(Note: this post was originally published on October 11, 2020. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)
Apple pie: the classic fall dessert, now brought to you in a nourishing, crunchy, and incredibly fun form! This Apple Pie Granola is guaranteed to be your go-to breakfast (or snack! or lunch! or dessert!) all fall long.
This granola has some major cozy fall flair. It makes me think of apple picking in October and of my grandma's homemade apple pie at Thanksgiving. It's loaded with warming fall spices like vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice, giving it that classic apple pie taste and aroma.
I love making apple pie, but I usually do it only once or twice a season; I make a legit full-butter crust, and it's more of a special treat than a go-to. But this granola is a form of apple pie that you'll want to have all fall long because the ingredients are great for every-day.
Because this granola gets most of its moisture and sweetness from a bunch (!!) of applesauce, it's a very nourishing treat whenever and however you enjoy it. There's only a quarter cup each of maple syrup and coconut oil in the whole batch, and no other added sweeteners or oils. Add in the pecans and apples and you have yourself a very nutritious granola.
Have you made your own granola before? If so, this one is going to be a bit different. The reason is that I really wanted to achieve a big, deep apple flavor, which simply cannot be rushed. You'll notice that this is a much wetter mixture because there's a whole bunch of applesauce in the recipe. If you're a homemade granola pro, you'll think it's too wet.
Have faith! Just like apples cook down for an hour or more to make a flavorful pie, you need to give the applesauce time to cook down and become delicious. Don't rush it! If you do, your granola will be bland and soggy, neither of which you want. It needs almost an hour in the oven (during which time your house will smell like cozy fall heaven). Keep a close eye on it and let it brown, but pull it out before the sugars in the applesauce start to burn.
Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
What could you do with this granola?? The possibilities are endless! It's wonderful as a simple breakfast with your preferred milk or yogurt. I've been bringing it for lunch every day since it's easy to transport. We've even been having it for dessert, with some vanilla yogurt (and let's be honest, also some caramel sauce). It would make for a really fun, special Thanksgiving morning breakfast, especially if you have visitors.
Imagine Thanksgiving morning... a nice bowl of this with creamy vanilla yogurt and maybe even some sauteed apple slices?? Oh yes!
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
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Loaded with warming fall spices and cozy vibes, this granola is exploding with apple pie flavors and is addictingly crunchy. Best of all, it's naturally sweetened with just a bit of maple syrup and gets its crispness from apple sauce!
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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