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Begin your morning with the wholesome goodness of homemade apple granola. Combining the natural sweetness of apples with hearty oats and a touch of spice, this Small Batch Apple Granola recipe is not only simple to whip up but also serves as a delightful, nutritious option for your busy mornings or as a quick snack during the day.
Craving more delicious small batch granola recipes? You’ll love our indulgent butter pecan granola, warm and cozy gingerbread granola, or perfectly spiced pumpkin spice granola.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Portion Control: This small batch recipe prevents waste and ensures freshness in every bite.
- Flavorful: A balance of sweet and tart flavors from the fresh apple, sweeteners, and spices make this granola incredibly tasty.
- Versatile: This granola can be enjoyed on its own, with milk or yogurt, or as a topping on various dishes.
What Makes Apple Granola So Delicious?
It all comes down to the fresh apples! Unlike traditional granola, this version incorporates chopped apples for a naturally sweet flavor and a slightly softer, more satisfying texture. The apples also pair beautifully with warm spices like cinnamon and vanilla, creating a cozy and comforting flavor profile that’s perfect for fall or anytime you want a delicious and wholesome snack.
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Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch granola recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats. If you’d like to make gluten-free granola, be sure to use gluten-free oats. I do not recommend using quick oats. Extra oats can be used to make a small batch of Oatmeal Cookies or a Blackberry Crisp.
- Coconut: Use unsweetened shredded coconut. Consider using leftover coconut in Ambrosia Salad or Morning Glory Muffins.
- Nuts and seeds: I use chopped walnuts and chopped almonds. Feel free to switch up the nuts you use in your version. Consider using cashews, pecans, or pumpkin seeds.
- Brown sugar: Use light or dark brown sugar. If you don’t have brown sugar in your pantry, make your own with our easy brown sugar recipe.
- Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice: These warm flavors of fall are perfect in apple granola. These spices are what make this granola taste just like apple pie!
- Butter: Salted butter is what I use, you can use coconut oil instead.
- Maple syrup: You can use honey, agave, or brown rice syrup instead of maple syrup. Extra maple syrup can be added to a mini Pecan Pie or French Toast Casserole.
- Salt and vanilla extract: For flavor.
- One apple: Peel or leave the apple unpeeled. Got extra apples? Use them in any of our single serving and small batch apple recipes like Apple Cake, Apple Cobbler, or Dutch Apple Pie.
Recipe Variations
- Apple Cinnamon Raisin Granola: Add a handful of raisins to the granola mixture before the last 10 minutes of baking for an extra burst of sweetness.
- Apple Granola with Seeds: Swap out the nuts with a mix of your favorite seeds, such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds, for a nut-free version.
- Apple Granola with Chocolate Chips: Add some dark chocolate chips after the granola has cooled for a chocolatey twist.
- Spiced Apple Granola: Add an extra pinch of nutmeg or cardamom along with the other spices for an extra kick of flavor.
How To Make Apple Granola
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a small batch of apple granola. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, shredded coconut, chopped walnuts, chopped almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
- In a small pot on medium heat, melt the butter and stir in maple syrup and salt. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Pour the butter/syrup mixture over the oats and nuts mixture and stir until well blended.
- Fold in the diced apples.
- Pour onto a rimmed sheet pan and spread the granola mixture across the entire pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: You will need to bake the granola for a total of 40 minutes, removing the pan from the oven to stir the granola every 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and stir the granola to encourage even toasting. Place the baking sheet back in the oven to bake for another 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: It’s important to spread the granola well. There is a lot of moisture in the granola from the chopped apples. Spread the granola evenly so that the granola bakes up crispy.
- Continue to bake the granola, removing the pan every 10 minutes and stirring the granola it has baked for a total of 40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, cool, and then transfer the granola to a container to store.
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Expert Tips
- Customize it! This recipe is your starting point. Swap in your favorite nuts and dried fruits, keeping the overall amounts similar.
- For chunky granola: Press the mixture into small ovals on the baking sheet during the first 10 minutes of baking for satisfying granola clusters.
- Let it cool completely: This allows the granola to crisp up properly before storing or enjoying.
- Re-crisp if needed: If your granola softens, spread it on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 7-8 minutes to restore its crunch.
Serving Suggestions
- Yogurt Parfait: Layer your apple granola with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit slices for a balanced and filling breakfast.
