Apple cider, it’s everywhere come Fall. And I’m not complaining one bit, in fact I can’t get enough of it. Warmed in a mug and swirled with a cinnamon stick for cozy movie nights, baked into fresh from the farm soft and cakey donuts, and cooked into a decadent caramel. The other thing I’m loving, granola. We’ve been going through a lot of it, and it’s my favorite to bake up weekly during this season. A quart of fresh apple cider can go a long way, and I knew I had to add this favorite fall flavor into my next batch of granola. 
The star of this granola is the apple. Not only is this granola baked with cider, it’s finished with pieces of freshly baked apples chips. Apple chips are one of my favorite healthy fall snacks, especially because they are so simple to make. While you bake the granola, you can roast up the apple slices into either crunchy or chewy chips. Since I like to add chewy sweet dates and cranberries into my granolas, I chose to bake my apple chips until crunchy. You can probably tell that the granola photographed for this post is on the darker side, yes I may have burned this batch just a bit to much. But the blackened pieces were quickly thrown out, and it became the most crunchiest cinnamon spiced apple-ful granola. 
My granola is always chock full of good for you ingredients, like ground flax, hemp and chia seeds. It’s deliciously textured and sweet yet filling. It’s my go to for breakfast each morning atop greek yogurt and whatever seasonal fruit I decide to slice up. 
Not only is this apple cider granola the perfect fall snack, it’s my go to homemade food gift, whether in a housewarming basket, gifted to new parents, or shared for the holidays. You’re definitely going to want to save this recipe to serve up or give during Christmas and the holidays.
As you read this, I’ll most likely be whipping up another batch of this granola. This stuff doesn’t last long in my house.
Grab a big bowl, toss some oats with nuts, your favorite spices and apple cider and let’s make some granola!
Apple Cider Granola
Ingredients {Makes about 5 cups}
4 cups – Gluten Free Rolled Oats {not instant}
1 cup – Raw Almonds {coarsely chopped}
1/4 cup – Flax Seeds {ground}
1/4 cup – Hemp Seeds {raw}
1/4 cup – Chia Seeds
1 teaspoon – Sea Salt
1 1/4 teaspoon – Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon – Ground Ginger
1/2 teaspoon – Ground Allspice
1/4 teaspoon – Ground Nutmeg
1/2 cup – Dark Brown Sugar {packed}
1/4 cup – Pure Apple Cider
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons – Pure Maple Syrup
3 tablespoons – Coconut Oil
1/2 cup – Dried Cranberries
1/2 cup – Medjool Dates {pitted about 4}
1/2 to 3/4 cup – Baked Apple Chips {bake 1 apple – recipe here}
Recipe
Preheat your oven to 350*F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Combine the oats, almonds, flax, hemp seeds, chia seeds, salt and spices in a large bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, apple cider, honey and coconut oil. Stir continuously until it just begins to boil, and the coconut oil melts and the sugar dissolves {about 5 minutes}. Pour over the dry ingredients and mix until everything is well coated.
Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 30 minutes. Stir the granola and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until granola is golden brown. Allow it to cool completely on the baking sheet, then place into a large bowl and stir in your dried fruit. Place in an airtight container at room temperature.
