(Note: this post was originally published on October 27, 2019. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)
I'm excited to introduce you to your new favorite cozy fall breakfast and snack. This pumpkin pie granola is crunchy, delicately sweet, and loaded with pumpkin pie flavor. It has become a staple in our house from October through December because it's versatile, easy to make, loaded with iconic fall flavors, and makes the house smell heavenly while it bakes.
This vegan pumpkin granola tastes like pumpkin pie in a crunchy, portable form. It has all the classic pumpkin pie spices including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom. It's much better for the body than most store-bought granolas and most homemade granola recipes because it's sweetened with only a small amount of maple syrup and gets its moisture from pumpkin puree; that means this healthy pumpkin granola is refined sugar-free and much lower in oil than other options you'll find.
If you've made granola before (or looked at the ingredients in store-bought granola), you'll know that many recipes use a large amount of both oil and sugar. Those ingredients help the granola to crisp up as it bakes, but unfortunately they also mean that most granolas are basically cake in disguise. Some granolas even use powdered milk or egg whites to help with crisping and clumping.
This unique vegan pumpkin granola ditches all the refined sugar and uses just a small amount of coconut oil thanks to a secret ingredient: pumpkin puree. The pumpkin provides natural sweetness to this granola and the moisture helps it to clump together and eventually get crispy while baking. There's only a half cup each of maple syrup and coconut oil in the whole batch (at least 16 servings) and no other sweeteners or oils.
Curious about omitting the oil completely? Personally, when I've tried to omit the oil from this recipe, I've found that the granola feels a little bit heavier and softer; it's ok, but not as good as when I use just a little bit of coconut oil to help with the crisping. Feel free to give it a try though and leave a comment below to let everyone know what you think.
This vegan pumpkin granola recipe is very easy to make: just toss all of the ingredients together and bake. Then, after baking, you'll add in two additional flavor powerhouses: dried cranberries and crystallized ginger.
If you've made a traditional granola recipe before that uses a lot of oil, this one is going to be different. Because the pumpkin has a higher water content that oil, the granola takes longer to dry out and eventually crisp up. You'll see that the mixture seems wetter than what you're used to. You'll need to give the pumpkin time to cook down in the oven and become delicious. Don't rush it, otherwise your granola could end up soggy.
If you're intrigued by the idea of making granola with fruit puree instead of oil, you'll also want to check out this applesauce granola.
Here's what you'll need for this vegan pumpkin granola 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.
If you've never tried making your own granola before, now is the time. This pumpkin pie granola is easy to make, the whole house smells amazing while it bakes, and this homemade version is much lower in sugar and oil than store-bought options. Once you start making your own, you'll never want to go back.
There are so many ways to enjoy this healthy pumpkin granola. It works great as a nourishing breakfast with your milk or yogurt of choice, or even in a pretty parfait with seasonal fruit. It's a wonderful on-the-go snack, especially since it's travel friendly and won't spoil or get crushed in your bag. It even works as a dessert on top of ice cream or baked apples. Regardless of how you choose to enjoy it, this vegan pumpkin granola is a satisfying and comforting fall treat.
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.
Supercharged Green Electrolyte + Protein Smoothie
Apple Cider Donut Oat Flour Cake
Maple Pecan Ginger Oat Flour Scones
Bursting with sweet pumpkin, fragrant vanilla, and iconic cozy fall spices, this pumpkin pie granola is even better than the classic dessert. It has all the nostalgic pie flavor, but with good-for-the-body ingredients.
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.
Leave a Comment