- Smoothie Bowl: Sprinkle a generous amount of apple granola on top of a smoothie bowl for added texture and a burst of apple flavor.
- Oatmeal Topping: Elevate your regular bowl of oatmeal by adding a crunch with your homemade apple granola. This makes for a hearty, high-fiber breakfast option that keeps you full longer.
- Ice Cream Enhancer: Serve the apple granola as a topping on vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Making your own homemade granola is definitely cheaper than store-bought granola.
Although I don’t recommend using quick oats in granola recipes, you can use them. The cook time will be much less and the granola will not have as much texture as it would if you use rolled oats.
Yes. If you’d like to make a large batch of granola, double the ingredient amounts in this recipe.
You can make a vegan version of this granola recipe by using coconut oil or vegan butter.
Yes, you can make this granola gluten-free by using gluten-free oats.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this baked apple granola or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Small Batch Apple Granola
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup chopped almonds
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup diced apples (about 1 large apple)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine oats, shredded coconut, chopped walnuts, chopped almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
- Prepare Butter Mixture: Melt butter in a small pot over medium heat. Mix in maple syrup and a pinch of salt. Take it off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine: Pour the melted butter and syrup mix over the dry oat and nut mixture. Stir everything together until it's evenly mixed.
- Add Apples: Gently fold diced apples into the mixture.
- Prepare for Baking: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner. Spread the granola mix evenly across the sheet. Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes.Note: The total baking time is 40 minutes. To ensure even cooking, you’ll need to stir the granola every 10 minutes.
- Stir Granola: After the first 10 minutes, take the baking sheet out and stir the granola. This helps it toast evenly. Spread it back out and return it to the oven for another 10 minutes.Pro Tip: It's important to spread the granola well. There is a lot of moisture in the granola from the chopped apples. Spread the granola evenly so that the granola bakes up crispy.
- Continue Baking: Keep baking, removing the sheet every 10 minutes to stir, until you reach 40 minutes total.
- Cool and Store: Once done, let the granola cool on the sheet. Then, transfer it to an airtight container for storage.
Notes
- Customize it! This recipe is your starting point. Swap in your favorite nuts and dried fruits, keeping the overall amounts similar.
- For chunky granola: Press the mixture into small ovals on the baking sheet during the first 10 minutes of baking for satisfying clusters.
- Let it cool completely: This allows the granola to crisp up properly before storing or enjoying.
- Re-crisp if needed: If your granola softens, spread it on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 7-8 minutes to restore its crunch.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Dear Joanie, I love the idea of apple pie for breakfast! This is so delicious.
Thank you, Allie. It disappears pretty quickly at my house.
I LOVE apple pie but even more when it’s in granola form. I would love to top my yogurt with a bunch of this…yum!
It’s so good over yogurt. Thanks, girl!
Winner Winner!! I’m going to have to make this ASAP! My kids will be so happy 😉
Yay! My kids love it. Thanks, Gwen!
Ooooh this is divine!!
Thank you, Amanda!
This sounds so terrific – just absolutely perfect for fall! And I’ll bet that it makes your kitchen smell heavenly as it’s baking! I definitely think it’s perfect for breakfast or for snacking, and I can just really imagine that it would be stellar over some vanilla frozen yogurt for dessert … so many possibilities! Yum!
Thanks so much, Shelley!
I love apple pie and granola is one of my addictions. Can’t wait to make up a big ol’ batch to enjoy.
Thank you, Amy. Granola is one of my addictions too 🙂
Joanie, I am really digging this idea! Many people have excess apples right now and this is an easy way to use them up. And something different than the standard apple pie (which there is nothing wrong with!)
Thanks, Kacey. It’s a great way to use fresh apples.
Can I freeze this granola as it’s only good for 1 week in a jar?
I don’t recommend freezing apple granola because it is made with fresh apples and won’t freeze well. You can leave the apples out and freeze the granola in an airtight container.
any time you can have breakfast that tastes like pie, well that is a good day
That’s so true, Heather. Thank you.
Love the sound of this apple pie granola…how long does this last with the fresh apples? Or, maybe it won’t last long enough to worry about LOL!
Thanks, Judy! If you store the granola in an air-tight container at room temperature, it will stay good for up to 2 weeks. The granola will lose its crunch during this time because of the apples. Honestly, in my house, the granola only lasts a few days. My family and I eat it pretty quickly.
Now this is granola I can get into! Absolutely delicious!
Thanks, Paula!