Chai Spiced Granola
on Nov 28, 2012, Updated Jul 17, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I am very in touch with how things smell. I always have been, just ask anyone in my family or my husband. They will tell you that I’m always commenting on how good or gross something smells (“what stinks” is a common phrase in my vocabulary). The funny thing is I usually smell things that they don’t. I joke that the bomb squad should hire me to sniff out bombs. Some of the things I love to smell are homemade spaghetti sauce, I think it’s the garlic and onion combination that gets me. Almost anything baking in the oven, but my favorites are brownies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and granola (this particular one smelled amazing).
Candles are another one of my downfalls. I have a whole cabinet filled with them, it’s my secret addiction, although I guess not so secret any more. I currently am obsessed with the fall and winter smelling candles from Bath and Body Works. I have scents such as Hot Buttered Rum, Cider Lane, Cinnamon Pumpkin, Cinnamon Sugared Donut…there seems to be a trend of cinnamon and food going on here. So those are the good smells, now how about some of my least favorites. I won’t list the obvious ones which are probably at the top of your list too. One of the smells I hate the most are stinky feet! Ugh! Come on people wear socks, clean socks, and wash your feet occasionally! Next there are some not so appetizing smells that I have noticed while out running in the morning. The grease being burned off the stove at the Jack in the Box across the street gags me, the smell of diesel, and smelling someones dinner oozing out from there house from the night before…seriously how gross must it smell inside if I can smell it running by on the street!
But lets get back to good smells and in particular this chai spiced granola! The great thing about granola is it bakes longer so you get to smell it longer. I thought chai spices would be perfect on granola for a fall flavor. The added spice of cardamom adds almost a hint of peppery flavor to it.
Making your own granola can’t even compare in the flavor department to the stuff you buy in the store. I prefer to make mine because I can control the sweetness. I always find the store bought stuff to taste more like dessert than something I might want for breakfast or a snack. My favorite way to eat this was shoveling it by the handfuls into my mouth on top of some plain greek yogurt, but any way you eat it is bound to be good!
Chai Spiced Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup unsalted almonds
- 1/2 cup unsalted pecans
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1-2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250° F.
- In a small bowl combine the cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the oats and nuts.
- In another small bowl whisk together the honey, oil, and salt.
- Pour the spice mixture into the oat mixture and whisk together.
- Pour the honey mixture into the oat mixture and combine with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients are wet.
- Spread the granola mixture out on to a parchment or foil lined sheet pan.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes or until the granola is golden brown. Stir the granola every 15 minutes so that it browns evenly.
- Once the granola is removed from the oven mix in the cranberries.
- Store in an airtight container.
The smell is the first thing that lures you to this granola. It is not like any other granola I have had. It is very satisfying.
I agree with Lori – your photos are fantastic! Very professional!!
The smell was definitely one of my favorite things about making this!
This looks delish. Will have to make this weekend for Jessie. She loves granola. Btw your website is great. The photos look very professional. You should be on food gawker (if you aren’t already)!
Thanks Lori! Hope you get to try out the granola, let me know what you think.