Homemade Apple Pie Granola: Your Ultimate Cozy Fall Breakfast Recipe
Imagine crisp autumn mornings, the air filled with the comforting aroma of baked apples and warm spices. That’s precisely the experience waiting for you with this delightful **Apple Pie Granola** recipe. It’s not just a breakfast; it’s a warm hug in a bowl, marrying the sweet, tender goodness of baked apples with a satisfyingly crunchy homemade granola topping and a luscious drizzle of salted caramel sauce. Every single spoonful delivers an exquisite blend of your favorite fall flavors, making it the quintessential way to start any chilly day.
What makes this particular breakfast truly perfect? Beyond its incredible taste, it boasts a list of simple, wholesome ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. The recipe is incredibly easy to follow, making it accessible for even novice home cooks. And as it bakes, your entire home will be enveloped in an intoxicating fragrance that rivals any fall candle. Serve it warm, and prepare to elevate your morning routine into a delicious, seasonal ritual that perfectly encapsulates the essence of autumn.
The Joy of Homemade Apple Pie Granola
There’s something uniquely comforting about a warm breakfast during the cooler months. On those particularly chilly autumn and winter mornings, a hearty bowl of oats or a freshly baked batch of granola is my ultimate pick-me-up. But this special recipe takes it a step further. It truly captures the essence of a warm, comforting apple pie, making it an absolute must-try for apple season. The homemade, crunchy granola topping adds a delightful texture, while the rich, salty-sweet caramel sauce melts over everything, creating an unforgettable breakfast experience.
Baking your own granola is one of life’s simple pleasures. It requires minimal effort, fills your home with an incredible aroma, and the result is vastly superior to any store-bought variety. You control the sweetness, the type of nuts, and the amount of spice, ensuring a perfectly personalized and wholesome start to your day. This **homemade apple pie granola** isn’t just a meal; it’s a sensory journey that celebrates the best of fall. And yes, it tastes every bit as delicious as it sounds. I have a feeling this will become a frequent request in your home!
This particular recipe comes with a fun backstory! It was created as part of a food blog swap, where I had the pleasure of cooking from another talented food blogger’s site. This time, I explored Lis’s wonderful blog, lislovescooking. Lis pours her passion for baking into a vast collection of recipes, many of which are gluten-free, a choice she made after discovering how much better she felt eating that way. It’s always inspiring to see how other food enthusiasts bring their unique perspectives to the kitchen, and this apple pie granola is a testament to that shared love for delicious food.
Essential Ingredients for Cinnamon Apple Granola
To embark on your journey of creating this delectable **Apple Pie Granola**, gather the following high-quality ingredients. You’ll find the precise measurements detailed in the convenient recipe card located at the very bottom of this post:
- Granny Smith Apples: This specific variety is a star in this recipe because it retains a pleasant bite even after baking. Its distinct fresh and tart flavor perfectly balances the sweetness of the granola, mimicking the best qualities of a classic apple pie filling. If you can’t find Granny Smiths, Jonagold apples are a good alternative. Crucially, avoid “stewing apples” as they break down too much, resulting in apple butter rather than the desired pie-like texture.
- All-Purpose Flour: A small amount of flour is used to thicken the apple juices released during cooking, creating a wonderfully creamy and luscious apple filling. This is key to achieving that authentic apple pie consistency.
- Gingerbread Spices: These warm, aromatic spices are a staple in traditional Dutch apple pie, and they bring an incredible depth of flavor to this granola. If gingerbread spice mix isn’t readily available, a generous amount of cinnamon, perhaps with a pinch of nutmeg or allspice, makes for a fine substitute.
- Lemon Juice: Essential for two reasons: it prevents the sliced apples from browning (oxidizing) as you prepare them, and it adds a bright, zesty counterpoint to the sweet elements, enhancing the overall freshness of the dish.
- Apple Juice: Used for stewing the fresh apple slices, this ingredient infuses them with additional apple flavor and natural sweetness, helping them soften to perfection. Opt for unsweetened apple juice if possible to control the overall sugar content.
- Unsalted Butter: Butter plays a dual role here. Firstly, it’s used to gently fry the apples until they begin to soften, contributing a rich, savory note. Secondly, it’s a crucial component in the granola, helping the oats and nuts crisp up beautifully in the oven, giving that irresistible crunch.
