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    Home > Recipes > Breakfast > Bars, Cookies, and Granola

    Gingerbread Granola

    Published: Dec 11, 2024 · by Veronika Sykorova · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    2.1K shares
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 1 review
    Granola with crystallized ginger on a large baking sheet and in a bowl of yogurt with gingerbread cookies on the granola.

    This Gingerbread Granola is the perfect quick and easy breakfast for busy winter mornings! You can meal prep a big batch so you can have a festive breakfast even on weekdays. It's made with a homemade gingerbread spice mix and candied ginger, it's simple, crunchy and so delicious! It stores well and makes a great DIY Christmas gift for friends and family!

    Granola with crystallized ginger on a large baking sheet with gingerbread cookies on the granola surrounded with christmas ornaments and a red tea towel.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Variations and Substitutions
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing
    • FAQs
    • More Gingerbread-Spiced Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    This granola recipe was originally published on December 3rd, 2015 but I've completely reworked the recipe to make it easier and better and included new, more helpful photos. Hope you love this recipe!

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Perfect for Christmas - When you say Christmas, I almost immediately think of my family's Gingerbread Cookies. This granola has all the same flavors but less sugar and you can eat it for breakfast all week long! It's full of warming spices and it makes a great festive breakfast for busy mornings!

    Easy and quick - You only need a few simple ingredients and it takes less than 10 minutes to prep this granola! The oven does most of the work and it's totally failproof.

    Great for meal prep or DIY gifts - Homemade granola is perfect for meal prep and this one is no different! It's so easy to make a big batch of it to have for a couple of weeks or to give it out as gifts! Just divide the granola between a few small jars and add a label with all the ingredients on it. Edible gifts are always fun to make and people appreciate the thought and work you put into it. Plus, they're delicious!

    A bowl of plain yogurt with granola and small gingerbread cookies drizzled with caramel sauce with a spoon in the yogurt.

    Ingredients

    • Oats - You want to use classic rolled oats here. Steel-cut oats are too tough for a granola and quick-cooking oats won't hold their shape. Use certified gluten-free oats when needed.
    • Walnuts - Nuts add a nice crunch and walnuts are a classic for Christmas. You can use other nuts as well but always make sure they're raw and not already roasted so they don't burn in the oven.
    • Gingerbread spice - You can make your own homemade gingerbread spice mix or use store-bought. I like making my own because I can't usually find it in. stores and I find it easier to use a blend than using a bunch of different spices every time.
    • Cacao powder - My family's traditional Gingerbread Cookies are made with cacao or cocoa powder so I added some to this granola as well. You can leave it out if you prefer but it gives it a slight chocolatey flavor that goes really well with the gingerbread.
    • Sweetener - I opted for just honey in this recipe because I'm not a huge fan of molasses but you can use a mix of honey and molasses for that classic gingerbread flavor if you prefer.
    • Avocado oil -Cooking oil makes the granola crunchy. You can use any neutral cooking oil you have or prefer. I like using 100% pure avocado oil. I don't recommend using butter because it would spoil faster.
    • Sea salt and vanilla - A pinch of fine sea salt balances all the flavors and brings out the sweetness of honey. Vanilla makes everything better and also rounds out all the flavors. You can use vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste interchangeably.
    • Candied ginger - This is optional but to give the granola that classic ginger flavor, I add finely chopped candied ginger to the granola after it's done baking. It adds a flavor and a different texture to the granola.
    Ingredients like oats, walnuts, cacao powder, oil, honey, and candied ginger laid out in small glass bowls with text overlay.

    Variations and Substitutions

    • More nuts or seeds - If you don't have walnuts, you can add pecans, almonds, or cashews instead. Seeds like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds are also a great option. Add them before baking. You can also stir in some hemp seeds after the granola cools down for added protein.
    • Chocolate chips - After the granola cools down, add some mini chocolate chips for some chocolatey flavor and extra sweetness. You can also add them to the granola while it's still warm so they melt a little bit and coat some granola pieces!
    • Dried apples - If you like dried apples in your granola, you can add some here when you add the candied ginger. Same goes for raisins.
    • Maple syrup - If you want to keep the granola vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey.
    • Christmas Spice - Christmas spice is what my family has always used for our gingerbread cookies. It has more spices than gingerbread and no ginger. If you've never tried it, I highly recommend it!

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    1. Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    2. Add rolled oats, chopped walnuts, cacao powder, gingerbread spice, and sea salt to a large bowl and stir to mix well. Set aside.
    Rolled oats, spices, sea salt, and walnuts being mixed together in a glass bowl with a spoon.

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    1. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the avocado oil, honey, molasses (if using), and vanilla extract.
    Cooking oil, honey, and vanilla extract in a small glass bowl before and after mixing with a spoon.
    1. Pour the wet ingredients over the oats and walnuts and toss until well mixed.
    Oats with spices being stirred together with wet ingredients in a glass bowl.
    1. Spread the mixture on your prepared baking sheet.
    2. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Toss, and bake for 10-12 more minutes.
    3. The granola should be golden and toasted but it will still be slightly soft. It crisps up as it cools.
    Granola with walnuts on a large baking sheet before and after baking.
    1. Once it’s completely cool, add the candied ginger and toss to mix.
    2. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month.
    Cristallized ginger on a cutting board on the left and granola with the ginger on a baking sheet on the right.

    Serving Suggestions

    There are many ways you can enjoy this granola but here are a few ideas to get you started!

