Ingredients
- Wet Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients
Dietary Substitutions
Equipment
Storage
Related Recipes
More granola recipes

This Cranberry Almond Granola is super hearty and packed with crunchy almonds and has a nutritional burst from tart dried cranberries and cranberry seeds. It is made using the base from my classic granola and super easy to swap out ingredients to make it your own. Bake up a batch of this easy granola recipe for a wholesome treat for breakfast on top of a bowl of yogurt or grab a handful for an afternoon snack.

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

honey: Honey is a liquid sweetener produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowers. It is considered an unrefined natural sugar used as an alternative to refined sugar.
canola oil: Canola oil is perfect for baking as it has a neutral and light flavor.
cranberry juice: Cranberry juice is made by pressing fresh cranberries to extract their natural juice. Pure 100% juice is very tart, so it is sometimes blended with other fruit juices to balance the flavor.
brown sugar: Brown sugar is granulated sugar with molasses added, providing deep flavor and moisture to baked goods. Light brown sugar contains 3.5% molasses, while dark brown sugar has 6.5% giving a more robust flavor profile.
vanilla extract: Vanilla provides hints of caramel and spice, enhancing the depth of flavor to baked goods. Always use a high-quality, all-natural brand that is made from real vanilla beans containing at least 35% alcohol. MAKE YOUR OWN! Purchase Grade B vanilla beans (also called extract-grade), which have less moisture and a more concentrated flavor. Place 8 oz. of bourbon (or vodka) in glass bottle or jar. Split 5-7 vanilla beans down the middle and add to bottle. Let it sit for 3-6 months in a cool, dark place. As you use it, continue to replace the bourbon and add more beans as it keeps for many years.

Dry Ingredients

oats: Oats are a whole grain that is high in fiber and commonly used for cereal or baked goods. Quick oats are pre-cooked and come in smaller pieces, while whole oats remain in their natural form and take longer to cook.
almonds: Almonds are seeds from the almond tree, native to the Middle East and grown in California. They have a mild, nutty flavor and crunchy texture and considered a tree nut.
pepitas (pumpkin seeds): Pepitas are nutritious edible seeds inside a pumpkin. They have a mild, nutty flavor and are either eaten raw or toasted.
coconut: Coconut is the fruit of palm trees, found in tropical regions. It can come in either unsweetened or sweetened with added sugar and comes in various forms, such as coconut flakes, shredded or finely shredded.
cranberry seeds: Cranberry seeds are small, hard seeds found in cranberries. While typically not eaten on their own, they add a tart punch of nutritional value to snacks or smoothies.
cinnamon: Cinnamon comes from dried bark from the tropical Asian cinnamon tree and is available as whole cinnamon sticks or ground. There are two types: Cassia which has a warm, sweet flavor, and Ceylon known as “true cinnamon”, which has an intense spicy bite.
nutmeg: Nutmeg is a warm spice that comes from the nutmeg tree in the Spice Islands. It is available as whole nutmeg, grated or pre-ground.
salt: Use a fine-ground pink salt which adds essential minerals and nutrients to baked goods.

MIX-INS

dried cranberries: Dried cranberries are tart dehydrated berries that lend natural sweetness and vibrant color to baked goods.

Baker’s Tips

For chunky clusters, only stir granola once at the end when adding the dried fruit.
Use light-colored, aluminum cookie sheets to reflect even heat during the baking process. Dark cookie sheets conduct more heat off the surface, which may burn or darken on the edges before they are fully cooked through.
For even browning, place only 2 baking sheets in the oven at the same time. Place the baking sheet horizontally and rotate them halfway through the baking process. To rotate, spin the baking sheets around 180° and swap them from top to bottom and vice versa.

Dietary Substitutions

Making granola can be very versatile and you can basically swap out the ingredients to fit your dietary needs.

For the oil, you can substitute out really any oil that works for your dietary needs. Coconut oil or butter also work great in this recipe.

If you need to avoid certain types of nuts like tree nuts, swap out the almonds and coconut with peanuts or seeds like sunflower seeds or hemp seeds.

If you have a tree nut allergy, this is a list of them to avoid: almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, chestnuts and coconut.

Equipment

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Storage

Store in an airtight container such as a glass jar on counter up to 2 weeks.
You can also seal in in freezer safe bags using a heat sealer for up to 6 months.