- Honey: This natural sweetener binds the granola ingredients together and provides a subtle, complex sweetness that caramelizes slightly during baking. Maple syrup is an excellent alternative if you prefer.
- Rolled Oats: The backbone of any good granola! When baked, these oats transform from soft flakes into golden, crispy clusters. Ensure you use rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) rather than instant oats for the best texture.
- Walnuts: These provide a wonderful nutty flavor and a satisfying textural contrast within the granola. Feel free to swap them for pecans, almonds, or even a mix of your favorite nuts.
- Ground Cinnamon: A non-negotiable fall spice that pairs exquisitely with apples and forms the aromatic heart of this granola. Its warmth is utterly comforting.
- Raisins: These sweet, chewy morsels add another layer of flavor and texture. It’s vital to add them *after* the granola has baked to prevent them from burning and becoming hard during the high heat of the oven.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Beyond sweetness, brown sugar brings a molasses-rich, caramel-like flavor that deepens during baking. It also aids in the caramelization of the granola topping, contributing to its crunch and beautiful golden-brown color.
- Salted Caramel Sauce (Optional, but Highly Recommended): This is the secret weapon that elevates this breakfast from delicious to extraordinary. The rich, salty-sweet caramel sauce drizzled over the warm dish ties all the flavors together, adding a decadent touch. If you don’t have caramel sauce, a good quality maple syrup or even a sprinkle of extra brown sugar could be used, though the caramel is truly special. You can use store-bought or easily make your own.
Step-by-Step Guide: Preparing Your Fresh Cinnamon Apple Granola
For a convenient, printable recipe with detailed instructions, scroll down to the dedicated recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
- **Prepare the Spiced Apples:** Begin by gently tossing your sliced apple pieces with lemon juice and flour, ensuring each slice is lightly coated. In a skillet, melt a tablespoon of butter over low heat. Add the coated apples and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften. Next, stir in the fragrant gingerbread spices and apple juice. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for an additional 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly. Once done, remove from heat.
- **Bake the Homemade Granola:** In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the honey, a touch of oil, rolled oats, chopped walnuts, and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly until all the dry ingredients are evenly coated. Spread this mixture in a single, even layer onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 320 °F (160 °C) for 15 minutes. After the first bake, remove the tray, stir the granola well with a spatula to ensure even browning, and return it to the oven for another 15 minutes. Once golden and crispy, take it out and allow it to cool slightly before gently folding in the raisins. (Adding raisins after baking prevents them from burning).
- **Assemble the Apple Pie Granola:** Lightly butter your ramekins (individual baking dishes) to prevent sticking and help achieve a golden crust. Divide the warm, stewed apple mixture evenly among the buttered ramekins. In a separate bowl, combine your freshly baked granola with brown sugar and a little extra oatmeal. This mixture will form your crunchy topping.
- **Final Bake and Serve:** Generously spoon the granola, brown sugar, and oat mixture over the apples in each ramekin, creating a delightful crumbly topping. Place half a tablespoon of butter on top of each ramekin’s granola topping – this will help it brown and become extra crispy. Bake in your preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling.
Serve your delicious **Apple Pie Granola** warm for the ultimate comforting breakfast. And for an absolutely divine experience, drizzle generously with some salted caramel sauce – it’s entirely optional, but trust me, it’s highly recommended!
Serving Suggestions & Variations
While this **Apple Pie Granola** is perfect on its own, especially when fresh from the oven, there are many ways to enjoy and customize it:
- **With a Dollop of Yogurt:** A spoonful of plain Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt adds a creamy, tangy contrast.
- **A Scoop of Ice Cream:** For a truly decadent dessert experience, serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The melting ice cream and warm apple pie granola is an incredible combination.
- **Add Fresh Berries:** While it’s a fall dish, a handful of fresh raspberries or blueberries could add a lovely pop of color and freshness.
- **Nutty Variations:** Experiment with different nuts in your granola, such as pecans, almonds, or even pumpkin seeds for an extra fall touch.
