I’m working, then before I know it, it’s all gone and I want more! So sorry about the heat there in AZ. I wouldn’t be ok with that either (I’m sure Cheeto is protesting as I type!). Good thing you have a powerful AC so you can pretend! hehe!
This granola looks like the perfect granola for fall! I cannot wait to try! I am sure it tastes delicious with some almond milk in the morning :) Pinned!
Hi Ceara! Thanks so much for stopping by and for pinning! I agree, almond milk would be a lovely addition to this granola. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
This granola looks divine, Traci! Love the seasonal flavours and ingredients! Definitely a recipe to try!
Hi Jess! Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy the recipe. :)
This granola looks totally delicious! … It wouldn’t last long in my house ;-)
Thanks, Michelle! It goes fast!! :D
I always have a batch of home made granola on hand and thought I had made almost every flavour combination possible – but I have never thought of making granola with pumpkin before! Definitely a delicious addition that I must try out.. thanks for the idea Traci!
I hear you, Thalia! Just when I think I’ve tried every granola, I’ll read about or think up a different way to prepare it. It is so versatile and a quick snack to have on hand when the hunger pangs start! I hope you enjoy the recipe, Thalia!
Beautiful photos… I love seasonal produce, it’s so lovely! This recipe sounds delicious too, I bet the cranberries add the perfect bite and tang. I’ll have to try!
Thanks, Kate! I hope you enjoy the granola!
Love pumpkin and I love making granola! Seems like a perfect to me. :)
Right? So quick and easy! Thanks for stopping by, Tina!
Congrats on your partnership – that’s exciting news. Love all the pictures on the pumpkins and squash – so many different colors. Great recipe – I’m a big granola fan – and am looking forward to trying this. Thanks, Traci!
Thanks so much, Geraldine! Yeah, I’m a granola fan too. It’s a pantry staple that I try to keep stocked all the time. Great for those hikes, quick snack, or just pop some in a baggie as your flying out the door to your next…. adventure! HA! :D Hope you enjoy it, Geraldine!
Congrats, Traci. it is always great to be an ambassador of a brand that you use and trust.
I also love the pictures from the farm. Love your homemade recipe for a granola bar ;-)
Thanks, Olivia! The farm was a lot of fun and it just made it feel more like fall.. a very special place, indeed. I hope you enjoy the granola, Olivia!
Yay for your partnership! Sounds like a perfect fit for you. And I’m basically dying over the photos from the farm. What a dream.. ah! This granola looks an excellent seasonal replacement for my go-to matcha with dried blueberries. Yum!
Thanks, Cheryl! :D Oh the farm… so fun and beautiful and inspiring… and, and… Yeah, i’ve been stuck in smoothie mode, so this granola is a welcome change for my morning routine. Thanks for the reminder about the matcha! I’ve just added it to my list!
Looks great! I had never heard of vanilla bean paste.
Oh Lynne. I’ll bring you some to try! :D
I am eating some Trader Joe’s granola as I write this, but yours looks much more special! I love making my own granola and definitely will be trying this recipe. I can’t wait to taste all those fall flavors together – I’m especially excited about the cloves and nutmeg in this! Thanks for sharing, Traci :)
I hear you, Julia. I love making granola at home. The house smells amazing due to a long slow bake. I think you’ll appreciate the cloves and nutmeg… their flavors really comes through!