Super Healthy Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Granola

October 23, 2013

I think I have explained my issues with snacking to you all before. I am so not a snacker. I mean, I loooooove snack food. For real. Chips, dips, trail mix, cookies, or maybe even a half pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Those are all great snacks in my opinion.

I just try and stay away from snacks because for me, that is one slippery slope. Next thing you know, the whole bag of chips is gone and I have an hour before dinner and guess what? Surprise, surprise. I’m not hungry because my snack just became my meal.

Being pregnant, snacking is highly encouraged. All the baby books say so! Some books even suggest keeping a snack stash in the bedroom near your bed in case you wake up hungry. But out of fear of turning into George Costanza and ending up with full on sandwiches in my nightstand, I have refrained from taking it that far.

Now, when I say snacks, I’m not talking about chips or ice cream clearly. I am talking about mixed nuts, granola, or fruit. Those are a few of my faves at least.

So, now, as exhibited on Instagram the other day, I have taken to loading my purse up with emergency snacks just in case I get hungry while out and about. And when I say I get hungry, I mean I get huuuuuuungry! Like I will chew your fricken arm off Walking Dead zombie style hungry.

My go-to snack used to be a snack-sized plastic baggy filled with walnuts or almonds. But for some reason, lately, eating a handful of dry nuts is not something I really enjoy. (That’s what she said. Sorry.)

Since it is fall and all, I have rediscovered my love for this granola made with pumpkin pie spices and pumpkin puree. Since I wanted to boost the amount of health benefits, I added some flax seed, chia seed, and pumpkin seed.

Chia seeds and flax seeds are jam packed with Omega 3’s, fiber, and protein. They are so small and add so much to your diet. And for all you pumpkin fanatics out there, roasted pumpkin seeds aren’t just super seasonal and super tasty; they are full of iron, zinc, protein, and a bunch of other minerals too! Who knew snacking could be so delicious and beneficial for your health!

Super Healthy Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Granola

Course Snack
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Author Sarcastic Cooking

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ Tablespoons Coconut Oil/Canola Oil
  • 1/3 Cup Maple Syrup
  • 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
  • 1/3 Cup Pumpkin Puree
  • 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • Pinch of Sea Salt
  • 2 Cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
  • ½ Cup Chopped Walnuts
  • 1 Heaping Tablespoon Flax Seeds
  • 1 Heaping Tablespoon Chia Seeds
  • 1/3 Cup Dried Cranberries
  • 1/3 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oil, syrup, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, and spices. Mix well.
  3. Add in the oats, nuts, seeds, and cranberries. Mix until all bits are evenly coated.
  4. Pour granola mixture on to lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove from oven and stir/flip the granola, and then bake for an additional 15 minutes until golden.
  5. Let the granola cool on the pan. Store in an air-tight container for up to a week,

 

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  • Annie
    January 13, 2015 at 3:12 pm

    This is my go-to granola recipe! I really love the pumpkin-spice-nut-berry thing. I had pecans on hand when I made it today, and it was so great. I just wrote an entire granola related memoir, I definitely mentioned this! haha, thanks for an awesome recipe!

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  • Jessica
    June 10, 2014 at 10:06 pm

    Made it twice…delicious!

    • Stefanie
      June 11, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      Yay!!!

  • Alecia
    October 24, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    This sounds delicious. Have you ever had floriole granola? It pretty much made me fall in love with granola all over again – so I am obsessed with finding granola recipes. I will have to try this one.

  • Stephie @ EYHO
    October 23, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    “All the baby books say so! Some books even suggest keeping a snack stash in the bedroom near your bed in case you wake up hungry.” WAIT. Why am I not pregnant???

    Oh, yeah. Because then I’d have to have a baby. Womp womp.

    Also, TWSS…I busted out laughing VERY loudly.

    Also, this granola is totally gorgeous. I could snack on that allllllllll day. I think I need an emergency granola stash in my purse, too! (Not for baby-related hunger…just inbetween-tutoring-sessions-hunger!)

    • Stefanie
      October 24, 2013 at 12:56 pm

      I think everybody needs an emergency snack stash in their purses!

  • Dina | The Everyday Contessa
    October 23, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    This looks perfect for an October picnic. This must make the whole house smell wonderful! I can’t wait to make this for the family.

  • Julia
    October 23, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    What a great, healthy homemade granola recipe!! I tried homemade granola a while back and wondered why I hadn’t been doing it all along! Loving the flavors in this.

  • Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
    October 23, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    I totes just made pumpkin granola this week too! We’ll have to compare recipes! I am working my way through a huge can of pumpkin that I opened last weekend. It’s never-ending! I am definitely not pregnant, but holy hell, do I ever snack the heck out of each day. I LOVE SNACKS! Granola is one of my faves too.

    • Stefanie
      October 23, 2013 at 6:24 pm

      Can’t wait to see your pumpkin granola recipe! I’m running low on my supply! Pumpkin granola is so good!

  • Susan
    October 23, 2013 at 11:09 am

    Bahahaha! That’s what she said. This is why I like you. 🙂 I think this would go wonderfully in my morning yogurt.

    • Stefanie
      October 23, 2013 at 11:11 am

      I am glad you appreciate my humor!

  • Sophia @ NY Foodgasm
    October 23, 2013 at 8:34 am

    Wow, this looks amazing and I love the way you shot your photos! Beautiful styling!

    • Stefanie
      October 23, 2013 at 9:13 am

      Thank you Sophia!