Homemade Cinnamon Pecan Granola

This recipe for homemade cinnamon pecan granola is flavorful! This easy granola recipe can be enjoyed on top of yogurt, in a parfait with fresh fruit, on its own, or in oatmeal.

Cinnamon pecan granola is delicious any time of the year. This homemade granola recipe is one of my favorites.

The oats pair beautifully with the chopped pecans and cinnamon. And the granola gets a touch of sweetness from the honey.

The key to a good homemade cinnamon pecan granola is to not add the pecans in until the very end of cooking. Trust me on this. The first time I attempted pecan granola last year, I wound up with a very burnt taste in my mouth from the pecans that had spent way too long getting roasted. Learn from my mistakes.

You can enjoy this easy granola in a variety of ways, but we especially love it in yogurt bowls with fruit, like in this recipe for granola breakfast bowls.

Ingredients:

• Pecans -You can get pecan pieces for this, but I love to get pecan halves and then chop them up myself. If you have access to a pecan tree, use fresh ones and crack them yourself!
• Old fashioned oats - Old fashioned oats work best here! However, if all you have is quick oats, you can use those, the texture will just be slightly different.
• Coconut oil - You'll use melted coconut oil here. If you're like me, my coconut oil tends to stay solid in the winter and melted in the summer. If your coconut oil is in the hard stage, just stick it in the microwave to melt!
• Honey - I always love using local honey. You can also swap this out for maple syrup.
• Vanilla extract - Use the pure stuff, not imitation vanilla.
• Cinnamon - The ground cinnamon adds a nice warmth and flavor to this recipe.
• Salt - A pinch of salt really amplifies all the other flavors and balances it out.

How to make the recipe vegan:

To make a vegan cinnamon pecan granola, simply swap out the honey and use maple syrup or brown sugar instead.

Customizations:

• Swap out the spices or add more - for fall vibes, a touch of nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice is delicious
• Swap out the nuts - If you don't want to use pecans, you could easily use almonds, walnuts, or even pumpkin seeds.
• Swap out the sugar - instead of honey, you could use maple syrup or brown sugar

How to serve the pecan granola:

This cinnamon pecan granola can be enjoyed in any way you love to enjoy granola! It can be served on it's own, or eaten with your favorite milk or milk alternative.

It's also delicious with yogurt and fresh berries, in a parfait, or on top of some oatmeal for added crunch!

Storage instructions:

To store the granola, first cool completely, then add the granola to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to two weeks. If you live in a more humid climate, you may want to store in the fridge for freshness.

Recipe tips:

• If adding nuts to the granola like pecans or walnuts, only add for the last 5 minutes of baking to prevent burning.

How to make:

To make the cinnamon pecan granola, first, preheat your oven to 275 degrees F. That's a low temperature, but you'll want low heat when making this granola.

Next, combine your dry ingredients -- the oats, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the melted coconut oil, honey, and vanilla.

In a medium or large mixing bowl, add the wet and dry ingredients. Stir until everything is all mixed together and combined.

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.

After granola is mixed, spread out onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.

If needed, chop your pecans while you're waiting for the oats to cook in the oven.

After 20 minutes, take the tray out of the oven, and stir the oats. Put the baking sheet back in the oven, cook for another 20 minutes, take out, and then add the pecans to the sheet.

Stir to combine and then put back in the oven for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, pull the granola out of the oven. Let cool, then store in airtight jars.

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