    • With yogurt - I like to add it to yogurt bowls with fruits like berries or other fruit. It's delicious with these Caramelized Apples!
    • With milk - I have to be honest, I never grew up on granola or cereal with milk, I always ate yogurt instead (I don't like the taste of plain milk) but this is one of the most classic breakfasts, especially for busy mornings.
    • As a snack - You can eat it as a snack at home or bring it with you on a road trip or to work or school. You can even turn it into a trail mix by adding more nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, dried fruit, or anything else.
    • Dessert - Use it as a topping for those caramelized apples above or with some roasted pears. It's also delicious on ice cream with caramel sauce or this homemade chocolate sauce (it's a syrup but it's thick just like chocolate sauce)!
    Granola with crystallized ginger on a large baking sheet with gingerbread cookies on the granola surrounded with christmas ornaments.

    Storing

    You don't have to store the granola in the fridge unless you live in a very warm or humid climate. It can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month. Ideally, you want to store it in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight.

    I don't recommend storing granola in the freezer. I've never tried it and I assume it wouldn't be crunchy after defrosting anymore. If you have a different experience or advice, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

    FAQs

    Do I have to use molasses in a gingerbread granola?

    No, you don't. I don't add any because I don't like it very much and my family has always made gingerbread cookies without it. You can add some if you prefer but the granola is delicious with just honey alone. Alternatively, you can also use maple syrup.

    Why won't my granola crisp up?

    It won't be crispy while it's still hot so don't worry if you're checking it while it's still baking. It crisps up as it cools down. If it's still not crispy after it cools down, you probably used too much honey or oil or you added other liquids.

    Granola with crystallized ginger on a large baking sheet with gingerbread cookies on the granola surrounded with christmas ornaments and a small Christmas tree in the background.

    More Gingerbread-Spiced Recipes

    If you're looking for other breakfast recipes made with my homemade gingerbread spice, definitely check out any of the five recipes below! They're all so festive and perfect for the holidays. To see all the latest ones, head over to Christmas Recipes.

    • Gingerbread Banana Bread
    • Gingerbread Pancakes
    • Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal
    • Christmas Waffles
    • Gingerbread Smoothie
    Print

    📖 Recipe

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Granola with crystallized ginger on a large baking sheet surrounded with Christmas ornaments and more cookies.

    Gingerbread Granola

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
    • Author: Veronika Sykorova
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 20 mins
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 5 cups (10 servings) 1x
    • Category: Breakfast
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Description

    This Gingerbread Granola is the perfect quick and easy breakfast for busy winter mornings! It stores well and makes a great DIY Christmas gift for friends and family!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 3 cups rolled oats
    • 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
    • 1 tbsp cacao powder
    • 2 tsp gingerbread spice (or Christmas spice)*
    • ½ tsp sea salt
    • ¼ cup avocado oil
    • ⅓ cup honey
    • 2 tbsp molasses (or more honey)
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup finely chopped candied ginger (optional, see notes)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    2. Add rolled oats, chopped walnuts, cacao powder, gingerbread spice, and sea salt to a large bowl and stir to mix well. Set aside.
    3. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the avocado oil, honey, molasses (if using), vanilla extract, and sea salt.
    4. Pour the wet ingredients over the oats and walnuts and toss until well mixed.
    5. Spread the mixture on your prepared baking sheet.
    6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Toss, and bake for 10-12 more minutes.
    7. The granola should be golden and toasted but it will still be slightly soft. It crisps up as it cools.
    8. Once it’s completely cool, add the candied ginger and toss to mix.
    9. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month.

    Notes

    Christmas spice: Christmas spice is what my family has always used for our gingerbread cookies. It has more spices than gingerbread and no ginger. If you've never tried it, I highly recommend it!

    Candied ginger: To prevent the candied ginger from sticking into one big clump, I toss it with cane sugar after chopping it. This helps the pieces from sticking together.

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    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Did you make this recipe?

    Comment and rate the recipe below and tag @thehealthfulideas on Instagram with the hashtag #thehealthfulideas, I'd love to see what you made!

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    2.1K shares

    Comments

    1. Rita says

      December 21, 2016 at 10:43 pm

      This recipe sounds so delicious, and I can only imagine the smell mmmmm. Thank you, I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
      • thehealthfulideas says

        December 25, 2016 at 7:12 pm

        I'm glad you like it! Thanks, Rita! :)

        Reply
    2. Rose says

      December 22, 2016 at 3:08 am

      This sounds good. We eat alot of granola and oatmeal here. I haven't tried gingerbread yet, so I'm excited!

      Reply
      • thehealthfulideas says

        December 25, 2016 at 7:14 pm

        Yay! Thanks, Rose! :)

        Reply
    3. thehealthfulideas says

      December 25, 2016 at 7:15 pm

      you're so sweet, thank you! :)

      Reply
    4. Andrea says

      December 07, 2024 at 10:12 pm

      Hello, have you got the old recipe somewhere by chance? I used to make that one all the time and am sure I made it last Christmas. It did not have cacao or molasses.

      Reply
      • Veronika Sykorova says

        December 08, 2024 at 8:19 am

        Hi Andrea, so sorry to change the recipe on you without keeping the original as well. I was going to republish the whole post with new photos and more tips next week, the recipe card wasn't supposed to change yet, thank you for bringing this to my attention.

        I have a screenshot I'm attaching, hope that helps! You can save or print the screenshot as you would the recipe.
        original gingerbread granola recipe

        Reply
        • Andrea says

          December 17, 2024 at 8:30 am

          Hi Veronika. Thank you so so much!! Our family absolutely love this recipe. A few of us have been making it for years so I’m so stoked to be able to keep making it. 😊😊😊 sometimes we make it for Christmas gifts. Thanks again.

          Reply

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    I'm Veronika and The Healthful Ideas where I share original plant-based recipes for every day cooking and popular classics with a healthy twist.

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