- **Spice It Up:** Beyond gingerbread spices and cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice can add further complexity to your baked apples.
- **Dried Fruit Alternatives:** Instead of raisins, try dried cranberries, chopped dried apricots, or even dried cherries for different flavor profiles in the granola. Remember to add them after baking!
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
This **Apple Pie Granola** is best enjoyed fresh and warm from the oven, when the apples are tender and the granola is at its crispiest. Unfortunately, once assembled and baked, the individual portions don’t store well, as the granola topping will lose its crispness when combined with the warm, moist apples.
However, you can absolutely make parts of this recipe ahead of time:
- Homemade Granola: The beauty of homemade granola is its excellent shelf life. Once cooled completely, store your unused granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 months. This makes it perfect for having on hand for other breakfasts or snacking.
- Freezing Granola: If you want to extend its life even further, granola can be frozen. While its texture might change ever so slightly, it will still be delicious. Place the cooled granola in an airtight freezer-safe bag or container, removing as much air as possible, and store in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before using.
- Pre-Cooked Apples: You can cook the spiced apple mixture a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to assemble, simply warm the apples slightly before dividing them into ramekins and proceeding with the granola topping and final bake.
These tips ensure you can enjoy this delicious breakfast with minimal fuss, even on busy mornings!
Did you make this delicious recipe? Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I love to see what your creation looks like and regularly share the most beautiful photos of you! Did you like this recipe? Then leave a rating on the recipe card! Your feedback helps other home cooks and me enormously.
Need more inspiration?
- You can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don’t forget to save the recipes on Pinterest, so you can easily find them again next time!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
Granola
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons raisins
Baked Apples
- 3 Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon gingerbread spices
- ¾ cup apple juice
Topping
- 1 cup granola
- ⅓ cup oatmeal
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons salted caramel sauce , optional
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
Granola
-
Preheat the oven to 350 °F or 320 °F
-
Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
-
Mix the oil, honey, oats walnuts, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Make sure everything is covered.2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons sunflower oil, 1 cup rolled oats, 2 tablespoons walnuts, ½ teaspoon cinnamon
-
Spread on a sheet pan in an even layer and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
-
Mix everything well with a spatula and put back in the oven for another 15 minutes.
-
Let the Granola cool slightly.
-
Allow it to cool before you mix in the raisins. Mix the raisins with this delicious Granola.3 tablespoons raisins
Baked Apples
-
Mix the apple with the lemon juice and the flour, and make sure the apple is well covered with the flour.3 Granny Smith, 2 tablespoons flour, 2 teaspoons lemon juice
-
Melt butter in the pan.1 tablespoon butter
-
Reduce the heat to low and bake the apples for 5 minutes. Stir regularly with a wooden spoon.
-
Then add the gingerbread spices and the apple juice and mix everything.½ teaspoon gingerbread spices, ¾ cup apple juice
-
Turn to medium heat so that the apple juice comes to a boil, then turn down the heat, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
Topping
-
Butter 4 ramekins, so that the apple mixture does not stick.
-
Divide the stewed apples over the ramekins.
-
Combine oats with Granola and brown sugar.1 cup granola, ¼ cup dark brown sugar, ⅓ cup oatmeal
-
Top each ramekin with the granola mixture.
-
Put ½ tablespoon of butter on top.2 tablespoons butter
-
Put the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake them in the oven for 25 minutes.
-
Optional (but very tasty): pour some (salted) caramel sauce over the trays.4 tablespoons salted caramel sauce
Notes
2. Gingerbread spices: these belong in a Dutch apple pie, so why not use them here. You could substitute it with cinnamon.
3. Storage
Eat this breakfast when it’s still warm. Unfortunately, you can’t store it.
However, you can store the Granola:
- Room temperature: In an airtight, sealed container, the Granola will keep for up to 2 months.
- Freezer: Although the structure changes slightly, it is possible to store Granola in the freezer. Place the Granola in an airtight box or bag (with as little air as possible) and store it in the freezer for up to three months.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
- Easy Homemade Almond Coconut Granola Recipe
- Oatmeal with mango, coconut and date syrup
- Oatmeal with pomegranate, sunflower seeds and cinnamon
- Yogurt with honey and pomegranate