Cinnamon Granola with Pecans

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Cinnamon granola with pecans adds a sweet crunchy texture on top of yogurt with fresh fruit as part of a balanced breakfast or healthy snack! This homemade cinnamon pecan granola is made with simple ingredients and has an addicting natural flavor that will beat any store-bought granola. I love having a small bowl of this granola as breakfast cereal, sprinkling on ice cream, or as a smoothie bowl topping!

The key to this homemade granola recipe and its irresistible flavor are using healthy ingredients: heart-healthy oats and high fiber cereal (thanks to their dietary fiber content), pure maple syrup, anti-inflammatory cinnamon and other spices, avocado oil, and pure vanilla extract. Cooking this crunchy granola on a low heat and letting it cool completely will result in the best texture!

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chunks of cinnamon granola with pecans on a baking sheet with a glass of milk and linen in the background.

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Equipment
Cinnamon Granola Ingredients
How to Make Cinnamon Granola Clusters
Variations & Substitutions
Pro Tips
Recipe FAQ
Other Recipes You May Like
Cinnamon Granola with Pecans

Equipment

Large bowl - a 3- or 5-quart bowl is perfect for creating the oat mixture
Small bowl or liquid measuring cup - you want to combine the oil mixture of oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and mix separately before pouring over the oats
Rubber spatula - a rubber spatula is ideal for mixing and spreading out the granola mixture onto the baking sheet with minimal sticking.
Baking sheet - you want to spread the granola mixture in an even layer on a large baking sheet to allow to maximum crispiness!
Parchment paper - parchment paper will prevent the granola from sticking to the sheet pan

Cinnamon Granola Ingredients

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

cinnamon granola with pecans ingredients

Old fashioned oats - these are a complex carbohydrate (LINK) and a good source of fiber. They are the bulk of this granola recipe! I recommend using old-fashioned or rolled oats as opposed to quick oats or steel cut as they may cook differently.
Pecans - I love adding pecans to this easy granola recipe because they add a buttery, nutty flavor.
High fiber cereal - cereals like All Bran or Grape Nuts are a great way to add not only texture and crunch, but nutrients like fiber and B vitamins!
Unsweetened shredded coconut - coconut flakes go so well in granola and are a tasty addition if you like coconut! There isn't a strong coconut flavor to this maple pecan granola but you can omit this ingredient if you don't like coconut.
Avocado oil - any neutral oil will work for this granola recipe (see Substitutions below!). Oil will help to bind the ingredients together as well as make the granola crispy.
Spices - this granola is packed with warm spices like ground cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom.
Salt - just a hint of salt to balance out the sweetness!

How to Make Cinnamon Granola Clusters

dry ingredients for cinnamon granola with pecans

1: Combine oats, high fiber cereal, and spices in a large mixing bowl and stir until combined.

syrup, oil, and vanilla mixture to pour over cinnamon granola with pecans

2: In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine the avocado oil, real maple syrup, and pure vanilla extract. Stir until fully combined.

cinnamon granola with pecans in a large mixing bowl

3: Pour the wet ingredients into the large bowl with the dry ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula until the oat mixture is evenly coated.

cinnamon granola with pecans pressed on a large baking sheet before going in the oven.

4: Dump the granola mixture onto a prepared baking sheet and press into an even layer.

cinnamon granola with pecans broken into pieces on a large baking sheet

5: Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 40-45 minutes, or until fragrant and golden brown on top.

*Let cool completely before breaking into pieces to allow those big clumps to form!

Variations & Substitutions

You can add so many mix-ins to this granola recipe:
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chia seeds
- Chocolate chips (I would toss these in after baking so they don't melt!)
- Raisins
- Dried cranberries, apricots, mango, apples, etc.!
You can substitute melted coconut oil for avocado oil, but I'm not the biggest fan of coconut oil because of it's saturated fat content. Olive oil would be a better substitution!

a baking sheet with cinnamon granola and pecans on it with a spoon scooping a spoonful.

Pro Tips

Cooking this granola low and slow is key to the crunchy clumps that classic granola has! Don't turn the heat too high as the granola will burn and crumble.
It's also very important to let it cool completely before breaking it apart. Otherwise, you'll have more crumbly granola with smaller pieces.

a plate of cinnamon granola with pecans and a baking sheet with more granola in the background.

Recipe FAQ

Is cinnamon granola healthy?

Granola can be fairly high in calories and sugar, depending on what recipe you use or brand you buy. I recommend consuming granola in moderation for those reasons!

What is the healthiest way to eat granola?

Since granola is primarily carbs and fat, I recommend pairing it with a high quality protein like Greek yogurt or milk!

What can I use instead of pecans?

You can use any nut or seed you like! Almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, etc. You can even omit the nuts altogether.

Is this granola soft or crunchy?

This granola is crunchy! It has big chunks that are perfect for topping yogurt or a smoothie bowl, or having as a cereal with milk.